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THE LANCET.

LONDON: SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1890.

THE Rev. Dr. DALE of Birmingham is respected in allchurches and among all classes of the community for his

strength and independence of thought and for the range ofsubjects over which his sympathy and his attention extend.Nothing affecting the welfare of the people, whether in areligious, social, or political respect, is beyond his care. Wesee with much satisfaction that he has been lately speakingon the somewhat hackneyed subject of hospital abuse inBirmingham. He presided at the annual meeting of thesubscribers to the Birmingham Skin and Lock Hospitals.The report dwelt, as is common in such things, withapparent satisfaction on the increase of out-patients. It was

considered "successful" that this increase was 25 per cent.above that of the previous year, and the difference wasattributed to the fact that the hospital committee, contraryto the wise rule of other hospitals in Birmingham, haddetermined to open the hospital from 6 to 7 on Mondayand Tuesday evenings. Dr. DALE, like all men who

have thought much on this increase of out-patients,felt compelled to take a very serious view of the matter,and to try to explain it. We commend his remarks and

conclusions in the Birmingham Daily Gazette of April 17thto the consideration of all persons who with a light heartmultiply the attractions and accommodation of hospitalsfor persons and patients who are not fair subjects for suchrelief. Dr. DALE said that the increase in the pressure of

out-patients on the resources of hospitals became annuallymore serious. He said the medical profession declare thata very large number of persons who could afford to consulta private practitioner were to be found among the out-patients of hospitals all over the kingdom. He differed

entirely from those who attributed such criticism on thepart of the medical profession to selfish motives, and main-tained manfully that whatever inflicted an injury on themedical profession endangered the public interest. It was

to the advantage of the public, he said, that the profes-sion should be well and even handsomely paid. If theywere not, the best men would not enter the profession. Notonly so; but the hospitals themselves could not much

longer bear the strain of this promiscuous rush on

their charitable funds. We commend his words to

those responsible for our gigantic out-patient depart-ments-" he believed that if the growth of numbers

continued much longer the hospitals would completelybreakdown under the weight imposed on them." He did

not believe that the patients could be adequately treated insuch numbers and in so short a space of time. But the

most admirable service done by Dr. DALE was to show howthe system of small payments is working so as to destroythe sense of the charitable element in hospital relief and togive the false impression that people are paying for whatthey get."The man who earned 20s. had a right to go to that

hospital, then why not his neighbour who earned 25s.? Hein his turn told his friend who earned 30s , who explainedthe advantages he had derived to the man who earned 40s.Where there was a registration fee the feeling that thehospital was not a charity was likely to be still stronger.But whatever the cause, it was the fact that people-far tooindependent and too self-respecting to be willing to receivecharity in any other form-went in considerable numbers tohospitals." "

We know that they go in hundreds of thousands,and that some injudicious friends of the working manrejoice in his appearance there as if it were somethingcreditable or religious. Let Dr. DALE’S representation ofthe matter be fully faced. Either hospitals are charitiesor they are not. Medical attendance on common ailments

has no business to be the only thing self-respecting peopletake without paying properly for. Dr. DALE suggests aremedy for this evil in words that were not so clear, weregret, as those in which he exposes the great evil of usinghospitals as if they were shops for the cheap sale of drugsand medical services. But we gather that he would providea free medical service out of the rates or the taxes, j ust ashe would approve of free elementary education being soprovided. In this way the chief labourers would, at anyrate, be paid something for their work, and not be the chiefbearers of the burden of a so-called charitable system,in which the charitable are defrauded and those who do not

need charity are deluded with the idea that they are payingfor what they ought to pay for, but do not. We cannot seeour way at present to approve such a solution of a difficult

question. It is doubtful if there is any need for the State

to organise a medical system for the working classes of Eng-land, who have organised lodges and sick and benefit societieswhich represent millions of money. All that is wanted is a

little more independence in working men and a little more, consideration for a profession which serves them night and, day and at all seasons with a faithfulness that is mocked by

the pence they pay to hospitals, and which does not represent. the sum they spend in one week on beer. Dr. DALE has

done public service in pointing out that our hospitals cannot. be much longer maintained as charitable institutions unless

they exclude those who have no claim on charity.;

THE inhabitants of the charming little town of Hasle-mere appear to be much exercised in regard to the questionof sewerage and sewage disposal. The town itself, or

rather village-for it comprises perhaps not more than 2000to 3000 inhabitants,-is beautifully situated at a consider-able elevation among finely wooded hills, and is the centreof a district which by nature ought to be second to none inpoint of healthful and invigorating conditions. For this

reason it is resorted to by many wealthy visitors, and someof the most eminent in arts, science, and literature possesshouses there to which they retire for the renewal of healthof body and mind. Notwithstanding its many natural

advantages, the sanitary conditions that prevail would seemto leave much to be desired, and, to judge from recentnewspaper reports of meetings that have taken place, thereseems a strong desire on the part of those inhabitants whoconcern themselves with the local sanitary administration

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to continue a system of sewage removal and disposal thatis both offensive to the senses and fraught with gravedanger to health.

It will be in the recollection of many that, so recently as1886, the town and immediate neighbourhood were visitedby a somewhat severe attack of diphtheria, when, accordingto the official report of the medical inspector of the LocalGovernment Board, who investigated the outbreak, therewere some seventy cases, of which as many as eighteenproved fatal; and although it was said that the incidenceof the disease did not actually show any marked dependenceupon unhealthy conditions, certain sanitary defects werepointed out, and so far as can be gathered those defectsstill remain in an at least undiminished form.

It appears that some eleven or twelve years ago a parochialcommittee was elected at an "influential meeting," when,we are informed, only five or six persons were present, themeeting having been held at eight o’clock in the morning.This committee, acting on behalf of the Rural SanitaryAuthority of the Hambledon Union, in which the town issituated, rejected, on the score of expense, a comprehensive sewerage system that had been proposed by an eminentfirm of engineers in favour of a small-pipe sewer, costingsome £70, which was intended for the conveyance of sinkwater only. At the same time the cesspools, which aresaid to abound in the town, were required to be cementedinside; and later on the water supply, which had beenentirely derived from wells, and had become suspicious, wasimproved through private munificence by the introduction ofthree stand-pipes in different parts of the town. It would

be curious to learn under what authority those responsiblefor the sanitary condition of the locality, having recognisedthe duty imposed upon them to provide sufficient sewers forthe drainage of the district, and having constructed a certainsewer down the main streets of the town, should endeavourto exclude from that sewer a large and important proportionof the sewage of the houses abutting upon those streets, andshould proclaim that that sewer was intended for sink water

only. We know of no law which enables a local sanitaryauthority to forbid the discharge of all the ordinary sewageof the dwelling-houses in their district into the sewers whichhave been provided by the authority. That they shouldprohibit the overflow of cesspools into their sewers is rightenough--nay, they should go further and endeavour to pre-vent the overflow of the contents of cesspools generally intheir district, as such an arrangement invariably creates adangerous nuisance. The use of cesspools for the reception of

sewage is permitted by statute, but where a sewer has beenprovided it should be possible, if desired by the owner, toabolish the cesspool and to connect directly with the sewer.And if that sewer is inadequate, it becomes the duty of thesanitary authority to make it adequate and sufficient forthe requirements of the district. As regards the sanitaryadministration generally, it would seem from the reportsin the local newspapers that some grave misapprehension ofduty and responsibility exists somewhere, for we observethat complaint is made about the way in which the

cleansing of cesspools is carried out, the sanitary authorityhaving undertaken the duty, while a charge, varying inamount from ls. upwards, is sometimes made. With so

much uncertainty and with such insanitary systems in

operation, it is no wonder that much irritation and

dissatisfaction exist in the district; and we earnestlyrecommend the sanitary authority to abandon the parsi-monious plan of attempting to deal with the sewage of

a considerable and increasing population by tentative andvery defective arrangements, which are opposed to all trueprinciples of sanitation, statutory and other, and to adoptwithout delay a comprehensive and efficient system of

sewage removal and disposal. The saving in the cost ofcesspool emptying alone, amounting in many instances toseveral shillings, and in some perhaps even to pounds, willgo far towards meeting the annual interest and repaymentof principal of the loan that would be needed for carryingout the work, and the further saving in health and in thecredit of the town as a sweet and wholesome place that will

repay a holiday visit, must likewise be taken into account.

WE are glad to notice that Mr. CHAPLIN, on Tuesday last,in reply to a question by Mr. GERALD BALFOUR, statedthat the Local Government Board were about to institute

an inquiry into the fitness or unfitness for human food ofmeat affected with tuberculosis. This decision, which isthe apparent outcome of the deputation of the meat trade,who laid their grievances before Mr. CHAPLIN and Mr.RITCHIE last week, has been taken none too soon. For

there is something humiliating in the uncertainty thatexists upon the scientific aspect of the question, the deter..mination, namely, of the degree to which an animal maybe affected with tuberculous disease without its flesh beingcontaminated with the virus. There is far more agree-

ment, although even here there is a certain amount of

scepticism, as to the transmissibility of tuberculous diseaseby means of food. For, although direct proof of this asregards the origin of cases of human tuberculosis may bewanting, the teachings of experimental pathology are positiveon the point. But where the division of opinion comes inis rather upon the question of how far tuberculosis may beconsidered a general disease, or, if a local disease at the

outset, at what period it may become general, and what evi-dence there is of the existence of such a character apart fromthe widespread dissemination of tuberculous granulations.The simple fact that there is a localised tuberculous focus inone lung, or even that there may be other deposits elsewhere,does not necessarily imply blood contamination. Morbid

anatomy teaches that tuberculosis is disseminated by " localextension" quite as often as by general diffusion. The

solution of the problem is beset with difficulties, andwe trust that the investigation promised by the LocalGovernment Board will be confided to the hands of com-

petent observers. Meanwhile, the continuance of this

state of uncertainty tells hardly upon the meat trade.Carcases of beasts in good condition have been condemnedby some medical officers owing to the presence in them offoci of tuberculous disease; and what is regarded as fit forhuman consumption by one authority is condemned as unfitby another. We have only to refer to the remarkable inquiryat Glasgow last year for evidence of the conflicting viewsof those who have to administer the law with regard todiseased meat in confirmation of the position assumed bythe butchers in their statement to Mr. CHAPLIN. Nor do

974

we wonder at the hesitation the Board of Agricultureshows at placing tuberculosis under the provisions of theContagious Diseases (Animals) Act. The prevention of

animals obviously tuberculous being disposed of in the

market, although salutary, would not meet the grievanceof which the meat trade complains, since the animals

would have been already passed over by the local authorityand slaughtered in good faith by the purchaser beforethe flesh was condemned. The economic side of the ques-tion is a very grave one; but, as has been pointed out,even if the general condemnation of the meat of tuber-

culous animals occurred, the consumer and not the butcherwould have to bear the loss. Tuberculosis, in some formor other, is so common a disease of cattle that the whole-

sale condemnation of carcases in which there is some trace

of the disease would seriously raise the price of meat.

Judging from the known facts regarding tuberculous disease,we shall be surprised if it can be proved that any such

stringent measure is really called for. The question, how-ever, must still be regarded as an open one.

Since writing the above, we learn that Dr. DRESCHFELDhas been making experiments upon this very subject-viz., the infectivity of the flesh of tuberculous animals.

In nearly all the specimens the meat appeared healthy tothe naked eye, as well as to the microscope, nor did it con-tain any bacilli. Rabbits were inoculated by the insertionof portions of the meat into the peritoneal cavity with thefollowing result (Leeds Mercury, April 26th) :-

" In five cases where the disease was stated to beadvanced, marked tuberculosis appeared within a fewweeks in the peritoneal glands and omentum of the animalsexperimented upon. In three cases where the affection ofthe beast was less advanced no tuberculosis appeared;and in one case, where the affection was said to be not

very advanced, only after ten weeks did tuberculosis ap-pear in the peritoneal cavity. Besides these inoculations,two dogs were fed with the rest of the meat, often amountingto eight or ten pounds in weight. Both dogs are still alive,and have not suffered in any way. Professor Dreschfeld

says one cannot help arriving at the conclusion that thedanger of producing tuberculosis by eating meat, well

cooked, from animals which are tuberculous is very small,provided that the meat appears healthy and the disease inthe slaughtered animal is not far advanced-that is, is notgeneralised tuberculosis associated with emaciation, &c."

_

THE attitude adopted by the Essex County Council inthe matter of the election of a county health officer is onewhich it is difficult to understand. We can to some extent

appreciate the objection that the proper time to make suchan appointment will be when some or all of the sanitaryfunctions originally intended to be given to County Councilsare actually conferred upon them; although it is already quiteevident that the need for such county officers has been felt,and ample useful work has been found for them to do evenunder existing circumstances. But the way in which the

proposal to refer to a committee the question of the electionof a county health officer has been met in Essex is one thathas nothing to commend it. A contemporary states that itwas " amid some laughter " that one of the county repre-sentatives suggested that the matter might be delegatedeither to the Lunatics Committee or the Contagious

Diseases (Animals) Committee; and objectors to the

appointment find satisfaction in the fact that since the

latter committee, to whom it was ultimately referred, con-sists almost exclusively of farmers "pledged up to the hiltto economy," there is but little prospect of the appoint-ment being made. The attitude here indicated is one as

to which the public will, we believe, before long expressthemselves in very distinct terms. Whenever it is a

question of preventing the spread of disease amongstcattle, not only do committees of the sort here reo

ferred to pride themselves in not allowing themselvesto be influenced by mere considerations of economy,

but, as in the case of the Departmental Committee onPleuro-pneumonia and Tuberculosis of 1888, they clamourfor support in asking Parliament to give them compensa-tion for the losses they individually incur when their cattleare found to be diseased. The matter is, however, altogetherdifferent when it comes to a question of inquiring, on asomewhat comprehensive scale, how preventable disease inman, one of the most costly of all local and imperialincidents, can be efficiently controlled and lessened. Then

the same people are applauded when they declare that thereis " not the slightest reason for burdening the ratepayers,"and that the appointment of the needful officer is hardlylikely to bring about "the millennium."There is, however, another party of objectors in Essex

whose motives are deserving of consideration. These

objectors evidently admitted the force of the contentionurged by Mr. LLOYD WISE that since no question is of moreimportance than health, the matter ought to be inquiredinto. But some, at least, of these base their objection tothe appointment on the ground that they happen to havein a supplement to Dr. THRESH’S report to the Chelmsfordand Malden rural authorities all that they need. It so

happens that Dr. THRESH, in order to compare his districtswith the remaining sanitary districts of Essex, has this

year taken the trouble to put together a large amount ofvery valuable comparative information. But if there is one

thing above another which Dr. THRESH’s report proves, it isthe need for comprehensive inquiry into the causes of matterswhich he points out, but which the limits of his district aloneprevent him from explaining. Thus, he has shown thatthe loss of infant life is substantially greater in Essex thanin most of the surrounding counties or in England as awhole; that much the same applies to the zymotic diseases;that whereas in one part of Essex the death-rate from thesediseases is 1’32 per 1000, it actually reaches 3’59 in another;that the mortality from diphtheria and enteric fever, forexample, is excessive in the county of Essex; that the

incidence of death from diphtheria in the different parts ofthe county is most unequal ; that the number of deathsfrom diarrhoea in the four southern districts of the countyis double that which prevails in the remainder of the

county ; and that the highest death-rates from enteric fevercoincide with the high ones from diarrhoea.

If Dr. THRESH had, instead of aiming at compilingmaterial for his own guidance in his particular districts,been trying to prove the need for a general investiga-tion into the causes of unnecessary death and disease in

Essex as a whole, he could hardly have put togetherfacts which would more convincingly prove the need

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for such investigation; and surely the Essex CountyCouncil must contain a sufficient number of members

who are able to see that there are grave conditions

affecting the health and lives of their constituents which- call for their earnest consideration, and which can only beproperly elucidated by comparison of the circumstances

which so differently affect different portions of their own<county, and their county as compared with other counties,and which induce such variations in the incidence of mor-

talities which are largely within the control of efficient

sanitary administration. It was with a view to such corn-

parison, and to supervision of the areas in question, thatthe Local Government Act required all medical officers ofhealth to transmit their health reports to the councils oftheir respective counties; and it is earnestly to be hopedthat the Essex County Council will not lay themselves opento the suggestion that they are satisfied to be supplied froman accidental and outside source with statistical informa-

tion on some very vital sanitary aspects of their county,without making any proper attempt to inquire into theirmeaning, or to take the action necessary to the saving ofsuch human life within their jurisdiction.

ALTHOUGH under ordinary circumstances questions of

identity may appear trivial and unimportant, there are

certain conditions under which the satisfactory determina-tion of the identity of the individual becomes of engrossinginterest. Some uneasiness in this regard is occasionally- expressed in assurance questions connected with death-- claims, and also in claims to property, as in the famous

TICHBORNE case, while on the other hand in criminal pro-secutions there is a distinct interest in denying and dis-proving an asserted identity. For insurance purposes the

signature of the person examined is mostly relied upon, butallowance has frequently to be made for the conditions underwhich the signature was obtained. Rightly or wrongly, ap-pearance before the medical officer of an assurance society ismostly regarded as an ordeal, andthe anxiety felt is frequently-evidenced in the signature; hence it requires considerabletechnical training to trace the variations of signature understress of nervous apprehension. To found a valid claim to

property the claimant has to prove his identity, not merelyby assertion, but by the evidence of presumably impartialwitnesses, and even then almost endless and hopeless con-fusion may result from conflicting statements.With criminals, however, while in one sense the object is

the same-viz., that they may receive their due,--the sub-ject has to be approached from the opposite point of view.They may consider with just cause that it is to their interestto deny their identity ; they may do all in their power, bychanging their name and their appearance, to wipe out all traces of association with an inconvenient and undesirable

past ; still justice demands, with legal inflexibility, that in- each the degree of punishment awarded shall be measurednot merely by the nature of the crime under which thecharge is made, but in view of the previous criminal’history of the individual. If mercy is to be claimed for

those who have apparently for the first time deviated fromthe strict paths of rectitude, it appears quite reasonable thata heavier sentence shall be inflicted upon an old offender.

Hitherto photography and personal knowledge have beenlargely relied upon in dealing with such cases, but it iswithin common knowledge that both may give rise to

fallacious results. Photographs are often so unlike the

original, as known to those familiar with him, that theyare obviously uncertain guides. Upon the other hand, theproof of personal knowledge is not altogether reliable. The

identification of the dead is often extremely difficult. Veryrecently the body of a woman who was found drowned, havingapparently been immersed but a short time, was erroneouslyrecognised and claimed by a man as his mother, and so littledoubt was attached to his assertion that, after an inquest,insurance money was paid when claimed. In dealing withcriminals many of the records of previous convictions hingeupon questions of identity which may be strenuously denied.The art of scientific measurement has been suggested as a

way out of the difficulty, and as practised in France it wasdescribed by M. JACQUES BERTILLON at a meeting of theAnthropological Institute last week. It had already beenfound that when 100,000 photographs had been collected bythe police it was impossible to turn them to good account. Thebasis of the improved method of identification is to obtainmeasurements of the bony parts of the body which undergolittle or no change after maturity, and can be measuredwith extreme accuracy. Obviously the method will notapply to those who have started upon their career of crimeduringthestage of adolescence, but for adults it seems to giveresults which must be extremely satisfactory to all but thecriminal. The parts measured are the head, the foot, themiddle finger, and the extended forearm from the elbow. Indealing with large numbers of photographs, they are dividedinto groups according to the height of the individual, andthese groups undergo further subdivision according to thelength of the head, and again according to the breadth orwidth of the head. Then the length of the middle finger isconsidered, and affords a very precise indication for furthersubdivision in classes, which are again separated by thelength of the foot, the length of the arms outstretched atright angles to the body, and the colour of the eyes.M. BERTILLON claims that as many as 30,000 photographscan thus be divided into very small groups of about

fifteen in each, which can be easily and rapidly examined.Each photograph is further marked with a record of any

moles, birth marks, scars, &c. Objections to this methodare met very fairly, and it is frankly admitted thatmeasurements of height are liable to error. It is possibleto cheat upon height to the extent of two centimetres

without being discovered by the operator, but it was

shown that the possibilities of error in the head measure-ments and in the length of the middle finger whenflexed at right angles are infinitesimal. The whole

operation can be conducted in seven minutes with the

aid of a clerk to whom the figures can be dictated, so thatupon the score of expense there need be no trouble in

the universal practice of measurement of criminals. It

may be urged that such accuracy might increase nationalexpenditure by increasing the length of sentences of manywho might otherwise escape the proof of previous convic-tions. Such questions, however, always find their own

solution. If punishment is a deterrent from crime it mustnecessarily follow that the fear of longer sentences through

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scientific accuracy will speedily work its element of good,and thus the result may pay for the trouble and expense byreducing the number of second and third convictions.

M. BERTILLON would like to see "everybody measured,"thinking that if measurements were made of everyone therewould be a series of scientific data collected of which it

is impossible at the present time to foresee the importance.Merely to supply means of increasing the length of sentencesmay seem, perhaps, at first sight a matter with which fewwould have much sympathy, but it would, to say the least,be interesting to ascertain how far, if at all, the criminalclasses differ in their measurements from the majority.Similar questions have often been raised with regard tolunatics. It would be of the highest interest to knowif criminals also are subject to special deviations fromthe normal standard, even though we should possiblyincur the risk of encouraging a gloomy despondingfatalism, which might favour crime.

WE referred last week to the Infectious Disease Pre-

vention Bill, and commented on the opposition which wasbeing shown by those engaged in the milk trade to theclauses contained in the Bill, and relating to disease

spread by milk. In view of this opposition it may be

well to state that the powers which are sought are verynecessary for the safety of communities, and have alreadybeen in force in some localities. We are satisfied that, while

conferring protection upon the public, there is no likelihoodthat milk vendors’ interests will be prejudiced by the pro-hibition of the distribution of a milk-supply unless there isample reason for regarding such supply as a definite dangerto the public health. We trust that the sanitary autho-rities will not fail to impress upon Parliament the import-ance they attach to these clauses in Mr. LEES KNOWLES’SBill.

Another measure, the Public Health Acts Amendment

Bill, has also been introduced into the House of Commons.Like the Bill on which we have already commented, it pro-poses to embody as general law various clauses which theSanitary and Police Regulations Committee usually sanc-tion in local Bills, or for which a sufficient precedent isfound in recent legislation. Some of the subject matterrelating to infectious diseases is the same as that in the

Infectious Disease Prevention Bill, others are useful a.ddi-tions to the existing law. In form the clauses doubtless

need amendment, but this, we may anticipate, will beeffected before the Bill becomes law. Particularly we mayrefer to a clause which empowers local sanitary authoritiesto deal with such matters as soil-pipe ventilation, andto require this to be provided in houses built before the

passing of the Act. The need has long been felt for betteropportunity for remedying defects of this kind in housesnot built in accordance with by-laws ; and if the Bill pass, itwill gradually bring about more wholesome conditions indwelling-houses. One of the clauses would be especiallyvaluable in urban districts; it authorises the local authorityto pull down any house which has been closed under thePublic Health Act, and has remained closed for six months,providing it be in a condition, state, or situation in-

jurious, dangerous, or prejudicial to health. It frequently

happens that houses past repair are left in this condition,.the owner being unwilling to expend money upon attempts.at their improvement; it thus becomes necessary that such-property should be demolished, and it may be hoped thatthis provision, which Liverpool has enjoyed for ten years,will be made available throughout the country.A few of the other powers conferred by the Bill may be

briefly noted : one of these extends the sections of the-

Public Health Act relating to unsound meat to all articles-

intended for the food of man ; others make it illegal formanufactories to discharge waste steam or hot water intosewers; others authorise local authorities to recover the

expenses where works have been executed in regard to.

combined drainage causing nuisance; and others again’empower local authorities to make by-laws as to public

, conveniences.

; It is to be hoped the Government will not fail to incor--porate in the London Act such of the provisions of this Bill,as are not already embodied in the laws dealing with themetropolis. For some reason which it is not easy to under-

. stand, London is usually some years behind the rest of

the country in obtaining the legislation which experiencehas shown to be necessary. In the consolidation of the

Acts relating to the metropolis there is an excellent oppor-3 tunity for incorporating those provisions which the special

circumstances of London may make desirable.

Annotations.

THE RECONSTITUTION OF THE UNIVERSITYOF LONDON.

" Ne quid nimis."

THE latest scheme for the reconstitution of the Universityof London will be considered at the meeting of Convoca.tion on the 13th inst., although, like the discussion at thelast meeting, it must be in many respects somewhat,futile and premature. The special committee, presided.over by Sir P. Magnus, which was appointed to consider the.proposed scheme of Sir E. Fry in December, 1885, has at.last published an interim report which will be laidbefore Convocation on the 13th inst., and on the motion for-the adoption of this report an animated discussion is likelyto arise. The report itself is simply historical, and all we

gather from it is that the Senate has had as little to do withthe Committee of Convocation as was possible, and has,paid but scant consideration to their representations. It isobvious that until the conferences between the Senate, theteaching Colleges, and the Royal Colleges of Physicians and’Surgeons have terminated, all proposed schemes are merelyprovisional, and if any compromise be effected between those-bodies such schemes must undergo very important modifica-tions. These changes will certainly not be on the lines whichConvocation has again and again suggted, so that the.Senate can hardly be expected to anticipate, by layingincomplete proposals before Convocation, a discussion.on, and perhaps a refusal to acquiesce in, the applicationfor a new Charter on the bases proposed by them.The tendency of the most recent negotiations betweenthe Committee of the Senate and the representatives.of University and King’s Colleges is to bring these bodiesmore nearly into agreement than they have previouslybeen, although the Teaching Colleges have insisted ontheir curricula of study and their pass and honours exami-