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in Manchester, in 1811, did not exceed 13-5 per 1000, we mustabsolutely decline to accept this figure as correctly represent-ing the average death-rate of that city seventy years ago. Ifthis article had not found place in the columns of a journalwhich professes to represent science, we should have foundit hard to accept, as seriously intended, its shallow attackupon the recent teachings of sanitary science.

CITY FILTH-THE WAR OF CLOSETS.

The poet’s aspiration, that we might be given the gift ofseeing ourselves as other people see us, is certainly super-fluous in these days of a freely flowing press. The other

people have not the least hesitation, and do not want thefull opportunity of themselves stating what they think ofus. 11. le Dr. Van Overbeek de Meiges, professor of hygienein the University of Utrecht, has favoured us with a veryfrank disclosure of his opinions regarding our position onsewage matters in this country, not very gratifying to ourself-esteem, however useful it may be for our instructioni"Les Systemes d’Evacuation des Eaux." Bailliere et

Fils, IS86). Dr. de Meiges, condemning ns from the mouthsof our own engineers and sanitary workers, depicts withan unsparing hand the shortcomings of our waterclosetsystem and system of sewers, as compared with the

advantages attaching to the dry-closet systems-such asystem, for example, as is now being carried into forcein Manchester ; and he shows how what we now sufferfrom has not been peculiar to us, but has been expe-rienced by all places where the "English system" of

sewerage has been put in force. He maintains thatour system is noxious whether used with or withoutirrigation, and that it is necessary that all fsecal mattersshould be kept out of our sewers, if we would escape mis-chief. It is war to the knife between him and the followersof Rawlinson. His argument has the faults of all one-sidedviews, but he brings together a very large quantity of ma-terial bearing upon the subject he discusses, and hence hiswork is very instructive and of great interest. He does notbring anything forward that is new to us of the defects ofthe "English system," but he omits to say much of the ad-vantages which have been claimed. Those defects haveprompted the experimental trials of the mixed systems ofsewage disposal now in progress at Manchester and Rochdaleand elsewhere in England. Those trials are a protestagainst the English system," as Dr. de Meiges understandsit, and are of a sort he would approve. We are content towait the results of these trials before we accept so unqualifieda condemnation of the water-system as he utters, andbelieve it will be found that both the dry and wet systemsof filth-disposal have their proper place in sanitary adminis-tration.

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The Rev. Septimus Hansard, the Rector of Bethnal-green,has set an example of citizenship in sanitary work whichmay be usefully followed. When first he entered upon hisrectorship he was informed that neither flowers nor grasswould grow on the rectory lawn, so inimical was the localatmosphere to vegetable life. Whereupon he resolved tobetter the atmosphere by ridding it of some of its smoke andforeign admixtures from neighbouring manufactories. Heset himself to take notice of smoky chimneys, and by re-porting them to the police, and taking advantage of the lawof nuisance anent smoke, he contrived to ameliorate localstates of atmosphere, so much that he is now reported tocultivate the choicest flowers readily.A very foolish statement has been made at Chertsey with

reference to a case of small-pox which has recently endedfatally in the Chertsey Union. It is implied that the natureof the disease was first mistaken by the medical practitionercalled in at the beginning, and that the patient was im-properly treated in the union workhouse. The terms in whichthe statement found its way into the local press prove that itemanates (thoughtlessly no doubt) from a source whollyuncon’-cius of the foolishness contained in it. But howcome: it that Chertsey has not an infectious disease hospita’apart from the workhouse ?

From Canada the news comes of the prevalence of typhoicfever in Montreal, the Health Office reporting 130 cases, th(majority of which have been traced to defective drainageAlso a serious outbreak of diphtheria has occurred in thlneighbourhood of Sandwich.

THE SERVICES.

WAR OFFICE.-2nd Life Guards: Surgeon Percy G. R.Young, from the Army Medical Department, to be Surgeon,vice H. P. Hensman, promoted into the 1st Life Guards.ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.-Surgeon-Major C. G.

Irwin, M.B., to be Brigade-Surgeon, vice W. C. Roe, grantedretired pay; Surgeon-Major R. 0. Hayden, from half-pay,to be Surgeon-Major.Surgeon Albert Baird Seaman has been notified that he is

to receive a medal and a gratuity of 100 in consideration ofhis services in the Khyber Pass.Deputy Surgeon-General J. O’Nial, Army Medical Depart-

ment, late Principal Medical Officer of the Candahar Force,has arrived in England, and has been appointed to theAdministrative Charge of the North British District,Edinburgh.

In compliance with instructions received at Aldershotfrom the Adjutant-General, Horse Guards, the under-mentioned officers of the Army Medical Department haveproceeded from the Camp to Dublin for temporary duty inIreland-viz., Surgeons-Major A. Macrobin and F. Wag-horn, and Surgeon B. Connolly. These officers, on arrivalat Dublin, have been directed to report themselves to thegeneral officer commanding the troops and the principalmedical officer. In consequence of the departure fromAldershot of the above-named officers, the following medicalarrangements have been made at the Camp-viz., Surgeon-Major Leask to take medical charge of the troops of theRoyal Engineers, Army Hospital Corps, and Army ServiceCorps, vice Surgeon-Major Waghorn; Surgeon-Major T.Hession to take medical charge of officers, women, andchildren, South Camp, vice Surgeon Connolly ; and SurgeonCrofts to take medical charge of the troops of the hIt In-fantry Brigade, vice Surgeon-Major Macrobin.

THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

A strong reinforcement of medical officers has beenwarned for service at the Cape, and the following are underorders to embark at Portsmouth with the troops in the trans-ports Queen, Hankow, and Ararat. Brigade-Surgeon Samp-son Roch, Surgeon-Majors David Leslie, W. P. Smith, J.Leask, Scanlan, Heather, Malley, A. Thompson, L. H.Giraud, with Surgeons Cross, Drury, Brown and Powell.A detachment of the Army Hospital Corps, numbering sixty-three non-commissioned officers and men with two officers,Lieutenants of Orderlies, Philips and Strange, will also pro-ceed in one of these transports. The men will be completelyequipped and will be armed with revolvers. Six ambulancewaggons, sixty medical comfort boxes, containing brandy,port wine, essence of beef, arrowroot, preserved milk,mustard, &c., and lightly packed as to be readily carried ona mule or ox, have been forwarded by mail steamer to

Durban, the port of disembarkation. The transports willtake out additional Quantities of chloroform, medicines,medical and surgical instruments, and material, field pan-niers, field companions, medical comforts, and disinfectants,for the use of the troops of the expedition.

BOMBAY MEDICAL RETIRING FuD.—It is announcedfrom the India Office that the following is the allotment ofannuities for 1881 :—.E252 to Surgeon-General J. R. Miller,M.D. ; 210 to Surgeon-Major F. W. Harris; jE210 to

Deputy Surgeon-General R. G. Lord, M.D. ; E168 to

Surgeon-GeMeral W. G. Hunter, M.D. ; JE168 to DeputySurgeon-General F. G. Joynt, M.D. ; 1:168 to Surgeon-Major W. E. Wood. -

ADMIRALTY. --Surgeon W. H. Colahan, M.D., has beenpromoted to the rank of Staff Surgeon in Her Majesty’sFleet, with seniority of Dec. 28th, 1880. The followingappointments have been made :--Staff Surgeon SeptimusSexton to the Iron Duke, additional, for service in thefflagpie when recommissioned; Surgeon J. A. M’Munn,M.B., to the Iron Duke, additional, for disp08al; SurgeonJames B. Armstiong, to the Fly, when recommissioned ;Surgeon William J. B. Bookey. to the Foxhoaand, whenrt-commissioned; and Surgeon James B. Clibborn, to theF77c!n<, when recommissioned.