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produce a certificate of health from their regularmedical adviser. When corporations join the YellowCross collectively certificates or examination of theirmembers are not insisted on. The medical organisa-tions in Vienna have asked their members to point outto their patients the advantages of insurance in theKrankenschutz, and the movement is expected to haveimportant developments.Dec. 31st, 1920.

URBAN VITAL STATISTICS.

(Week ended Dec. 25th, 1920.)English and Welsh Towns.-In the 96 English and Welsh

towns, with an aggregate civil population estimated atnearly 18 million persons, the annual rate of mortality,which had been 13-2, 12-9, and 15-3 in the three precedingweeks, fell to 15-1 per 1000. In London, with a populationof nearly 4% million persons, the death-rate was 15-3, or0-7 per 1000 below that recorded in the previous week, whileamong the remaining towns the rates ranged from 6-5 inDarlington, 7-4 in Ipswich, and 8-0 in Enfield, to 23-0 inSouthport, 23-9 in Exeter, and 24-2 in Middlesbrough. Theprincipal epidemic diseases caused 216 deaths, whichcorresponded to an annual rate of 0’6 per 1000, and com-prised 79 from infantile diarrhoea, 64 from diphtheria,34 from measles, 20 from scarlet fever, 16 from whooping-cough, and 3 from enteric fever. Measles caused a death-rate of 2-8 in Walsall and 2-9 in Middlesbrough. There were4780 cases of scarlet fever and 2547 of diphtheria undertreatment in the Metropolitan Asylums Hospitals and theLondon Fever Hospital, against 4994 and 2654 respectivelyat; the end of the previous week. The causes of 41 of the5149 deaths in the 96 towns were uncertified, of which8 were registered in Birmingham and 3 each in Southend-on-Sea and Barrow-in-Furness.

Scottish Towns.-In the 16 largest Scottish towns, with anaggregate population estimated at nearly 2 million persons,the annual rate of mortality, which had been 13-5,15-2, and16-1 in the three preceding weeks, further rose to 16-2 per1000. The 338 deaths in Glasgow corresponded to an annualrate of 15-8 per 1000, and included 7 from whooping-cough,5 from diphtheria, 4 from scarlet fever, 3 from infantilediarrhoea, and 1 each from enteric fever and small-pox. The116 deaths in Edinburgh were equal to a rate of 17-7 per1000, and included 4 from measles and 2 from diphtheria.Irish Towns.-The 141 deaths in Dublin corresponded to an

annual rate of 17-7, or 2-5 per 1000 below that recorded in theprevious week, and included 6 from infantile diarrhoea.The 136 deaths in Belfast were equal to a rate of 17-2 per1000, and included 3 from infantile diarrhoea, 2 fromdiphtheria, and 1 from scarlet fever.

(Week ended Jan. lst, 1921.)English and Welsh Towns.-In the 96 English and Welsh

towns, with an aggregate civil population estimated at nearly18 million persons, the annual rate of mortality, which hadbeen 12-9, 15-3, and 15-1 in the three preceding weeks, roseto 16-6 per 1000. In London, with a population of nearly4 million persons, the death-rate was 16-5, or 1-2 per1000 above that recorded in the previous week, whileamong the remaining towns the rates ranged from 7-9 inIlford, 8-1 in Oxford, and 8-3 in East Ham, to 24-8 in Sunder-land, 27-1 in Hastings, and 27-7 in Bath. The principalepidemic diseases caused 249 deaths, which correspondedto an annual rate of 0-7 per 1000, and comprised 96 frominfantile diarrhoea, 63 from diphtheria, 34 from measles,33 from whooping-cough, 17 from scarlet fever, and 6 fromenteric fever. Measles caused a death-rate of 1-1 inNewcastle-on-Tyne, 1-3 in Warrington, and 2-5 in Middles-brough, and whooping-cough of 1-4 in Sunderland. Therewere 4817 cases of scarlet fever, 2642 of diphtheria, and 1 ofsmall-pox under treatment in the Metropolitan AsylumsHospitals and the London Fever Hospital, against 4780, 2547,and 0 respectively at the end of the previous week. Thecauses of 45 of the 5679 deaths in the 96 towns wereuncertified, of which 11 were registered in Birmingham, 6 inLiverpool, 5 in London, and 3 in Gateshead. ,

Scottish Towns.-In the 16 largest Scottish towns, with an aggregate population estimated at nearly 2 million persons,the annual rate of mortality, which had increased from 13-5to 16-2 in the four preceding weeks, further rose to 18-4 per1000. The 375 deaths in Glasgow corresponded to an annualrate of 17-6 per 1000, and included 12 from whooping-cough,5 from infantile diarrhoea, 3 from diphtheria, 2 from small-pox, and 1 from scarlet fever. The 126 deaths in Edinburghwere equal to a rate of 19-3 per 1000, and included 2 fromdiphtheria, and 1 each from measles, whooping-congh, andinfantile diarrhoea.

Irish Towns.-The 214 deaths in Dublin corresponded toan annual rate of 26-9, or 9’2 per 1000 above that recordedin the previous week, and included 2 from infantile diarrhoea,and 1 each from enteric fever, whooping-cough, and diph.theria. The 166 deaths in Belfast were equal to a rateof 21-0 per 1000, and included 2 each from scarlet fever,whooping-cough, and infantile diarrhoea.

The Services.ROYAL NAVAL MEDICAL SERVICE.

Surg. Lieut. (D) M. F. Hopson to be Surgeon LieutenantCommander (D).

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ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS.

Major Cr. W. Heron relinquishes the acting rank of Colonel.Capt. S. Arnott is restored to the establishment.Temp. Capt. W. W. Forbes relinquishes the acting rank of Major.The undermentioned Lieutenants (temporary Captains) to be

Captains: D. J. H. Jones, T. H. Twigg, J. K. Holland, K. Masson,and R. S. Strachan.

J. A. B. Sim to be temporary Lieutenant.Officers relinquishing their commissions:—Temp. Maj. W. A.

Brend retains the rank of Major. Temporary Captains retainingthe rank of Captain: 0. V. Burrows, F. H. Cleveland, J. A.MacSweeny, S. Wigglesworth, aud W. Kingdon. Temp. Lieut. D. M.O’Dwyer retains the rank of Lieutenant.

SPECIAL RESERVE OF OFFICERS.

Lieut.-Col. J. H. P. Graham relinquishes his commission an retains the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

TERRITORIAL FORCE.

Major VI. J. Mahoney resigns his commission and retains tt’erank of Major.Capt. G. R. E. G. Mackay resigns his commission and is granted

the rank of Major.Capts. J. Paton and P. J. Watkin (late R.A.M.C.) to be Captains.Capt. L. R. G. de Granville to be Lieutenant and to

relinquish the rank of Captain.Capts. J. Ramsay and G. B. Gill to be Majors.Capt. A. E. Richmond to be Adjutant of the R..A.M.C. School of

Instruction, West Lanes. Division (T.F.).H. M. Brown (late Devon Regiment) to be Lieutenant.Supernumerary for Service with the Officers Training Corps.-

Temp. Capt. V. G. L. Fielden resigns his commission and retainsthe rank of Captain.

TERRITORIAL FORCE RESERVE.

Capt. E. G. Annis resigns his commission and is granted therank of Major.

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ROYAL AIR FORCE.

The undermentioned Flight Lieutenants are granted the-honorary rank of Squadron Leader: J. Keenan, J. N. MacdonaId,and J. Valerie.

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ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

Surg.-Cmdr. T. W. Myles, R.N., has been appointed a Commanderof the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the BritishEmpire; and Surg.-Lieut. J. D. Bangay, R.N., an Officer of theCivil Division of the Order.

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TERRITORIAL FORCE DECORATION.

The King has conferred the Territorial Force Decoration uponthe following officers :-Major J. F. Christie, attached 4th Battalion,Gordon Highlanders; Major A. C. Turner, attached 49th (WestRiding) Divisional Engineers; Major E. L. Anderson, 2nd WestLancs. Field Ambulance; Major J. W. Mackenzie, lst HighlandMounted Brigade Field Ambulance; Major A. H. Horsfall, attachedRoyal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich; Major J. M. Bowie, attached9th Battalion, Royal Scots; Lieut.-Col. A. W. Mackintosh,lst Scottish General Hospital; Lieut.-Col. (Brevet Col.) A. Napier,Honorary Surgeon-Colonel (Honorary Surgeon-Colonel, retireù,Volunteers), 4th Scottish General Hospital (retired).

DEATHS IN THE SERVICES.

Lieut.-Col. Richard Henderson Castor (late I.M.S.). at hisresidence at Croydon, aged 59. He retired from the Service inNovember, 1920, after 33 years’ active work. He served with theWuntho Expedition in Burma in 1891, was mentioned in despatches,and received the medal and clasp. He was an authority on tropicaldiseases, and established infant welfare work in Burma, in recogni-tion of which he received the Kaisar-i-Hind medal. Col. Castorjoined the Ministry of Pensions medical staff, and was appointed toCroydon.

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WEYMOUTH HOSPITALS : PROPOSED AMALGAMATIONNEGATIVED.-The committees of the Weymouth hospitalshave suggested the advantages of the amalgamation of thesecharities. A public meeting was recently held at Weymouthto consider the matter, the mayor presiding. Eventually theproposition in favour of the amalgamation was defeated.The result of the vote has been conveyed to the joint com-mittee of the hospitals, and it will be for them to decidewhat further action shall be taken in the matter.