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THE LATE FRANCESCO MAGNI.

THis distinguished ophthalmic surgeon and ornament ofthe University of Bologna, whose career was fully describedin THE LANCET early last year, has just been honoured by amedallion placed by his colleagues and former pupils in theatrium of the clinical wards. On its being unveiled in thepresence of a numerous assemblage, addresses were deliveredin commemoration of its subject by Count Isolani, Presidentof the Administration of the Hospitals, and by theCommendatore Petronio Costetti, successor of Magni in theophthalmic chair. The medallion, skilfully executed by thesculptor, Cesare Monari, has the following inscription : "ToFrancesco Magni, Senator of the Kingdom, ophthalmicclinician, who contributed the authority of a name illustriousin science and in practice to the benefit of this hospital,which had been reorganised and enlarged to admit of clinicaladjuncts to the professorships, the Administrative Council,in concert with his friends, have rendered this honour."

PRESENTATION TO THE PRINCESS CHRISTIAN.

ON Saturday last, at the Albert Institute, Windsor, aMsket of jewels of the value of S600, and accompanied bya costly art album, containing an address and signatures ofthe 2000 subscribers, was presented by the Mayor of theborough to her Royal Highness from the residents ofWindsor and its neighbourhood, as an indication of the

respectful appreciation of the Princess’s good work in theborough and its suburbs on behalf of the poor, and especiallythe establishment of a valuable system of nurses for thesick poor in their own homes, as well as free dinners to the.children of the indigent classes.

INFECTIOUS HOSPITAL SITES.

THE Local Board of Horfield, near Bristol, find themselvesopposed whenever they try to secure a site for an infectioushospital. Such institutions are never likely to be regardedas desirable neighbours, and hence in their case, as in thecase of sewage farms and the like, it is not an uncommon I

practice to enter into an agreement without undue publicity Jto purchase land within a specified time, provided the sitereceives the sanction of the Local Government Board. Suchan arrangement suffices to prevent any site being selectedwhich is unsuitable, and it sufficiently safeguards the in-terests of adjoining owners.

THE BOARDING-OUT SYSTEM.

A COBBBSPONDBNT in the Manchester Guardian writes

strongly in favour of the boarding-out system, on the doubleground that it is much cheaper than either cottage homesor pauper schools, and that it is infinitely better for thechildren, facilitating their escape from pauperising conditionsand traditions. We agree in this view, though some recentcases have shown the necessity of regular and faithful super-vision.

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WELSH FOLK MEDICINE.

AT a recent meeting of the Cymmrodorion Society, Mr. E.Sydney Hartland read a paper upon Welsh Folk Medicinein the Middle Centuries. He described the MeddygonMyddfai MSS,, and stated that, although other Welshmedical MSS. existed, these alone had been properly examinedby a competent antiquary. He endeavoured to show that onemanuscript was the result of gradual growth during five cen-turies. Admitting the influence of Greek and Arab physiciansupon mediaeval medicine, he thought that the Welsh phy-sicians had rather fallen away from the main stream Iof progress, and had sunk to the level of their rustic fellow- i

<ountiymen. Mr. Sydney Hartland described a number of

the beliefs current in Wales among the common people atthe time of the Renaissance, and detailed the consequentpractices as found in the manuscripts he had examined.The history of the growth of knowledge is at all times in-teresting ; even when progress sinks back to the level ofpopular beliefs, there is still much to be learnt from such aninvestigation. Folk medicine is a subject which affords de-lightful surprises, and furnishes a vivid picture of credulity.

LECTURES AT THE ROYAL. COLLEGE OFSURGEONS.

THE lectures will be given during June at 5 P.M. on datesto be announced in our next issue, and comprise the follow-ing subjects. Mr. Bryant will lecture on the Causes, Effects,and Treatment of Tension as met with in Surgical Practice,"and also on "Surgical Interference in Cranial Injuries."Mr. Arthur E. Barker will lecture on the Operative Treat-ment of Tubercular Disease in Joints." The Arris and GaleLectures by Mr. R.Marcus Gunn will be on "Light-percipientOrgans." -

SUCCI, THE FASTING MAN.THE Accademia. Medico-Fisica of Florence has just given

a diploma to Signor Succi, on occasion of his having com-pleted his thirty days’ fast. The document runs as follows:

" We, the undersigned, do certify that Signor Giovanni Succi,of Cesenatico, in the Romagna, African traveller and explorer,has completed at Florence a fast of thirty days-from themidnight of the 1st to the midnight of the 31st of March ofthis year,-subjecting himself to all the regulations imposedby the Committee of Surveillance created ad hoc, and to allthe scientific observations of the Commission nominated bythis Academy, the results of which will be made public juriesat as early a date as possible. We further declare that byhis courageous experiment, and by his scrupulous fulfilmentof every moral pledge undertaken by him towards us, SignorSucci has deserved well of science." Then follow the

signatures of Professor Angiolo Filippi, President of theCommittee of Surveillance, and of Dr. Vincenzo Crapolo, hissecretary; of Professor Luigi Luciani, President of theAcademy, and the Secretary of its proceedings, Dr. AurelioBianchi.

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CHROMATIC ASYMMETRY OF THE IRIS.

IT IS well ]Known tnat tne ins may cnange colour witnthe lapse of time, and pass, for instance, from blue to green.M. F&eacute;r&eacute; directs attention to the colour of the iris in the

subjects of nervous disease. In lunatic asylums a blue irisis considered by the uninitiated to indicate insanity, butF&eacute;r&eacute;’s statistics do not lend any support to this idea.Asymmetry in the colour of the irides, however, appears toshow that its possessor belongs to the neuropathic class. Itis very frequent in the insane, in epilepsy, and in hysteria;26 per cent. of epileptics were found to have the sign, andabout the same percentage obtained in hysterics. Thisiridic stigma, it is thought, may prove of practical value.

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THE DECLINE OF YACHT RACING.

Now that our population is becoming more and morecongregated into large towns the maintenance of our variousnational sports is a matter of increasing importance. Of

these, none is better calculated to counteract the evils ofmodern life than yachting, especially when to the calmerpleasures of cruising is added the legitimate excitement ofracing. We therefore fully share the wish expressed by acorrespondent to our contemporary the Field, thatendeavoursshould be made to bring the sport within the reach of asmany as may be. This no doubt has been, and will be, done,