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to 14 last week, and included 10 in Glasgow, two in Edin-burgh, and two in Aberdeen. The fatal cases of diphtheria,which had been three and eight in the two preceding weeks,declined again last week to six, of which three occurredin Edinburgh. The deaths from small-pox, which had beenthree, three, and two in the three preceding weeks, roseagain last week to three, and were all recorded in Glasgow.The deaths referred to diseases of the respiratory organsin these towns, which had been 1.05 and 1?,3 in the twopreceding weeks, further rose last week to 139, but were 59below the number in the corresponding period of last year.The causes of 30, or nearly 4 per cent., of the deaths inthese eight towns last week were not certified.

HEALTH OF DUBUN.

The death-rate in Dublin, which had been 29 4 and 28-3per 1000 in the two preceding weeks, rose again to 30’4per 1000 during the week ending Jan. 19th. During the pastfour weeks the death-rate in the city has averaged 27’4 per1000, the rates during the same period being 18’2 in Londonand 20-9 in Edinburgh. The 202 deaths belonging to Dublinregistered during the week under notice were 14 inexcess of the number in the preceding week and included 16which were referred to the principal zymotic diseases, against23 and 18 in the two preceding weeks; of these, 12 were referredto whooping-cough, three to "fever," and one to diarrhoea.These 16 deaths were equal to an annual rate of 24 per 1000,the zymotic death-rate during the same period being 1’6 inLondon and 30 in Edinburgh. The deaths from whooping-cough, which had been 13 and 10 in the two pre-ceding weeks, rose again last week to 12. The fatalcases of "fever," which had been three in each of the two preceding weeks, were again three last week. The203 deaths in Dublin last week included 41 of childrenunder one year of age and 51 of persons aged upwards of60 years; the deaths of infants largely exceeded the numberin the preceding week, while those of elderly personsshowed a decline. Five inquest cases and five deathsfrom violence were registered ; and 72, or more than a

third, of the deaths occurred in public institutions. Thecauses of 10, or nearly 5 per cent., of the deaths in thecity last week were not certified.

THE SERVICES.

ROYAL NAVY MEDICAL SERVICE.THE following officer has been noted for accelerated

promotion for services in China :-Surgeon Edward ButlerPickthorn.The following appointments are notified : SurgeonsMowat to the Duke of Wellington; J. G. Corry to the

Northampton, for the Calliope; ; and F. Fedarb to theExcellent.

ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS.

Major J. C. Morgan, R.A.M.C., has been appointedMedical Officer of the Duke of York’s Royal Military School,Chelsea, vice Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. C. Whipple, A.M.S.(retired), in recognition of his services as staff surgeon in

charge of head-quarters in the Tirah campaign, 1897-98.DEATHS IN THE SERVICES.

Deputy-Inspector-General Edward Hodges Cree, R.N. (re-tired), aged 87 years, on Jan. 15th at his residence, 2,Pemberton-gardens, Holloway. At one time he held the

post of staff-surgeon at the dockyard at Portsmouth, and wassurgeon on board the Rattlesnake, the Vixen, and the Furyduring the war with China (medal) and the operations onthe coast of Borneo in 1839. He was also surgeon on boardthe Odin in the Baltic in 1854 (medal) and was at thetaking of Sebastopol in the following year (medal).

THE PRINCESS AND THE WOUNDED.The Princess of Wales has presented the patients at the

Gables private military hospital, Surbiton, with handsome

pocket-cases, each inscribed " A gift from the Princess ofWales," and a cartridge pencil bearing the name of the

engagement at which the recipient was wounded.DISCHARGED TO DUTY.

The following have been discharged to duty : Civil Sur-geons W. R. Kemp, J. P. N. Casey, FitzGibbon, Mackenzie,Hoskin, Petty, and McMnrty.

THE WAR IN CHINA.It is very gratifying to hear such good accounts of

the British forces-and of those of the Indian contingentespecially- serving in China. The cold is severe there atthe present season, but it is not the case that the Indiantroops are dying of cold and are not properly caredfor. It is inevitable, as the special correspondent of theStandard writes, that in every campaign a certain numberof deaths should take place from sickness and the totalmortality may be large by the time the war is over, but thetroops are well provided for and certainly as well as theycan be under the circumstances. It must be borne in mindthat China is not at all like England in the way of sanita-tion. Tientsin, for example, is entirely without drainage,even of the most rudimentary kind, and there is a good dealof unavoidable overcrowding, especially among the nativepopulation. The Standard correspondent says :-The British military authorities have managed in some way to get

all their men houses, and have rt-nted some of the best places available.They have secured stocks of coal and an ample supply of stoves; thecommissariat stores are full to overflowing, and, so far as most of uscan see, nothing has been left undone that could have been done tokeep the native troops well and fit. Native sentries have short duty,and are served with hot tea before and after duty. And as for clothingTommy would smile could he see some of his dusky colleagues goingabout town. Many officers, almost fastiduously anxious to keep theirmen sound, give them extra comforts, &c.

The men have plenty of warm clothing of all kinds, but allwho know anything of the habits and practices of our Indiannative troops, excellent as these troops are in respect ofcourage and discipline, know that they are singularly"absent-minded" and careless in exposing themselves toall kinds of risks from colds and chills, and that they haveto be watched like children in these respects. Nativesoldiers on field service are peculiarly liable to pneumonia andpulmonary diseases. In spite of their habits and practices,against which the officers fight with energy, the sick list isnot a long one. No one, says the correspondent, can suggestthe slightest neglect on the part of the military authorities.COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO MEDICAL AND SURGICAL

OFFICERS OF THE RED CROSS HOSPITAL.A complimentary dinner to Colonel Cayley and the

medical staff of the National Red Cross Hospital was givenon Friday evening, Jan. 18th, at Messrs. Ferguson andForrester’s Restaurant, Buchanan-street, Glasgow. The

Marquis of Breadalbane, K.G., presided and amongst thosepresent were Professor George Adam Smith, Colonel R. C.Mackenzie, Colonel Cayley, commandant of the staff ; Mr.H. E. Clark, senior surgeon; Sir David Richmond, Pro-fessor Chiene, Sir James Bell, Dr. Beatson, Dr. John Oowan,Dr. John Aitken, Dr. Stirling, and Dr. John M’lntyre.

Correspondence."Audi alteram partem."

THE EXAMINATIONS FOR THE SWISSFEDERAL DIPLOMA.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,-It will be convenient for me and of use to othersif you will allow me to describe my experience of theexaminations required for the Swiss Federal diploma underthe new regulations, for I am receiving many letters on thesubject, as I am the first Englishman to obtain the diplomaunder these regulations. It is 10 years since they wereenforced, and meanwhile only one Englishman has attempted,and no one has succeeded, in obtaining the diploma.The examinations required are three in number. 1. The

Federal Maturité. 2. The examination in anatomy,physiology, embryology, and history. 3. The " pro-fessional," which includes pathology and pathologicalanatomy, medicine, therapeutics, ciseases of children,ophthalmic surgery, surgery, midwifery and gynaecology,hygiene, medical jurisprudence, and mental diseases. Theexaminations are conducted in French, German, or Italian.Those candidates who elect to be examined in French orItalian have to go to Geneva or Lausanne. Those who chooseGerman must go to Ba-le, Berne, or Zurich. The examina-tions are held twice a year, in the spring and in the autumn.Application for admission to, or for information about, the