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seniority, Dec. 1863. John N. Stone, employed in H.M.S.Excellent; seniority, July, 1865. Mr. Sedgwick, we are in-formed, will receive his promotion forthwith, for servicesrendered in the Abyssinian expedition, having accompanied’the Naval Brigade to Magdala. He will be the only medi-cal officer of the commodore’s ship, the Octavia, to receiverecognition of war services, unless the claims of Mr. Shaw,her surgeon, receive due consideration.

IT is rumoured that Dr. Lyon Playfair is a candidate forthe Mastership of the Mint, vacant by the death of Mr.Graham. In the event of his succeeding to the appoint-ment there would, of course, be a vacancy in the representa-tion of the Universities of Edinburgh and St. Andrews.

THE guardians of the Holbeach Union, at their last meet-ing, unanimously joined in a letter of condolence to thewidow of their late respected medical officer for the LongSutton district, Mr. Henry Ewen, F.R.C.S., whose deathhas recently occurred; and they have taken occasion to

express their appreciation of Mr. Ewen’s services duringthe long period of forty years.

THE continued and increasing prevalence of disease

,among cattle has had the effect of stimulating the endea-vour to prevent fresh importations of infected animals.The whole of the sheep which arrived in London on Sundayand Monday for Monday’s market were seized on accountof disease.

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AT a weekly meeting of the guardians of the poor of theparish of St. Pancras, it was resolved unanimously-,- That,our attention having been called to the death of Dr. Gibson,we desire to express our sympathy and condolence with thefriends of the deceased gentleman at so sad and irreparablea loss of so great and good a man."

TnE Provost and Senior Fellows of Trinity College have,we understand, handed over the sum of £10 to the governorsof Sir Patrick Dun’s Hospital, to be applied as they mayconsider best in connexion with the army midwives now

training in that institution. It is believed that the governorsintend to use the money in prizes to be given away amongthe nurses at the next examination for their diploma inmidwifery. ____

AT the last meeting of the Liverpool Health Committee,Dr. Trench drew attention to the existence of scarlatina asan epidemic in the borough, and to the indifference shownby the people to the important matter of disinfection ofclothing, bedding, &c., that had been in contact with thediseased. The disinfecting apparatus provided by the Cor-poration does not appear to be at all generally used.

IT is understood that the works for reducing the depth,purifying, and otherwise improving the Serpentine, are tobe proceeded with at once, the anticipation being that theywill be completed by the ensuing spring.

A COSTLY WRITING-DESK, elaborately fitted, was recentlypresented to Mr. James Rolph, M.R.C.S., by the Forestersof Court 1410, as a mark of respect-as an inscriptionstated, for his valuable services during nineteen years astheir medical officer.

LONDON HOSPITAL.-At a special general Court ofGovernors held on Tuesday last, Jeremiah M’Carthy,):LR.C.S. Eng., and Henry Albert Reeves, M.R.C.S. Eng.,were appointed assistant-surgeons, vice John Couper,M.D. Glasg., F.R.C.S. Eng., promoted, and Louis StromeyerLittle, F.R.C.S. Eng., resigned.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROMO-TION OF SOCIAL SCIENCE.

THE thirteenth annual congress of the above Associationcommenced its sittings in Bristol, on Wednesday, underthe presidency of Sir Stafford Northcote, Bart., M.P.Several important subjects of great interest to the medicalprofession are set down for discussion. Amongst those re-lating to health are:-Whether Government can beneficiallyfurther interfere to limit the spread of infectious diseases ? PWhat legislative measures might be proposed to deal withcases of uncontrollable drunkenness ? and, Whether the-Contagious Diseases Act should be extended to the civilpopulation ? We hear, also, that the question of total absti-nence from alcoholic beverages is to be discussed from apurely scientific point of view. The improvement in thePoor Law is to receive consideration, and Dr. Stallard will

bring under the notice of the Congress the treatment ofpauper lunatics.On Wednesday evening, the Congress was formally

opened by the address of the President, who stated that thegreat English problem is at this moment how to make the-best use of Parliamentary government. He observed thatthe people must be taught to support and co-operate with.the Government, whose intervention, however, was more

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necessary now than in former times, the social questions.; assuming such large dimensions that they cannot be ade-

quately dealt with without a central administrativemachinerv.

In reviewing the proposed programme. Sir Stafford North.cote said, on the subject of public health, that there neverwas a, time when State assistance of the right kind wasmore needed. Health is a kind of wealth that we have nothusbanded as we ought. Combined action is wanted to se-cure to the great masses of our population the first condi-tions of a sound sanitary state, to check the propagation ofinfectious disorders, to prevent overcrowding in dwelling-houses, to provide an adequate supply of pure and whole-some water, and otherwise to bring all the forces of civilisa.tion into play, in order to counteract the evils which civili-sation brings in its train. He thought the time at handwhen three new ministries must be created,-a Ministry of

, Health, of Education, and of Justice. This, however (ob-,

served the President), was a day of Royal Commissions, andthat on State Medicine was considering the consolidationof our very complicated sanitary laws, and the completionof our sanitary organisation. He seemed to think it difficultto assign a limit to the demands which the State might withadvantage make upon the time and intelligence of a civil

, medical service ; and when we have such a service, it will be aquestion how to turn it to the best account. Localorganisa-tions would also be required, and he observed that few

t greater advantages could be conferred on England than awell- considered framework of local self - government,

_ charged with the administration of justice, health, educa-tion, charitable trusts, and so forth, subject to due controlby the central power.

ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL ANDDR. MAYO.

WE understand that the senior students of St. Bartho-lomew’s will hold a meeting at the 11 Albion," in Aldersgate-street, this afternoon (Oct. 1st), at which the followingresolutions will be brought forward :-

" 1. That this meeting desires to express its regret thatthe hospital staff have decided to omit the customary in-augural address and welcome to the new students; andthat by this omission an unnecessary stigma has been castupon the reputation of the Medieajl School of St. Bartho-lomew’s Hospital.

" 2. That this meeting desires to express also its unquali-fied dissent from, and disapprobation of, the course of actiontaken by Mr. White and the House Committee in dismiss-ing Dr. Mayo from office for complaining of the insufficiency