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they have reason to believe that they will not be paid aseparate and adequate fee for doing so.We shall observe with interest the application of the new

regulations to medical witnesses in petty sessional courtsand at quarter sessions and assizes during the year whichhas now commenced. The medical profession perhaps ,,

gains more by them than does any other profession or Iemployment but even when we admit this we are entitled Ito say that the gain is not great and that assisting the,cause of justice in the criminal courts will remain in manyinstances an unpleasant duty involving considerable anxietyand trouble, together with pecuniary loss, for which butinadequate comlensation is provided.

THE REGIUS PROFESSORSHIP OFMEDICINE AT OXFORD.

A MEETING of the medical graduates of the Universityof Oxford was summoned at very short notice for Tuesdayafternoon last to consider the question of the appointmentof a successor to Professor Sir John Butdcn Sanderscn

who is retiring from the Regius Professorship of Medi-

cine. Sir WILLIAM S. CHURCH, President of the RoyalCollege of Physicians of London, took the chair, and

40 out of 60 specially invited graduates, practically all

of whom are engaged in teaching, were present, thenames representing some of the best known members ofthe medical staffs of the metropolitan hospitals. SirWilliam Church made a brief exposition of the situation,showing that it was intended to recommend Dr. J. Ritchie,the present Reader in Pathology, to the vacant post. The

following statement, after some discussion, was then agreedto and signed by all present save two or three :-We learn that it has been suggested by certain teachers in Oxford

that the present Reader in Pathology should be appomted RegiusProfessor of Medicine. We understand that the chief argument infavour of that proposal is that in this way the emoluments of the.chair of medicine might be made to supplement the income of theReader in Pathology. We beg leave to protest very strongly againstthis proposal for the following leasons :-The work of the medicalstudent of Oxford falls into two parts; the first part is preparatoryand done in Oxford, the second part is clinical and done elsewhere atthe large clinical schools. The first part is represented in Oxford bythe professors of the various scienees; the second part can only berepresented by the Regius Professor. The Regius Professor isresponsible for the orgtnisation. direction, and conduct of theCinal examinations in Oxford, which give the licence to practise,and should himself take part in them as the Regius Professorused to do. the has also to adjudicate and advise the Univer-sity upon the theses presented for the M.D. degree. The RegiusProfessor ought, therefore, to be a physician of great experience inclinical work and clinical teaching ; he ought to be thoroughlyfamiliar with the system of instruction at the large m dical schoolsand with all the details of the student’s clinical work. He ought to befully conversant with the requirements of the licensing and examiningbodies and of the Medical Council. He ought to have the requisiteknowledge to enable him to guide wisely the deliberations of theboard of the faculty of medicine in these respects and to bring intoharmonious relation the work of the student of medicine in Oxfordwith hIs work in the clinical school. s the Regius Professor is therepresentative of the University in medicine, not in Oxford only. butin the world at large, he ought to be a man of established reputationin medicine and one who could worthily uphold the dignity of theUniversity in the estimation of the profession and of the public. Heought to be a man who could be accepted as the leader and representa-tive in Oxford of the medical graduates, and one to whom they wouldall with confidence give their loyal support, for without this supportthe medical school in Oxford cannot prosper as it should. On thesegrounds we think it desirable that the Regius Professor should, if pos-sible, be an Oxford man. The proposal to convert the Regius Professor-ship of Medicine into a professorship of any single branch of medicalstudy is a question of vital importance to the status of medicine inthe University and to the welfare of the medical school. We do not our-eelves think this change desiratle, but it is, at any rate, a question notlightly to be decided. The Regius Profesor has important practicaldutie, to discharge in Oxford. He alone is in a position to coördinatethe various departments forming the medical curriculum, a task forwhich technical knowledge and wide clinical experience are essential.

The following two motions were passed :-(1) That in the opinion of this meeting the Regius Professor of

Medicine should be a physician who is representative of medicine in itswidest sense. (2) That it would be detrimental to the best interestsof medicine in Oxford if the Regius Professorship were converted intoa professorship of any one branch of medical study.A deputation has been appointed to wait upon the Chan-

cellor of the University, with whom Sir William Church isalready in private correspondence. This deputation willexpress the views of the meeting of medical graduates. The

question of suggesting any person to 611 the appointment, itis agreed, shall be left to the discretion of Sir William

Church. Throughout the meeting no name was mentionedand no personal references whatever were made to Dr.Ritchie, the objection to his appointment being wholly uponpublic grounds.

THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEFINSPECTOR OF FACTORIES AND

WORKSHOPS FOR THEYEAR 1902.

PART I. REPORTS.

FIRST NOTICE.

THE annual report of the Chief Inspector of Factories andWorkshops for the year 1902 consists of (1) The generalreport on the factory department during the year with eightappendices which deal respectively with : (i.) Laundriesconnected with religious and charitable institutions. Thisis a circular addreesed to the managers of these under-takings asking if they wish to receive visits from the factoryinspectors or trom a woman inspector. It may be here saidthat various answers were returned and it was found in theinstitutions which were visited that the management wasusually satisfactory. (ii.) Ventilation: a digest of resultsof analyses of air in factories and workshops, based uponthe Report of the Ventilaticn Committee. This is a valuabletable showing in detail the effects of artificial ventilation incases in which gas is and is not used. The air examinedwas taken from factories and workshops used for weaving,tailoring, cotton -spinning, and a variety of other trades.(iii.) The particulars of a prize given by she Society of Artsfor a dust arresting respirator to be used in dangerous trades.The prize consists of a gold medal or .620 in cash and thedetails of the competition may be obtained by anyone whoapplies to the secretary of the society, John-street, Adelphi.(iv.) Sanitary accommodation orders dated respectivelyAugust, 1902, and February, 1903, with a circular issued onFeb. 16th, 1903. The latter is of interest because it gives adefinition of what in the opinion of the Home Office ismeant by the words " sufficiently lighted" when applied tosanitary conveniences. These words we are told do net

require that a brilliant light should be provided "such aswould be required for reading." In some cases the con-veniences are now left in total darkness and this will no

longer be allowed. (v.) "The suggested requirementsfor underground bakehouses" is a paper which containsuseful rules in regard to the construction, lighting, andventilation of underground bakehouses written for theguidance of medical officers of health in adviing sanitaryauthorities as to the conditions needed in order to conformwith the requirements of the Factory and Workshops Act.The recommendations made in this paper were adopted bythe Incorporated Society of Medical Officers of Health andtheir general and uniform acceptance throughout the countrywould prove of service to the community at large. (vi.) Acircular was issued to the manufacturers of earthenwareand china in April, 1902, and a copy of this is given inthe report. The determined fight made against the HomeOffice draft rules is now a matter of history, (vii.) Draftregulations in regard to file cutting. (viii.) A synopsis ofrequirements of "particulars" to be supplied by manu-facturers in regard to piecework in various industries. Inthe past weavers and hosiers have perhaps suffered mostfrom the chicanery of their employers.

(2) The sectional reports (pp. 1-295). The reports aremade by the superintending inspectors of the five greatdivisions into which Great Britain and Ireland are divided ;by the principal woman inspector, the examiner of textileparticulars, the inspector of humid textile fabrics, theelectrical inspector, and the medical inspector. The reportof the last named contains appendices on anthrax inhorsehair, and on the disinfection of horsehair-subjects towhich attention will be given later,-on the Belgian linenfactories, and on the process of 11 vuleamisii3g " by means ofcarbon disulphide.

(3) Special reports (pp. 296-335). These are three innumber and deal respectively (i.) with dangerous and

injurious processes in the enamelling and tinning of metals,(ii. ) methods of removing dust in iron foundries and machineshops, and (iii.) ship-building accidents.

(4) Statutory orders (pp. 336-347). The orders issued