933 English-to inform the Western countries of the work of the Academy. The plan was unanimously adopted, and the new periodical, which will be translated into the languages mentioned by the respective lecturers in those languages at the University, will appear early next year. The Fight against Rats. A few days ago a plague case was reported in a neighbouring country which maintains a great traffic with Hungary by means of the Danube. Most of the cargo ships unload at Budapest, and the

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... committee of the city have decided on a far-reaching campaign against rats. The committee applied for instructions to the Ministry of Public Welfare, which issued orders for the dissemination of information by means of posters in the streets relating to the necessity for removal of all rubbish which could serve as food for rats, and containing instructions as to methods of poisoning the rodents. Dead rats are to be buried deeply in the earth or burned. Public Health Services. REPORTS OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH. Two BRITISH SPAS. Royal Leamington Spa. THE estimated population for 1921 was 28,500; the birth-rate 19.1 ; the corrected death-rate 10-83; the infant mortality-rate 64-1; the pulmonary tuberculosis rate 1-15 ; the other tuberculosis rate 0-42; and the cancer death-rate 1-57. Dr. W. L. Goldie includes in his report two interesting charts. The first indicates the death-rate and birth-rate since 1891, and shows graphically how the death-rate exceeded the birth-ra,te during the war and also the great jump in the birth-rate in 1920. The second chart shows the reduction of infant mortality-rate from about 150 to about 60. As in many other places, the neo-natal deaths numbered nearly half of the total infant deaths. The Leamington Council retains three beds in the Warneford, Leamington and South Warwickshire General Hospital and Bathing Institution for maternity cases. Eight cases of encephalitis lethargica were notified with three deaths. No association between any of the cases could be traced. The water-supply, from two wells in the New Red Sandstone, is just sufficient for the needs of the town, but leaves no margin for exceptionally dry weather. The recommendation of the Housing Commission that the proposed houses in the scheme be reduced from 529 to 369 has been accepted, but it is realised that the new number is inadequate. During the last two years 97 houses (two built privately) have been erected to meet what is really a very pressing need. Nine complaints of smoke nuisances from furnace chimneys were received, but there were no prosecutions. The hours of bright sunshine were 1632 and the rainfall 20-16 inches. Royal Tunbridge Wells. The estimated population for 1921 was 34,270; the birth-rate was 15-0 ; the crude death-rate 13'2, and the death-rate, corrected for age and sex constitution of the population, 11-5. The infant mortality-rate was 48-7. The rainfall for the year was the lowest on record, 16-45 inches, and the hours of bright sunshine were 1795, which, Dr. F. C. Linton tells us, was the highest amount recorded amongst inland health-resorts keeping records for the Meteorological Office. Dr. Linton cites the facts that of 25 infant deaths 15 occurred in the first week of life and that there were 20 stillbirths as cogent reasons for the establishment of an antenatal clinic. One of the two infant welfare centres is held in utterly unsuitable premises in the basement of the Public Health Office, and Dr. Linton favours a new maternity and child welfare centre and school clinic combined. Of the 32 fatal cases of tuberculosis, no less than 10 were unnotified at the time of death. Dental treatment in the schools has just been begun.