Tke University of -Bt7'mtM&. THE founders of a new institution accept an enormous weight of responsibility and a vast amount of work in the pursuit of their object. This is clearly illustrated in the labour and energy involved in promoting the new University of Birmingham. The arrangement of the many new subjects of study involve much thought and careful consideration, while the multiplicity of details in working and the arrangements tax the time and the strength of all the chief promoters and

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... heir allies. The dean of the medical faculty (Professor B. C. A. Windle) has been indefatigable in looking after the interests of the school of medicine and ever ready in seeking to maintain its efficiency and high standard. Of late he has been actively engaged in the important task of arranging for the examinations for medical degrees to which practitioners of a certain standard will be admitted. Already a large number of practitioners have expressed a desire to submit themselves to the examinations, and it is expected that the number will be largely increased. This examination offers a healthy stimulus to revive the knowledge of former years by the additions of modern methods in order that the coveted degree may be obtained. Some of the classes show a goodly proportion of qualified men anxious to equip themselves for the ordeal. The dean is willing to give any information to applicants for particulars as to classes, text-books, and all details. City Health Reticrzs. At this season of the year the returns of the Health Committee show much fluctuation, but unfortunately they exhibit a high relative increase of infectious diseases. For the week ending Nov. 10th the record showed that scarlet fever was increasing and typhoid fever was decreasing. Last week this order was reversed, scarlet fever having decreased from 80 to 60 cases and typhoid fever having increased from 25 to 38 cases. The epidemic is not so severe as in some seasons, for during the past week, of the total number of deaths registered only three had ieference to scarlet fever and six to typhoid fever. Measles is credited with four deaths, the general death-rate being 18 3 per 1000. 484 cases of scarlet fever were under treatment at the hospital-a large number even in a large population. The Widal blood-test in cases of typhoid fever is recommended by the Health Committee, who have arranged to bear all expense in providing glass tubes and oatfits for the purpose, in addition to the tests being conducted in the laboratory of the University. -South African Extroerience. The Pathological and Clinical Section of the Birmingham Branch of the British Medical Association is ever ready through its active secretaries to excite interest in the work of the section. A meeting has been arranged for Nov. 30th at which Mr. Frederick Treves has kindly consented to give an address on Notes from a Field Hospital in South Africa. Birmingham has contributed well to the work done so nobly in this quarter-Mr. J. F. Hall-Edwards and Mr. C. A. Leedham-Green having been actively engaged in important duties. It is expected that a large audience will be present to give a hearty welcome to Mr. Treves. Superstition still Existing. A curious instance of superstition occurred lately in one of the suburbs of Birmingham. Two men were engaged in dragging the canal for a child's body. A small loaf of bread was placed in the water within a few yards from the men and it was stated that as soon as the loaf turned round they would be near the body. It is an old superstition in the Midlands that if a dead body is in the water and a loaf into which some quicksilver has been inserted is allowed to float about, it will stop over the spot where the body lies. It is hardly necessary to point out how entirely fallacious such an idea must be, and yet there ara to be found those in this eDlightened age who believe in the practice. It is, of course, well known that obstructions in running streams cause eddies, and these collect floating substances-light matters passing rapidly down on the surface; but a weighted object like a loaf of bread with quicksilver inside would sink nearly below the surface and would be caught by the undercurrent of the eddy caused by the corpse and so remain stationary. This possibly is the matter-of-fact explanation of an apparently occult phenomenon. I Nov. 20th. ______________ LIVERPOOL. ' (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Hospital Satitrday-'tcnd. THE annual meeting of the subscribers to the Hospital Saturday Fund was held recently under the presidency of the Lord Mayor (Mr. A. Crosthwaite). The treasurer's statement showed the amount collected to have been <67103 16s. 10d., an increase of Z83 ls. 1d. over the year 1899. Notwithstanding that the day appointed for the ladies' street collection was most unfavourable for the work, the result had been very satisfactory. Since 1890 the fund had increased by £3062 4s. 2d., the return of that year being <B404112s. 8d., while the expenses, which were 8 per cent. in the former period now amounted to about 5 per cent. There were now in use 1695 boxes, 865 cards, and 131 firms who adopted their own system-an increase over 1899 of 67 boxes, 38 cards, and 16 firms using their own method-a total of 121 new collections commenced during the year. One feature of this branch of the report, to which the treasurer called special attention, was the increase in the number of firms working their own collections, and he would strongly recommend the adoption of that system where possible. During the year 122 notes of admissions to the various hospitals had been supplied through the office. The Hospital Saturday Fund was now represented upon the committees of all the hospitals to which contributions were made, and the representatives were unanimous in their testimony as to the very close attention given in any case of complaint or suggestion made to them by the committee. It is pleasing to find that the representatives of the fund on the various hospital committees speak in terms of praise both of the good work accomplished by the medical staffs and nurses in the several institutions and of the economical yet efficient manner in which these institutions are conducted. The Central Hospital, Liseard. A highly successful bazaar in aid of the funds for building the new central hospital at Liscard was concluded on Nov. 19th, the total amount realised being £5800. The committee of the hospital have much cause for congratulation, as the amount desired was only £4000. Liverpool S'chool of Tropical Medicine.