332 THE METROPOLITAN WATER-SUPPLY.

many cities still retained such pride in their ownindependence and importance that their individualhistory was altered by their attitude towards theirbig neighbours. Sir Henry Morris’s historical noteis most interesting, and will be read by many nowthat the word Verdun is not only on all our lipsbut speaks to our warmest feelings.

THE METROPOLITAN WATER-SUPPLY.

DURING the month of 1Y1ay the mean rainfall overthe Thames basin was 2’06 inches, which represents0’10 inch above the average mean rainfall for thismonth during the previous 33 years. With in-creased rainfall there is generally shown to be a de-terioration in the chemical quality of the raw riverwaters in some respects. The results of the chemicalexamination during May showed that the raw Leewater deteriorated as judged by the albuminoidnitrogen, permanganate, and colour tests, but therewas no change with regard to its turbidity. Theraw Thames and New River supplies similarlydeteriorated in quality as judged by the albuminoidnitrogen tests, but improved as regards the per-manganate, turbidity, and colour tests. The samplescollected at the different works were, generallyspeaking, clear, bright, and free from suspendedmatter, the filtered waters in fact showing animprovement in quality during the month as

judged by the albuminoid nitrogen, permanganate,and colour tests. All three raw waters containedmore bacteria than their respective averages,while the filtered waters, generally speaking,yielded not unsatisfactory results, as will beseen from the following statement. Whereas 78’3,86’9, and 34’8 per cent. of the samples of rawThames, Lee, and New River water respectivelycontained typical B. coli in 1 c.c. (or less) of water,90’9, 60’9, and 93’9 per cent. of the filter waterderived from these supplies (placing them in thesame order as above) contained no typical B. colieven in 100 times as much water-namely, 100 c.c.

CHINA AND WESTERN MEDICINE.

NATIVE medical practice in China is still founded !on Taoism, which became in the hands of its laterinterpreters a quest for a kind of philosopher’sstone to induce long life. The text-books are those

Iof a thousand years before the Christian era, and

nothing of modern application, except perhapsacupuncture, has emerged from them. It now

appears that the medicine of the Western worldis beginning to take firm root, a fact to whichfresh testimony is borne by the holding of the firstannual conference of the National Medical Associa-tion of China, of which we publish a report inanother column. The report is belated, but thepostal facilities of the world have been muchcurtailed of late, and the internal condition ofChina very disturbed. The free interchange of

thought and opinion has largely homogenisedthought and practice in this country during thelast half century, and international conferenceshad begun to do the same for Europe before thewar broke out; for it had already become possiblefor a student with a smattering of a foreigntongue to spend with advantage one or more

semesters at a university other than his ownwithout finding the medical and surgical practicetoo foreign for him to assimilate. The foundationsof similar things are now being laid in China, and,if recent experience does not mislead, the super-structure is likely to rise rapidly. Dr. Yen, in his

presidential address to the association, spoke of someof the public health problems to be faced in China,which are seen to be the same wherever the cultureof the occident has penetrated. The consumptionof alcohol and of patent medicines seems fated atfirst to rise as the level of civilisation, in ourmodern conception of the word, rises. It is dis.creditable to Western pioneers that this should beso, and we trust that China may find a short wayof dealing with the evils. Allusion was made at theconference to many familiar Western problems : itwas stated, for instance, that an attempt to trainthe old-fashioned nurse to become a clean andefficient midwife had failed in China. The in-stitution of a State Medical Service to meet thenecessities of public and private practice was pro-posed, and it is possible that in a country with noold conceptions of medical practice, and no vestedinterests, as we understand them, the drasticprinciples of such a service might be adopted withgreater ease than they can be in this country.

METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL SUNDAY FUND.

THAT in spite of the heavy demands made on thepurses of the charitable in connexion with thewar, and in spite of the vast increase in the cost ofliving, the sum collected by the Metropolitan Hos-pital Sunday Fund should have fallen short by onlyf:2600 of last year’s total is a great satisfaction tothe supporters of this valuable charity. The actualsum collected for the current year up to the meetingof the Council on Tuesday last was JE68,000, of which66,430 will be distributed among 248 hospitals,convalescent homes, dispensaries, and nursing in-stitutions, 7 per cent. of the total being applied tothe purchase of surgical appliances. On the motionof Lord Knutsford, the General Purposes Committeewere empowered to consider the advisability ofhaving a fixed date for Hospital Sunday during thewinter months, on the ground that a better responseto the appeal would result at that season of theyear.

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THE BOARD OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

ON the initiative of the Royal Society a Board ofScientific Societies has been established forthe furtherance of the following objects: Pro-

moting the cooperation of those interested in pureor applied science; supplying a means by whichthe scientific opinion of the country may, on

matters relating to science, industry, and education,find effective expression; taking such action as

may be necessary to promote the application ofscience to our industries and to the service of thenation; and discussing scientific questions inwhich international cooperation seems advis-able. The Board at present consists of repre-sentatives of 27 scientific, including technical,societies. The regulations give power to addto this number and to appoint as members ofsubcommittees individuals who are not necessarilyconnected with any of the constituent societies.An executive committee has been appointed con-sisting of the following members : Sir JosephThomson, O.M., P.R.S. (chairman), Dr. Dugald Clerk,F.R.S., Sir Robert Hadfield, F.R.S., Mr. A. D. Hall,F.R.S., Professor Herbert Jackson (honorary secre-tary), Sir Alfred Keogh, K.C.B., Sir Ray Lankester,K.C.B., F.R.S., Professor A. Schuster, Sec.R.S., SirJohn Snell, Professor E. H. Starling, F.R.S., LordSydenham, F.R.S., and Mr. R. Threlfall, F.R.S.