Sir William Turner's address to the Anthropological Section was of great general interest and of special interest to ourselves.

On cranial capacity, ne arrived at the conclusions that this was greater in the European than in the savage, that the range of variation was also greater, that few male savage crania reached the European mean (1,500 c.c.), and that there is less difference between male and female crania in savages than in Europeans.

Dr. Alexander Morison delivered the Morison Lectures for the present year in the Hall of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, during the first week of November, on “The Anatomy and Physiology of the Nervous Mechanism of the Viscera.”

The After-care of the Insane.—The Committee of the American Neurological Association upon the After-care of the Insane have published their report (Journ. of Nerv. and Ment. Disease, November, 1897). Their method of inquiry was to issue a circular letter to about fifty-six leading alienists and neurologists. Fifty replies were received, the large majority of which were decidedly favourable to the principle. Only six were doubtful or positively opposed to it: and the chief objections of these were the paucity of the cases likely to be benefited by such aid; the inexpediency of the project, though admitting its possible desirability; and that, while excellent in theory, it would be impossible in practice. Eighty-eight per cent. of those who were consulted and who replied are of opinion, and some of them very strongly so, that great good would be likely to accrue from a properly organised system of after-care for convalescent or improved cases of mental disease. The majority seem to think that such a system should at first be the outcome of private organisation, and that a successful issue of such would be all the more likely to make out a good case for State aid and recognition at a later date. The number of patients, for whom such provision would be likely to be fruitful of good results, the various superintendents are as yet unable to fix with any certainty, as hitherto it has, of course, not been the custom to inquire into the circumstances. and future surroundings of each patient on his discharge from the asylum. The following is a summary of the Committee's conclusions:—“(i) It is the general and well-nigh unanimous sentiment of those who are the most conversant with the needs of the insane in this country that measures should speedily be inaugurated for the temporary relief of discharged, recovered, convalescent, and improved insane patients of the dependent class by organised outside assistance. (ii) As a preliminary step, inquiry should be made of all such patients before they leave the hospital regarding the mode of life, surroundings, and occupation to which they are returning, and appropriate advice given by a medical officer of the hospital. This precautionary measure is, we believe, too often neglected in large institutions for the insane. (iii) The legal provision whereby an allowance of money and clothing is made in some States to each patient on his discharge should be adopted by all. and (iv) that outside assistance can best be provided, we believe, through the medium of an after-care association, which, until its utility be proven, should be entirely a private undertaking, and should be organised like most existing charitable associations depending upon voluntary contributions. Obviously a large city offers the best field for starting and developing such a system.”

The Therapeutic Value of Spleen Extract. By A. Campbell Clark, M.D. (Edin. Med. Journ., February, 1898).—Dr. Clark gives the results of an investigation at Lanark County Asylum extending over a period of two years. The object aimed at was the cure or alleviation of mental disease, and was suggested by the frequency of splenic deficiency noted in asylum post-mortem records. Three classes of cases were submitted to treatment: 1. Those of an intractable character, e. g. chronic inertia. 2. Recent cases of insanity due to physical weakness, e. g. puerperal cases. 3. Selected cases suggested by treatment of the first two classes. He quotes the result of six out of thirty cases, and arrived at the following conclusions:—That splenic treatment (1) increases nutritive activity by aiding digestion and stimulating the glandular activity of the skin; (2) gives rise to striking mental changes, sometimes of an abnormal character—exhibition of temper in stuporose cases; elevation in shy and stupid cases, &c. Contrasted with thyroid treatment, spleen treatment was more phenomenal in its effects, more lasting and sure in its results, and exceedingly safe. He strongly recommended a preparatory course of spleen in any case where thyroid treatment was proposed.

[The Editors request that members will oblige by sending full newspaper reports of all cases of interest as published by the local press at the time of the assizes.]

Reg. v. Marriotini.

Prisoner stabbed his wife in twenty-five places, and about two hours after wards threw himself into the Thames. While in the water he discharged a revolver four times. He was rescued, and then said, “I have killed my wife by stabbing her with a large knife. She worried me so much that I told her she would make me murder ber.” Subsequently he said, “I had a quarrel with my wife. I have been unhappy for twenty years. I have had a miserable life.” It was proved that three years before there had been an explosion at the café kept by the prisoner, and that he received such injuries that he was in hospital for five months. When he returned home be was greatly changed, became very irritable, and complained of pains in the head. For ten days before the murder he suffered very much from sleeplessness, and used to wander about the house at night talking to himself.

Bacteriological Researches in Acute Delirium.—The question of the relation of certain forms of acute mania to bacterial infection is one that has lately been brought prominently forward in this country. A recent paper by Ceni (Rivista Sperimentale di Freniatria, 1897, Fasc. iv, p. 796), in which the observations that have been made upon the subject on the Continent are somewhat fully reviewed, may therefore merit notice here at some length.

We regret to observe that the Lancashire Asylums Board have decided to provide additional “temporary” accommodation at Rainhill for 200 patients. It is to be hoped that these buildings will be really temporary, and that the Board will remove them as soon as possible. The evils of these overgrown institutions have been so often the subject of unfavourable comment that wo refrain from further remarks at present, except to express sympathy with Dr. Wiglesworth in having this unwelcome addition thrust upon him. We certainly cannot agree with Mr. Turner in his reported remarks to the effect that, as in a very short time the lunacy requirements of the county would be such as to occupy all the permanent provision that the Board anticipated making, as many of the asylums as could should make temporary accommodation. If the requirements transcend the possibilities under the arrangements now completed, it seems to us high time that the question of further permanent provision should be faced.

An important report upon asylums on the Continent and in England has been prepared by a committee of the Edinburgh District Lunacy Board, in view of the proposed new asylum for Edinburgh. It is a document of special interest to those interested in the provision of accommodation for the insane, and especially to us as an expression of opinion in regard to recent methods of asylum construction set forth by a body of gentlemen who approach the subject with open minds. The deputation returned impressed with the conviction that the asylum at Alt Scherbitz was the best they had seen, and that Edinburgh should adopt that system. The estate of Wester Bangour, tear Uphall, extending to 861 acres, has been purchased for £13,000; and the District Board have resolved to construct their institution on the villa system, at an expense of some £150,000. We understand that the plans will be open to a limited competition, and we shall watch the development of this important hospital with great interest.