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accidental circumstance. The ampére is really part of an 
absolute system of electrical units—namely, that quantity of 
electricity which will move the weight of one gramme 
through the space of one centimetre in one second of time. 
This is the centimetre, gramme, second, unit of electrical work ; 
it was, however, found to be too large a unit, and it was divided 
into ten parts, each of which is called one ampére. The 
microscopical, or rather the infinitesimal amount of chemical 
work defining the ampére, is a very accurate measure of it; but, 
at the same time, it is but an accidental circumstance, and not 
the real definition of this unit. 
The current of electricity can also be measured in absolute 
units by means of the tangent galvanometer. 
The watt is the unit of work, and is the volt-ampére per 
second, and 746 watts are one horse-power. 
The object of all science is utility, and, says Sir William 
Thomson, to whom also is due much of the information here 
given, ‘‘ No greater mistake can be made than of ignoring the 
relation of science to utility ;” and I trust that I have been 
successful in my endeavour to show that the relation of absolute 
electrical measurements to utility not only exists, but also is 
necessary for the right understanding and working of all electrical 
problems. 
NATIONAL HEALTH 
By R. C. HOLT, F.R.C.S. November 5th, 1889. 
The Lecturer affirmed that the subject he had to treat was 
very wide, and one which he could not by any possible chance 
do absolute justice to. It would be found that one cause of 
disease interlaced with another, and it was difficult in some 
instances to say which was cause and which was effect. It was 
periodically stated that the death rate per 1,000 was diminishing, 
but that was open to doubt. Death rate returns were now 
audited. In the returns issued by the Registrar-General, very 
little attention is paid to scientific accuracy because it would 
interfere with public right, liberty, or interest. Therefore all 
conclusions must be wide of the mark as the premises are 
doubtful. There was, however, no alternative but to use these 
returns as the only available data at command. 
It is patent that fewer people proportionately die of old age 
than formerly. This may in part be due to the old-fashioned 
“hardening ”’ having gone out. Our forefathers took out young 
