October 8, 1914] 



NATURE 



147 



wide, both to the direct conveyance of infection 

 by the excreta, and to its indirect conveyance by 

 means of contaminated water. . . . On service, 

 proper sanitary arrangements are very often im- 

 possible. We may think, for instance, of the 

 situation of men in the trenches under fire. . . . 

 When it comes to a tight place the alternative 

 which will present itself will be that of drinking 

 a polluted water or none. ... It will, by the 

 very nature of the case, be out of question to 

 apply ordinary sanitary measures in an effective 

 manner. . . . Infection spreads not only among 

 the troops in the field, but also among the soldiers 

 in hospital." 



The Daily Chronicle, October 3, says, " It is 

 reported that 800 Germans, on the lines between 

 Brussels and Antwerp, are suffering from typhoid 

 fever." 



That the protective treatment is indeed protec- 

 tive we all know. It is the experience of the 

 nations of the earth ; and the whole world is 

 agreed about it. France, India, Canada, the 

 United States, Italy — let alone our enemies — are 

 of one mind. Take only four instances : — 



1. British Army in India. — "The histories, as 

 regards typhoid fever, of 19,314 soldiers, whose 

 average period of service abroad was twenty 

 months, were carefully followed, and every pre- 

 caution possible was taken to verify the diagnosis 

 bacteriologically. Of this number 10,378 were 

 inoculated, and 8936 not inoculated. The case 

 incidence of typhoid fever among the inoculated 

 was 5'39 per 1000, and among the non-inoculated 

 30*4 per 1000." — Report of Anti-Typhoid Com- 

 mittee, igi2. 



2. United States Army. — " Inoculation was 

 made compulsory in the American Army in 191 1, 

 and has practically abolished the disease. In 

 191 3 there were only three cases and no deaths in 

 the entire army of over 90,000 men." — Sir W. 

 Leishman, Brit. Med. Journ., August 22, 1914. 



3. French Army. — In 1912 typhoid broke out in 

 the barracks at Avignon. Of 2053 men, 1366 were 

 protected and 687 were not. The non-protected 

 had 155 cases, with twenty-one deaths; the pro- 

 tected had not one case. The protective treat- 

 ment was made compulsory last winter in the 

 French Army; and, in special circumstances, 

 among the reservists. — Lancet, January 4, 191 3. 



4. Canadian-Pacific Railway. — -Throughout the 

 "railway camps" in Alberta, during 191 1, among 

 5500 protected there were only two cases of 

 typhoid ; among 4500 non-protected there were 

 220 cases. — Brit. Med. journ., June 6, 1914. 



It remains to be noted : (i) That the vaccine 

 contains no living germs of any sort. (2) That 

 the treatment, though it gave good results in the 

 South African War, has been improved since that 

 time. (3) That the avoidance of exertion and 

 excitement, on the day of treatment, is a great 

 safeguard against any disturbance of the general 

 health. (4) That, when time allows, it is always 

 best to give the vaccine not all in one dose, but 

 in two, or even three graduated doses, with a 

 few days between each dose. 



NO. 2345, VOL. 94] 



Sir Almroth Wright, by whose hands the gift of 

 this treatment came to us, greatly desires that 

 the treatment should be made compulsory, as in 

 other armies, so in ours. Surely it is part of 

 " my duty to my neighbouf " that I should not, 

 by having typhoid, expose him to the risk of 

 infection from me. And it is certain that a soldier 

 down with typhoid fever is not only useless 

 against the enemy, but dangerous to his own 

 friends. Stephen Paget. 



THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION IN 

 VICTORIA. 



Melbourne, August 20. 



ON their arrival from Adelaide by three special 

 trains on Thursday, August 13, the visitors 

 were taken to their quarters, but soon most of 

 them found their way to the reception room at 

 the University. The lecture theatres of the 

 University, and of the Teachers Training Col- 

 lege, afforded ample accommodation for all the 

 sections, and are in the same grounds. 



In the evening the Governor-General received 

 members at Government House, and some 3000 

 guests were present at a brilliant function. On 

 Friday afternoon, August 14, a graduation cere- 

 mony was held in Melba Hall, when nearly 1000 

 persons were present. The degree of D.Sc. was 

 conferred on the president. Prof. W. Bateson, 

 and on Sir Edward Schafer, Prof. H. E. Arm- 

 strong, Dr. F. W. Dyson, Sir Thomas Holland, 

 Prof. W. J. Pope, Prof. A. \\'. Porter, Sir 

 Ernest Rutherford, Prof. Johannes Walther, 

 Prof. W. M. Davies, Prof. C. G. Abbott, and 

 Prof. Luigi Luiggi. At a later hour the Lord 

 Mayor held a reception at the Town Hall, which 

 was largely attended. In the evening the presi- 

 dent delivered the first half of his address in the 

 auditorium in the presence of more than 2000 

 persons. The Governor-General and the State 

 Governor were present, and proposed and seconded 

 the vote of thanks. 



On Monday afternoon, August 17, Prof. 

 E. B. Poulton delivered a discourse on 

 "Mimicry" before a very large and appreciative 

 audience. In the evening the Government of 

 Victoria held a reception at the Public Library, 

 Picture Gallerj', and National Museum, the build- 

 ings for which are in communication. The guests, 

 numbering about 4000, were received by the 

 Premier, Sir Alexander Peacock, Lady Peacock, 

 and by the Chief Secretary-, the Hon. John 

 Murray. The ample accommodation afforded by 

 the large rooms prevented undue crowding, and 

 the evening was most enjoyable. 



On the following afternoon the Overseas 

 members were entertained at the Botanic Gardens 

 by the members of the scientific societies of Vic- 

 toria. The weather was delightful, and the 

 magnificent gardens were greatly admired by the 

 guests. The president planted a memorial tree 

 {Cupresstis macrocarpus) to commemorate the 

 historic visit of the association. In the evening 



