On Leprosy and Fish Eating. By Jonathan Hutchinson. (A. Constable
and Co. 12s. 6d. net.)—" The object of this book,' writes Mr. Hutchinson in his preface, "is to carry conviction to my readers that the fundamental cause of the malady known as true leprosy is the eating of fish in a state of commencing decom- position." He disclaims any hostility to fish diet generally. It is the consumption of decaying fish that is dangerous. He denies the contagiousness of leprosy ; it is, he thinks, communicated by something in the incriminated diet. Of course, this may mean in effect something practically equivalent to contagion.' Mr. Hutchin- son has taken great pains to verify his theory. He heard el phenomena in South Africa and in India which seemed to invalidate it, and he took journeys to both countries and
investigated the alleged facts. His inquiries strengthened his conviction. We cannot discuss the question, but we may give a significant statement on which explanation is invited. The southern half of China, it seems, suffers from leprosy; the northern hill does not. "In the Pekin district there is next to no-fish and abundance of salt ; in the Canton district there is plenty of fish and no salt but what is imported."
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