6 OCTOBER 1906, Page 37

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

[Under this heading we native such Books of the week as have not Dem ITSCTred for TOVillW in other forme.] The Health of the Nation. Edited by L. Eliot Creasy. (Hugh Rees. 6d.)—This periodical is the organ of the National League for Physical Education and Improvement. The first number, now before us, is mainly occupied by a paper written by Dr. Arthur Shadwell on the "Foundations of National Health in Large Cities." He takes Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham, and analyses the official accounts of their condition under various headings, "Vital Statistics," "Infantile Mortality," "Schools." and "Housing." The death-rate stands thus : Liverpool, 21.9 ; Manchester, 20-89; Birmingham, 191. These figures are fairly satisfactory, though to understand their full significance we must have comparisons with former years and with other places. One fact may be mentioned,—in Liverpool typhus caused 132.1 deaths (per 100,000) in the period 1866-75, and 3-6 in 1696-1904. It is practically extinct, though probably, owing to the peculiar character of the population, it survived longer in Liverpool than elsewhere. Infant mortality shows worse results. In 1904 the figures were :—Liverpool, 198 (per 1,000 births, the word "infant" meaning under one year) ; Manchester, 189 (for the period 1897-1902); Birmingham, 195 (for 1904). These figures, however, must not be taken without qualification. There are epidemics which are worse in one year than in others. Diarrhoea, too, which attacks quit,.3 healthy and well-kept children, is an un- certain element. Under the head of " Housing " there is much most interesting information which it is quite impossible to analyse in the space at our command. The same may be said of "Schools." In Manchester, out of 32,486 children tested for eyesight, 2,126 were found to be gravely affected. This is an entirely modern departure. Not more than forty years ago a relative of the writer of this article, suffering much from her eyes, consulted the local doctor, a person justly well thought of. He diagnosed weakness of constitution, and prescribed tonics, &c. She then saw an ophthalmic surgeon, and he found a very serious ease of astigmatism.