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plus rum may reach serious proportions. Also there is this further consideration
—as to how far the alcohol present may influence the transference of the tin into
the circulatory system, for much of the tin ingested in solid foods is excreted soon
afterwards.
From the point of view of the Analyst any definite evidence of the presence of
tin is added testimony, if any be needed, to the genuineness of any particular
sample of rum.
Tinned Goods.— One sample of French beans contained 2.4 grains of tin per
lb., the latter metal being derived from the lead-containing solder used.
Tomato Puree.—1.12 grains of tin and 0.06 grains of copper per lb. were
present in one sample.
Quite possibly the copper may not have been added deliberately but may have
been a contamination derived from the vessels used in the preparation of the puree.
Raisin Wine.—Of the two samples taken one consisted mainly of sugar and
water with a little flavouring matter and coloured with an aniline dye. It would
seem most undesirable that the public should be charged a relatively high price for
such a concoction which intrinsically is worth only very few pence.
STATISTICAL.
BIRTHS.
Registration.—The number of births registered during 1934 was 833* being
83 less than in 1933. Of the children born, 427 were boys and 406 girls. The
birth rate per 1,000 of the population was 9.00, as against 9.71 in 1933.

Notifications.— The total number of notifications received during the year
under the Notification of Births Act, 1907, was 3,380; live births, 3,196; still
births, 184. The total notifications in 1933 was 3,277. The provisions of the Act
are now very generally known, and the necessity for notifying is not less well
recognised than that for registration. Failures to notify within 36 hours of birth,
as required, were comparatively few. In such cases as there was failure, a perfectly
reasonable explanation was forthcoming, and it was not considered necessary
to take proceedings against any of the parties.