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There is no doubt that the majority of abortion cases
are induced wilfully and knowingly by those, perhaps who
believe they are physically unfit to bear children—more often
because, economically, they feel they have insufficient income
to support a family. Of course there are many other reasons,
and they seek these means of disposal of the foetus because
they are ignorant of the safe and easy methods of contraception.
Unfortunately, unnatural interference with pregnancy at
any stage, and especially later, producing abortion, or later
still, miscarriage, often causes pyrexia of fever, usually of a
septic character, e.g. septicaemia, puerperal fever, hence the
frequent fatal results which may and do certainly assist in
raising the mortality attributed to maternity.
CREMATION AND EMBALMING.
In nearly all my Annual Reports I have urged the desirability
of providing suitable space in our burial grounds for the
accommodation of urns, and for the distribution of ashes
(columbarium and Garden of Sleep). A larger body of the
public than formerly are desiring this accommodation and on
sanitary grounds this must be the correct view of the best
method for the disposal of the dead in these days. It is to be
deplored that one constantly notices the purchase of ground
in the overcrowded county of Middlesex for the purpose of
cemeteries without this special provision for the cremated.
There is, of course, a satisfactory alternative—embalming.
It should be realised that the science of embalming
makes a dead body safe from a health point of view, and
at the same time produces an effect in appearance which
brings comfort to the relatives. Embalming has now been
brought to a fine state of perfection. Every part of the body
is sterilised and a lifelike appearance is produced.
This method of disposal has certainly some advantages
and moreover is not expensive. It may be added that embalming
has now found considerable favour in Canada and
the United States. Those who seek to know more should
apply to The British Institute of Embalmers, 181, Ladbroke
Grove, London, W.I0.
NOISE.
I suppose there is no doubt that the nuisance of noise
is detrimental to health—is positively harmful to the sensi-
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