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the steam is admitted; and it is found that all other
staces being alike a temperature of 240° (that of the steam in
the chamber), is reached in the interior of a mattress or like
article in less than three minutes with the vacuum, though
without it from ten to fifteen minutes are required.
Ten minutes at 240° destroys the bacilli of plague and
anthrax, however protected, with absolute certainty, so that in
fifteen minutes from the commencement of the process the
steam may be turned off, when the steam exhaust is again set
in action, though on the chamber only, until the former vacuum
has been restored; then the air inlet is opened, and the
exhaust still acting draws such a powerful current through the
chamber that in two or three minutes every trace of moisture
has been removed, and wearing apparel may be used again
within less than half an hour of its having been given up for
the purpose of disinfection."
An interesting discussion on disinfection took place at the
Leeds Conference of the Sanitary Institute, held during the
year, Dr. Sims Woodhead coming to the conclusion that
Hypochloride of Soda and Formic Aldehyde were the two compounds
which gave the most satisfactory results.

Vaccination Commission.
During the year 1897 Appendix VII. to the final report of
the Eoyal Commission on Vaccination has been issued by Dr.
Coupland on the outbreak of small-pox at Gloucester during
the years 1895-1896. The following conclusions were arrived
at as to the lessons taught by the recent epidemic:—
1. The epidemic of small-pox which, during 1895 had been
comparatively slight and mild, assumed serious proportions in
the months of February to April, 1896, not only in the numbers
who were attacked, but in the high rate of fatality and the
undue proportion of cases of confluent and malignant type.