noxious thing with intent to injure or annoy any person is a misdemeanor (a). Any person causing Poison to be taken, with intent to murder, is liable to penal servitude for life, or not less than three years, or imprisonment not exceeding two years, with or without hard labour and solitary confinement (24 & 25 Vict. c. 100, ss. 11 and 14). For doing grievous bodily harm in like manner, penal servitude not exceeding ten nor less than three years, or not exceeding two years' imprisonment with or without hard labour (s. 23). Administering such with intent to annoy or injure, the servitude for three years (s. 24). noxious thing or using any instrument to procure Abortion, penal servitude for life, or not less than three years, or imprisonment not exceeding two years, with or without hard labour and solitary confinement (s. 58). Procuring such articles for such purpose (b) three years' penal servitude, or not exceeding two years' imprisonment with or without hard labour (s. 59).

like imprisonment or penal Taking or administering any

(a) Cantharides secretly administered held within the Statute (R. v. Wilkins, 31 L. J. M. C. 72).

(b) Where a vegetable decoction of a harmless character had been administered under the pretence that it would procure abortion, it was held, that a conviction under s. 59, 24 & 25 Vict. c. 100, could not be sustained, for it must be proved that the drug supplied is noxious in itself (R. v. Isaacs, 1 New Reports, 67). It is not necessary, however, that the intention of any one besides the person supplying the noxious drug should be shown. If he intended it to be so used, it is sufficient to support a conviction whether the person receiving it intend so to use it or not (R. v. Hillman, 3 New Reports, 176).

MEDICAL CARE.

PREVENTION OF DISEASES.

THE DISEASES PREVENTION ACT.

UNDER the Act for the better Prevention of Diseases, Local Authorities [see "Constitution of Local Authorities "] have powers of entry and for executing Regulations and Directions under the Act (18 & 19 Vict. c. 116, s. 4). Such Regulations, &c., to be issued by the Privy Council (21 & 22 Vict. c. 97, s. 1). Whenever any part of England be threatened or is affected by any formidable Epidemic, Endemic, or Contagious Disease, the Privy Council may, by Order, put in force the provisions of the Act for the Prevention of Diseases for not exceeding six months (18 & 19 Vict. c. 116, s. 5), and they may then issue Regulations for the speedy interment of the dead, for house-to-house visitation, and the dispensing of Medical aid (s. 6), which they may revoke or alter (s. 7). Such Regulations to be published in the Gazette (s. 7). The Local Authority shall execute such Directions and Regulations, and appoint such Medical and other Officers [see "Medical Officers"], as may be necessary for the purpose (s. 8), and may provide carriages for the conveyance of sick persons to any Hospital or place of destination (23 & 24 Vict. c. 77, s. 12), and shall direct legal proceedings for violation of such Directions, &c.. (18 & 19 Vict. c. 116, s. 9). Every such Order in Council is to be laid before Parliament (s. 10). Such Orders may extend to all parts of the

sea within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty, and Regulations may be issued for purifying and disinfecting ships and providing Medical aid on board (s. 11). Medical Officers to be remunerated by the captains or owners, to be determined by Justices in case of dispute (s. 12). Penalty for obstructing execution of the Act not exceeding 54. (s. 14). The Privy Council may issue Orders with respect to Vaccination [see "Vaccination "] (21 & 22 Vict. c. 97, s. 2). They may direct inquiry to be made concerning the Public Health in any place, &c. (s. 3), and for this purpose are to appoint the Medical Officer of the late General Board of Health to be the Medical Officer of the Council, who is to be paid 15007. a year, and they may also appoint such other persons as they deem necessary for the purposes of the Act (s. 4). Such Medical Officer is to report to the Council in relation to matters concerning the Public Health, and annually as to all proceedings under the Act (s. 5), which is made perpetual by 22 & 23 Vict. c. 3. Such annual Report to be laid before Parliament (s. 6). The Guardians of any union or parish may employ a Medical Officer to inquire and report upon the sanitary state of their union (23 & 24 Vict. c 77, s. 14).

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES PREVENTION ACT.

By the Act for the prevention of Venereal Disease in the Naval and Military Stations of the Kingdom, it is provided that Hospitals may be certified by an Inspector under direction of the Admiralty and the Secretary of State for War (27 & 28 Vict. c. 85, ss. 4 to 10). On information before a Justice that any woman is a Prostitute, and has a contagious disease, a notice may be issued requiring her to appear before him, and such Justice may thereupon order her to be taken to a certified Hospital for Medical Examination (ss. 11 to 13), where, in case she have such disease, she may be detained for twenty-four hours (s. 14). Any woman may, on receipt of Notice, submit herself voluntarily for Examination with the same consequences (s. 15). Within the twenty-four hours the Medical Authorities of such Hospital are to certify the fact to

a Justice, who may order her detention by them for Medical treatment until discharged, but not longer than three months under any such Order (s. 16). In case of refusal, neglect of regulations, or quitting the Hospital before discharge, such woman may be imprisoned one month for the first, and two months for any subsequent offence (s. 17). Any person knowingly suffering any diseased woman to resort to any House for the purpose of Prostitution shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding 107., or three months' imprisonment with or without hard labour (s. 18). Regulation of Proceedings before Justices, which need not be in open court (ss. 19 to 21). A Hospital to be certified within fifty miles by Notice in the Gazette, before the Act be in operation in any Station (ss. 10 and 22).

VACCINATION ACTS.

For the encouragement and compelling the practice of Vaccination as a protection from small pox, the Guardians, or where no Guardians the Overseers, of the poor in England and Wales, are directed to contract with the Medical Officers of their unions, &c., or any Medical Practitioner, for the Vaccination of all persons resident in such union, &c., the remuneration to depend on the number successfully Vaccinated (3 & 4 Vict. c. 29, s. 1). The expenses incident to such contracts to be defrayed out of the poor-rates (4 & 5 Vict. c. 32, s. 1). Such Vaccination is not to be considered to be parochial relief (s. 2). In making requisite arrangements in regard to such contracts, &c., Guardians, &c., to conform to regulations to be made by the Poor Law Commissioners (3 & 4 Vict. c. 29, s. 2). Such Medical Contractors to report to such Guardians, &c., the number of persons so Vaccinated, and to make such further report as may be required (s. 3). Copy of any such contract to be sent to the Commissioners (s. 4), and if they shall not annul the same within fourteen days, such contract shall not be liable to be annulled by such Commissioners (s. 5). Such Guardians, &c., to divide their unions, &c., if need be, into convenient districts,

and to appoint convenient places for the performance of Vaccination, and to give notice to all residents of the days and hours of attendance for Vaccination or inspection (16 & 17 Vict. c. 100, s. 1). The Privy Council may issue Regulations for securing the due qualification of persons to be contracted with by the Guardians, &c., for Vaccination, and the efficient performance of Vaccination by persons contracted with, and the expenses of the National Vaccine Establishment are to be defrayed under the direction of the Privy Council (21 & 22 Vict. c. 97, s. 2). The father or mother of every child shall, within three months after birth, or in case of their inability the person having the care of such child, within four months after birth, cause such child to be taken to the Medical Officer for the purpose of being Vaccinated, unless previously Vaccinated by some duly qualified Medical Practitioner, and the Vaccination duly certified (s. 2). On the eighth day following such Vaccination such child to be taken to the Medical Officer for inspection (s. 3). A certificate of such successful Vaccination to be given by such Medical Officer in the form prescribed, a duplicate of which also to be transmitted by him to the Registrar of births of the subdistrict, such certificate to be evidence (s. 4). If such Medical Officer deem such child not to be in fit state for Vaccination, he is to give a certificate to that effect in the form prescribed, renewable every two months, until such child be Vaccinated (s. 5). Fee to be paid to the Medical Contractor for every successful Vaccination, at or within two miles of his residence, not less than 1s. 6d., and at more than two miles distant, 2s. 6d. (s. 6). If such Medical Officer deem any child to be unsusceptible of the Vaccine disease, he may give a certificate to that effect in the form prescribed (s. 7). The Registrar in every sub-district is to keep a register of the persons in respect of whose Vaccination he has received a certificate, and is to allow searches to be made therein, and give a certified copy of any entry on payment of 18. for every search, and 6d. for certificate (s. 8). Such Registrar, within seven days after the registration of the birth of any child not already Vacci