In June, 1894, a Committee was appointed by the Home Secretary (Mr. Asquith) to inquire into certain questions bearing upon the administration of prisons, and the classification and treatment of prisoners. The Report of the Committee is dated April, 1895. We here abstract from the summary of principal recommendations of this Report certain which have special interest for alienists.

In the case of a person who is charged with an indictable offence, and who is alleged to be insane, the first question that presents itself for consideration is whether such accused person is, or is not, in a fit mental condition to be called upon to plead to the indictment, and to take his trial; for, according to the common law of England, as stated by Blackstone, in his Commentaries (Book 4, Chap. II): “If a man in his sound memory commits a capital offence, and before arraignment for it, he becomes mad, he ought not to be arraigned for it; because he is not able to plead to it with that advice and caution that he ought.” and this general principle of the common law was set out more fully in a statute passed in the year 1800 (39 and 40 Geo. III., cap. 94), by which it was enacted that “If any person indicted for any offence shall be insane, and shall, upon arraignment, be found so to be by a jury lawfully impanelled for that purpose, so that such person cannot be tried upon such indictment,” … “it shall be lawful for the Court before whom any such person shall be brought to be arraigned, or tried as aforesaid, to direct such finding to be recorded, and thereupon to order such person to be kept in strict custody until His Majesty's pleasure shall be known.”

The Dundee Royal Asylum was recently the scene of a murder by a patient named Redmond, who while at work in the grounds suddenly attacked an attendant with a spade, inflicting serious injuries, and killing outright a fellow patient who came to the rescue. A brother of this patient is reported to have committed homicide. This would appear to be one of those regrettable incidents which constitute the penalty for the innumerable advantages resulting from the modern system of employment of the insane; calling not only for sympathy with the sufferers, but also with the physicians under whose supervision they happen.

Prince Charles de Loos Corswarem was tried before the Correctional Tribunal of Brussels, in February, on charges of swindling and forgery extending over several years. He had obtained “millions of francs” from usurers and others raised on the dowries of ladies whom he was about to marry. He was acquitted, firstly, because he was irresponsible, and secondly, because the charges were not proven. This form of insanity would appear to be associated with a large amount of method.

The Legislature of New York State is proceeding to codify the laws relating to insanity, and the Medical Record (7th March, 1896), while justly urging the increase of the Lunacy Commission to eleven members, denounces the provision which is proposed that the medical member “shall have had five years' actual experience in the care and treatment of the insane, and is, or has been a Superintendent or first Assistant Physician of a State Hospital.”

In view of the overcrowding in this institution for some time past, the Board of Governors has adopted a suggestion that a hospital should be built on grounds adjoining the asylum, which should be a complete establishment in itself and to which all curable cases should be removed. We congratulate the Board on their decision.

An action, brought by the Barony Parish of Glasgow v. the General Board of Lunacy, contended that Woodilee was a Public or Parochial Asylum, and that in either case a license from the General Board was not required, nor that the Board were not entitled as a condition of license to prescribe the number of the Managing Committee. Lord Low, before whom the action was brought on appeal, decided in favour of the Barony Parish.

This home, The Manor House, Duxhurst, near Reigate, has been recently opened under the auspices of Lady Henry Somerset, for the treatment of ladies suffering from alcoholism or narcotism.

The Morison lectures for the present year have been delivered by Dr. Alexander Bruce, who has chosen for his subject “The Nerve Tracts and Connections of the Special Nerves in the Spinal Cord, Mid and Hind Brain.”

The following gentlemen now serve as Commissioners for general control and correspondence, and for the superintending and directing the erection, establishment, and regulation of ayslums for the pauper lunatics of Ireland:—The Rt. Hon. Mr. Justice Holmes, Mr. Thomas Robertson, Dr. O'Farrell, Dr. Courtenay, F. R. Cruise, M.D., Mr. David Drummond, and Mr. Charles Kennedy. It will be observed that the retirement of General Sir R. H. Sankey, R.E., from the chairmanship of the Board of Public Works has been followed by the appointment of Mr. Robertson, who succeeds him in that office as well as on the Board of Control.

We have pleasure in recording the presentation to Dr. Nicolson, by the officers and staff of the Broadmoor Asylum, of a silver bowl, with appropriate inscription, on the occasion of his resigning his post at that asylum.

We regret to have to record the death of Dr. François Joseph Semal, physician and director of the great asylum at Mons, on the 16th May. We hope to give an account of Dr. Semal's life and work in the next number of the Journal.

Mr. Corbet has given notice of a resolution that “it is desirable that an International Commission be convoked to inquire into this matter.”

Applications were received from 491 candidates for admission to the recent examination. These were drawn from 27 English, nine Irish, and seven Scotch Asylums. The returns show that of this number 397 were successful, 86 failed to satisfy the Examiners, and eight withdrew. The following is a list of successful candidates:—

The next Examination for the Certificate in Psychological Medicine will be held on Thursday, July 16th, 1896, at 10 o'clock a.m., in London at Bethlem Hospital; in Edinburgh at the Royal Asylum, Morningside; in Glasgow at the Royal Asylum, Gartnavel; in Aberdeen at the Royal Asylum, Aberdeen; and in Dublin at the Richmond Asylum, Grangegorman. Applications for admission to the Examination should be sent not later than Thursday, July 2nd, 1896, to the Registrar, who will be happy to supply any further information on this subject.

The Examination for this prize will be held at Bethlem Hospital in July. All particulars can be obtained of the Registrar.

The Annual Meeting will be held in the Booms of the Association, 11, Chandos Street, Cavendish Square, on July 23rd and 24th, and there may possibly be an excursion on Saturday, the 25th.

The following subjects have been suggested:—Heredity in Mental Disease; Nomenclature of Mental Disease; Brain Changes in relation to Mental Symptoms; Treatment of any form of Mental Disease (selected by the contributor).

The sixty-fourth Annual Meeting will be held at Carlisle, July 28th, 29th, 30th, and 31st, 1896.

As previously announced the seventh Annual Congress of Alienists and Neurologists will be held at Nancy on 1st August, 1896.

As previously announced, the third International Congress of Psychology will be held at Munich, 4th August, 1896.