The great obstacle in the way of the introduction of compulsion is the fear of difficulty of change. And yet competent witnesses proved to the committee that a compulsory change from an old and complicated system to the metric had taken place in Germany, Norway and Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, and many other European countries without serious opposition or in convenience. And not only was this change carried out in it comparatively short period, but as soon as the simple character of the new system was understood, it was appreciated by all classes of the population, and no attempt to use the old units or to return to the old system was made. Sweden may be taken as typical of the method of change. Previous to 1855 that country had a number of different standards, the same as in England, and no decimal parts of them. On 31st January 1855 the skelpund (Swedish pound) was divided into decimals, and the Swedishfot (foot) was also divided into decimals. On the 12th November 1878 the complete metric system was ordered to be introduced on 1st January 1881 for the Customs, Post, Rail ways, and Civil Service generally, and on 1st January 1889 for trade ex clusively. Since then the old measures have vanished. The experience gained showed that the change to the complete metric system was easily carried through, thanks to the arrangement by which only two years' delay was given for public institutions, while ten years were granted to the general public. France could also be referred to in this connection, but as she was the country which gave birth to the system, it would be safer to consider the experience of such a country as Germany, to which the metric system was introduced as a total stranger. It has there taken complete root in com mercial life, and its utility has been fully demonstrated. It is stated in a Foreign Office Report, of the year 1900, that there is no doubt but that " the removal of the disadvantages of the countless older systems and the introduction of a uniform mode of' reckoning has been of incalculable benefit to German commerce." 13ut how far the improvement is attributable to this uniformity, or to the special features of the metric system, is a speculation incapable of material proof. The change took place simultaneously with the political change of 1871, and contributed, doubtless, to the rise in German trade and commerce which has characterised the period that has elapsed since the foundation of the Empire. Foreign trade has also " derived much benefit," says the same Report, " from Germany's adoption of the metric system, more especially the trade between Germany and those countries where the metric system was already in force." In 1897 was passed the Weights and Measures (Metric System) Act, which legalises in the United Kingdom the use of the metric system. There is scarcely need to add, however, that the Act does not enforce the use of the system; it is merely permissive. Section 1 provides that :—" Notvvithstanding anything in the Weights and Measures Act, 1878, the use in trade of a weight or measure of the metric system shall bc lawful, and nothing in section nineteen of that Act shall make void any contract, bargain, sale, or dealing, by reason only of its being made or had according to weights or measures of the metric system, and a person using or having in his possession a weight or measure of the metric system shall not by reason thereof be liable to any fine." A table of metric equivalents was drawn up by an Order in Council, dated 19th May 1898, and this as set out below is the legal basis for computing and expressing in weights and measures the weights and measures of the metric system.
MIDWIFERY.—Women who practise this profession are now subject to the regulation of statute law, and consequently should pay careful attention to the provisions of the Midwives Act, 1902, a statute passed with the oNect of securing the better training of midwives and regulating their practice. The Act does not extend to Scotland or Ireland, nor does it apply to legally qualified practitioners. It came into operation on the 1st April 1903, on which date two bodies—a central Midwives Board and a local Supervising Authority—were established for the purpose of controlling the practice of midwifery'. In view of its general importance it is proposed to set the Act out in this article in some detail. Certificatimt.—Froni and after the 1st April 1905, no woman, unless she is certified under the Act, will be able lam fully to take or use the name or title of midwife (either alone or in combination with any other word or words) or any name, title, addition or description implying that she is so certified, or is a person specially qualified to practhe midwifery, or is recognised by, law as a midi\ ife. A moman mho contravenes this provision will be liable, on summary comiction, to a fine not exceeding 1)5. And from and after the 1st April 1910, no moman mill be allowed,
habitually and for gain, to attend women in childbirth °therm he than under the direction of a qualified medical practitioner, unle‘s she is duly certified. Any woman so acting \valiant being certified will he liable, on slanmary con viction, to a fine not exceeding 1.)10. But this latter prohibition will not apply to legally qualified medical practitioners, or to anv ono rendering assistance in a ease of emergency. A woman will be certified only after she has complied with the rules and regulations to be laid down in pursuance of tile Act. No certified midwife will be able to lam fully employ an uncertified person as her substitute. The certificate will not confer any light or title to be registered under the 'Medical Acts or to assume any name, title, or desig nation implying that its holder is by law recognised as a medical practitioner, or that she is authorised to grant a medical certificate, or a certificate of death or of still-birth, or to undertake the charge of cases of abnormality' or disease in connection with parturition. Provis;en for existing _Midwives.— Any woman who, within two years from the 1st dav of April 1903, claims to be certified mill be entitled to be certified provided she holds a certificate in inichvifery from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, the Obstetrical Society of London, the Coombe Ly ing-in Hospital, and Guinness's 1)is pensary, or the Rotunda Hospital for the Relief of the Poor Lying-in \Vomen of Dublin; or such other certificate :Ls may be approved by the Central Alidwives Board; or if she can produce evidence satisfactory to the 13oard that, on the 31st July 1909., she had been for at least one year in bmul fide practice 11S a midwife, and that she bears a good character.
Constitution and duties y- th„ Centml Midwives Board.—The Lord President of the Council has now concluded the formation of a Central Midwives Board. This Board consists of--(1) Four registered medical. practitioners, one appointed by the Royal College of Physicians of London, one by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, one by the Society of Apothecaries, and one by the Incorporated Midmives Institute ; and (2) two persons (one of whom must be a woman) appointed for terms of three years by the Lord President of the Council ; and (3) one person appointed for a term of three years by the Association of County Councils, one person appointed for a like term by Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute for Nurses, and one person appointed for a like term by the Royal British Nurses' Association. After two years from the 1st April 1903, the members appointed under "(1)" are required to retire, but they are eligible for reappointment annually. Any vacancy occurring by resignation or death is filled up, in case of a member appointed under "(1)" and "(3)," by the body which appointed such person, and in the case of a member appointed under "(2)" by the Lord President of the Council. Members appointed under " (2)" and "(3)" are eligible for reappointment, for the same period, on the termination of the period for which they have been appointed. The duties and powers of the Board are as follows: I. To frame rules—(a) regulating their own proceedings ; (b) regulating the issue of certificates and the conditions of admission to the roll of midwives ; (e) regulating the course of training and the conduct of examinations and the remuneration of the examiners; (d) regulating the admission to the roll of women already in practice as midwives at the passing of this Act ; (e) regulating, supervising, and restricting within due limits the practice of Midwives ; (f) deciding the conditions under which midwives may be suspended from practice ; (g) defining the particulars required to be given in any notice under section ten of this Act. II. To appoint examiners. III. To decide upon the places where, and the times when, examinations shall be held. IV. To publish annually a roll of midwives who have been duly certified under the Act. V. To decide upon the removal from the roll of the name of any' midwife for disobeying the rules and regulations from time to time laid down under the Act by the Central Midwives Board, or for other misconduct, and also to decide upon the restoration to the roll of the name of any midwife so removed. VI. To issue and cancel certificates. And generally to do any other act or duty which may be necessary for the due and proper carrying out of the provisions of the Act. Rules framed under these powers are valid only if approved by the Privy Council; and the Privy Council before approving any rules must take into consideration any representations which the General Medical Council may make with respect thereto.