actually reasoned from and applied by statesmen and State representatives in the conduct of affairs. History and the law must be brought into more intimate relationship, as Henry Wheaton would have desired. We need the combination of historian and of legal interpreter in the treatment of these problems. But in the historical illustrations he gives from the last century, Professor Dickinson proceeds with surer step than for earlier times, and, writing before the end of the World War, he makes suggestive comments upon the way in which the legal capacity of a State among States may be restricted by its organic constitution, and he regards as fundamental and as inadequately recognized the distinction between equality of legal capacity and equality in international organization. There is much in the author's realistic standpoint that should commend this work to students and the politically-minded.

D. P. H.

LAWS AND REGULATIONS REGARDING LEAD POISONING IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES.1

Of all forms of industrial poisoning, that due to lead is one of the most important, for while it may not destroy life immediately, like carbon monoxide or sulphuretted hydrogen, it is yet capable in the acute form of causing early death, and in the chronic forms it is a cause of considerable suffering and physical disability. In addition, lead is largely used in so many industries that persons are unknowingly brought within the range of its malign influence. In this brochure, Mr. Gilbert Stone has carefully gathered together the laws and regulations which have been drawn up in various countries to prevent plumbism. As an indication of the prevalence of lead poisoning, and the importance of the subject, mention need only be made of the fact that the prevention of the malady by the interdiction of lead in paints was one of the most keenly debated questions at the International Labour Conference (League of Nations) in Geneva last November.

Lead mining, formerly extensively carried out in the North of England and Derbyshire, is to-day a decaying industry owing to the richness in silver of foreign ores. Most of the lead used in this country comes from the United States, Germany, Mexico, and Australia. There are two kinds of lead ore- -one known as galena (sulphide) and the other cerussite (carbonate). In Great Britain the ore mined is galena. As the lead in this form is extremely insoluble, the miner in his occupation runs no risk of suffering from plumbism. The same remark, however, does not apply to men who mine the cerussite ore, for this, being a carbonate, is soluble in the gastric juice. One of the main dangers incidental to the mining of galena is inhalation of the hard particles of dust. This sets

By Gilbert Stone, sometime Scholar of Caius College, Cambridge, Tancred Student of Lincoln's Inn, of the North-Eastern Circuit, Barrister-at-Law, B.A., LL.D. Pp. 250. (Published by H.M. Stationery Office, Kingsway, London. Price 5s. net.)

up a form of phthisis, non-tuberculous in the early stages, and known as silicosis. The introduction of water spraying in mines and attention to ventilation have reduced the frequency of this disease among lead miners.

The danger of plumbism arises with the smelting of lead, and it is renewed in the manufacture of white and red lead, also in the manipulation of lead compounds. It is pleasing to know that as regards regulations for lead works Great Britain was an early pioneer in the movement. She has maintained this recognized position. Although British regulations have in the main been adopted by most countries, some of these were really anticipated by France.

Dust and the fumes evolved from lead are the chief causes of plumbism. To prevent illness among the men exposed to these the dust and fumes must be reduced to a minimum. This can to some extent be achieved by the use of water-spraying and by exhaust draughts. The necessity of personal cleanliness on the part of the workpeople, the need for wearing overalls, also periodical medical examination, so that the malady may be detected early and the individual given other work, have proved of the greatest service. To carry these out, ample facilities for washing must be provided, in order that the persons employed shall wash before eating and before leaving the factory.

As regards white lead, one of the most encouraging results of the regulations introduced by Great Britain is seen in the marked diminution in the number of cases of lead poisoning amongst employés.

The transformation of what was formerly regarded as a dangerous industry into one of a comparatively safe nature is a triumph of industrial legislation of which we may well be proud. The reduction in the number of cases of lead poisoning in this industry in this country is seen in the following table:

While the introduction of means for the removal of dust, insistence upon cleanliness and periodical medical examination have been of the greatest service, one of the most important recommendations of the Departmental Committee of the Home Office on Lead Poisoning was the abolition of female labour in those processes of white lead manufacture known to be specially dangerous. Since this recommendation has been given effect to, the white lead industry has been shorn of some of its perils.

In a few of the white lead factories in France female labour prior to the publication of the British Home Office report had not been employed. Germany adopted the British regulation regarding female labour, with results as satisfactory to herself as those which have taken place in Great Britain. Belgian regulations are good and are effective.

The Regulations re the use of lead paints are much the same in all countries.

In 1913 Great Britain made elaborate Regulations regarding the use of lead in the manufacture and decoration of pottery and majolica ware. As an illustration of the improvement in the health of workers secured by Regulations, it is interesting to note that in 1896, in the manufacture of pottery and earthenware, there occurred 432 cases of plumbism, and that after the introduction of a series of Regulations the following were the number of cases:

In the manufacture of electric accumulators there have been many cases of plumbism due to the employment of red lead, but, as a consequence of adherence to the Regulations laid down for lead generally, there has been improvement.

Compensation is now awarded to persons who have contracted lead poisoning when following their occupation. In this, Great Britain led the way. Plumbism is not yet scheduled as an industrial disease in most of the States of the United States of America, but compensation is frequently awarded by judicial decision on the interpretation of the word "injury." Western European countries have followed British legislation in regard to compensation for lead poisoning.

The greater part of Mr. Stone's monograph is given to the texts of the laws and regulations in force in various countries. This is an extremely useful addition, since in it is gathered the Acts passed by respective legislatures. There is also an excellent index. Mr. Stone has published a book which ought to be helpful to all who are interested in lead manufacture, in the dangers incidental thereto, and how, industrially, these may be averted.

THOMAS OLIVER.

A DIGEST OF ENGLISH CIVIL LAW.1

"THIS work was originally published in eleven separate parts, the preparation and publication of which was spread over a good many years. During this time Jenks's Digest of English Civil Law became well known, and acquired a very considerable reputation as the leading work

1 A Digest of English Civil Law. By Edward Jenks, M.A., D.C.L., Principal and Director of Legal Studies of the Law Society. Editor, W. M. Geldart, Vinerian Professor of English Law, Oxford, W. S. Holdsworth, Reader in English Law, Oxford, R. W. Lee, Professor of Roman-Dutch Law, Oxford, J. C. Miles, Fellow and Tutor of Merton College, Oxford, Barrister-at-Law. (Second Consolidated Edition, brought completely up-to-date in two large volumes (pp. ccxxxix + 1422 and Index). London: Butterworth & Co.)

on the Civil Law of England, and its utility has been acknowledged almost in every quarter of the world.. (Notice of the Publisher.)

'As a basis, the authors have followed what is now the generally accepted plan of the European Civil Codes; for such a basis obviously facilitates the use of the work by Continental readers, and will, it is hoped, do something to further the important study of Comparative Jurisprudence.” (Preface to the consolidated edition, by the editor, p. iv.)

A l'appui des deux citations qui précèdent, l'auteur du présent compterendu est à même d'apporter l'affirmation de son propre témoignage, appuyé sur une expérience qui dure depuis plusieurs années.

Chargé, depuis l'année 1917, de l'enseignement de la législation civile comparée à la Faculté de Droit de l'Université de Paris, j'ai adopté immédiatement le Digest comme textbook de mes explications concernant le droit anglais. Je n'ai eu qu'à m'en féliciter, et les étudiants qui ont suivi mes cours et conférences m'ont tous exprimé leur satisfaction à l'égard de cet ouvrage. Ce sentiment est également partagé par ceux de mes Collègues qui ont eu à l'utiliser pour leurs travaux.

La raison première de ce succès tient incontestablement à la forme dans laquelle le Digest a été conçu. Sans doute il serait erroné de croire que toutes les matières du droit, sur le Continent, ont fait l'objet d'une Codification (exemple: en France une grande partie du droit public, i.e. le droit administratif, n'est pas codifié, et il en est de même en Italie, en Allemagne, etc.). Toutefois il est certain que, depuis cent ans, l'habitude d'esprit des juristes européens s'est pliée à la discipline de textes codifiés. Le Digest, qui présente pour la première fois sous un aspect de ce genre les éléments du droit anglais portant sur les Personnes (natural and artificial), les Choses, les Actes juridiques, les Obligations (Contracts, quasi-Contracts and Torts), la Propriété, la Famille et les Successions, devait nécessairement conquérir le suffrage des lawyers du Continent.

Mais il est utile de signaler une autre cause du succès du Digest parmi nous c'est qu'il est le premier ouvrage qui nous présente d'ensemble, pour le droit anglais, les matières énumérées ci-dessus.

La littérature juridique anglaise possède, il est vrai, de très substantielles et réputées monographies: on Torts, on Contracts, on Property (real or personal), on Domestic Relations, etc. D'autre part, elle s'enorgueillit, à juste titre, du plus bel ouvrage général qui ait été conçu et écrit depuis les Romains, je veux dire les Commentaries on the Laws of England, de Blackstone, si heureusement tenus à jour par ses successeurs, et dont le dernier remaniement (17th edition) par notre savant collégue et ami le Dr. Edward Jenks, en concordance avec le Digest, va nous rendre les plus grands services. Néanmoins, pour le juriste du Continent désireux d'étudier d'ensemble, et exclusivement, les matières énumérées ci-dessus, les monographies avaient le défaut de trop fragmenter le droit civil, et les Commentaries celui de s'étendre bien au delà.

Le Digest est donc venu à propos pour combler, à nos yeux, ce qui constituait une lacune dans la littérature juridique anglaise. Il ne faut pas perdre de vue cependant qu'une autre lacune subsiste encore. Π n'existe, à notre connaissance du moins, aucun Manuel général, en un, deux ou trois volumes, contenant les matières du droit civil anglais, sur le modèle des livres analogues existant sur le Continent (exemples: en France, le Traité élémentaire de droit civil français de Planiol, 3 vol., ou le Cours élémentaire de droit civil français de Colin et Capitant, 3 vol.; en Allemagne, le Lehrbuch des deutschen bürgerlischen Rechts, de Cosack, 2 vol.). N'est il pas permis d'espérer que les savants auteurs du Digest, complétant ainsi leur œuvre, doteront la science anglaise de cet ouvrage qui lui manque encore ? c'est le voeu que je formule ici pour terminer. Aucune publication ne serait plus utile pour seconder les efforts de ceux qui ont pris pour tâche de répandre sur le Continent les notions si originales et si passionnément intéressantes de la vieille Common Law d'Angleterre. HENRI L. LEVY-ULLMANN.

DOMINION HOME RULE IN PRACTICE.1

Few people in this country outside the Colonial Office know much about the problems of government in the Dominions, or the problems involved in the continuance of the sovereignty of the Crown. The man in the street believes that they manage their own affairs under Parliaments constituted on the British model, and that the only bond with the mothercountry is the monarchy. But in fact democracy has already made considerable divergencies of constitutional forms and methods in the four great Dominions, and, though complete internal autonomy may be attained by the severance of the Privy Council link, there remain unsettled many questions as to the share and responsibility of the Dominions in matters of foreign policy, war and imperial defence. A comparative view of the constitutions of the Dominions has long been wanted, and it could not be better presented than it is by Professor Keith in this little booklet, which, though of little more than sixty pages, is an admirable summary of Dominion politics, illustrated by comparisons of the different handling of problems by the several democracies.

There are notable differences in the constitutions of the Dominions : thus, in Canada direct connexion between the Imperial Government and the provinces is shut off and the Lieutenant-Governors are appointed locally, while in Australia the States retain direct communication with Downing Street, and their Governors are still appointed by the Crown. In Canada all powers not expressly given to the provinces are vested in the Dominion, while in Australia the contrary principle was adopted. As regards this allocation of powers, the Australian States are in a less 1 Dominion Home Rule in Practice By A. Berriedale Keith. Pp. 63. (London: Humphrey Milford.)