Aith, Shetland. — At 12.30 A.M. on Christmas Day, 1937, a doctor telephoned that he had been asked to go tothe outlying island of Foula, as the inhabitants were in the grip of an epidemic of influenza, one person being critically ill, and the resident nurse was ill. A strong gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea, which made landing on the island impossible for the time being.

As no ordinary boat could make the trip, it was decided to place the lifeboat at the disposal of the doctor as soon as it was learned that a landing could be made. At 6.30 A.M. the doctor received an urgent call, and although conditions were still very bad, the motor life-boat The Rankin put out with him at 7.30 A.M. She reached Foula at 12.40 P.M. The doctor had to visit nearly every house, and it is reported that one life was undoubtedly saved by his attention.

The life-boat arrived back with the doctor at 7.45 P.M., after an absence of over twelve hours, ten of which were spent, at sea.—Expenses defrayed by the Department of Health for Scotland..