Dr. William Henry Higgins died on October 26, 1897, at Birkenhead, whither he had recently retired after leaving the Leicestershire and Rutland Asylum. He graduated at Edinburgh, having obtained both the gold and silver medals for Anatomy, and in 1869 he became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, England. Immediately after this he was attached to the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, sailing to the west coast of South America for four years, during three of which he was Superintendent of their hospital at Callao. He then returned to Edinburgh to make a special study of mental diseases. His first appointment in lunacy was as Assistant Medical Officer to the Derby County Asylum, under Dr. Murray Lindsay. From thence he went, in 1876, to the Leicestershire and Rutland Asylum, under the late Dr. Buck. After Dr. Buck's death he was appointed Medical Superintendent, in 1881. During his ter of office he carried out many structural alterations and improvements on the asylum. Though he took a great interest in the treatment and welfare of his patients, Dr. Higgins seldom contributed any writings in connection with mental diseases. In 1894 his health began to break down, and in June of that year he became seriously ill. After several months' leave of absence, he finally retired, in March, 1895, with a pension sanctioned by the County Council. It was hoped that in the retirement from the work and worries of an asylum his health would improve, but to a severe recurrence of his former illness he succumbed. He occupied his leisure hours with astronomy, and in his latter years engaged in the study of Hebrew and Swedish.