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LONDON SANITARY ADMINISTRATION.
764
platinum wire, one-thousandth of an inch in diameter, which is arranged as a series of parallel folds, and insulated between two small plates of mica. The ends of the platinum wire are connected with a Wheatstone’s bridge, and any variation in the strength of the current is indicated by a mirror galvanometer. Dr. Rolleston took two of these thermometers and wound round each the sciatic nerve of a frog, with the gastrocnemius still attached, so that there might be no doubt about the excitability of the nerve. Both thermometers were kept under exactly the same conditions, and most refined precautions were taken to eliminate any changes of temperature due to evaporation &c., or to the chemical changes in the adjoining muscle. The apparatus was then so arranged that the two thermometers exactly balanced each other, and that the slightest alteration in the temperature of either would cause a deflection of the mirror of the galvanometer.
The St. Pancras Committee, who appear to be largely influenced by one of their number, are devoting themselves with great energy to the work of improvement in their district. It is to be hoped that there will be no interruption to these proceedings, and that the medical officer and the committed will be properly supported by the vestry. London is now suffering from the many badly-built houses which have been erected in comparatively recent years ; in many suburban districts houses of this character are falling into decay, and the earnest efforts of sanitary authorities are required to overcome this difficulty. We are glad to see the St. Pancras Sanitary Committee seriously undertaking this duty.
CÆSAREAN SECTION AT KENSINGTON INFIRMARY.
IN regard to this case, reported in our issue of March 22nd, He then stimulated the nerve with a weak induced current, we indicated last week that we had received several comand on no occasion was there a rise of even a thousandth of of the course He found that munications, all more or less condemnatory a degree in the temperature of the nerve. Dr. Haward Buren. In Van admitting reports as the nerve lost its excitability and died, there was, on the pursued by of cases into our Mirror of Hospital Practice we do not rise of a slow without external temperature, any contrary, stimulation of the nerve. This loss of excitability and rise necessarily always agree with the treatment advocated. have often pointed out, in obstetrical cases, the necesof temperature also occurred if the nerve were subjected to We the action of too strong or protracted a stimulation. The sity of carefully appreciating the indications for the operative measures, according to the degree temperature slowly reached a maximum, often rising a respective of pelvic deformity and concomitant conditions, and of seventh of a degree centigrade, and then slowly fell again. before " the mother is exhausted Frogs only were experimented on, but it is to be hoped that proceeding accordingly, labour pains." We welcome reports of cases Dr. Rolleston will be able to extend his observations to by unavailing in which the reporters, honestly recognising their mismammals. takes, have published their experience as a guide to others who may be placed in similar circumstances. Judging THE REVERENCE OF MEDICAL STUDENTS. from the report of this case, there was, in our opinion, AN evening contemporary recently contained a short article a decided want of precision in the physical examination of reflecting on medical students and their lack of reverence the pelvis. The interspinous measurement was nine inches for the dead, observing very properly that the bodies of even and a half, which was sufficient evidence to cause a most waifs and strays who die in hospitals should be treated with careful investigation to be made of the exact reduction of the respect. The basis of this sermon to medical students was conjugate diameter of the pelvic brim, in order to determine very slight, consisting of the fact that the head of a woman the operative measures to employ. There are several details, had been found in Paris near a railway station, and that the especially in regard to the purely surgical aspect of the case, police had come to the conclusion that it was the work of open to criticism. The marked improvements made in the medical students playing a hoax on them. We think this various modifications of hysterotomy have caused a revoluis rather hard even on Paris students; but to base on such an tion in as to the dangers of the operation in cornopinion incident a charge against medical students generally is not and now petent hands, craniotomy, as an alternative operaworthy of our contemporary. Medical students of this tion, is upon the defensive. We must remember that the country, both in the hospital and the dissecting room, are success of Csesarean section depends upon the early recognitaught lessons of humanity, and take kindly to such tion of the imperative indications for the operation, the lessons. prior condition of the woman, the avoidance of all futile experimental attempts with forceps &c. to deliver per LONDON SANITARY ADMINISTRATION. vaginam, and the employment of modern antiseptic meaAT the last meeting of the Sanitary Committee of sures. St. Pancras, of which an account is given in the columns of LEPROSY IN NEW ZEALAND. an evening contemporary, the medical officer of health, Dr. J. F. J. Sykes, reported ;a number of premises under WE find by the latest news from New Zealand that two the Artisans and Labourers’ Dwellings Act, 1868, and gave cases of leprosy were discovered in the same week. One ample reasons why the vestry should proceed in respect of was a Chinaman living in Auckland and the other was a these houses. He further made a request which experience Portuguese in the South Island. A correspondent informs us has shown to be very necessary-viz., that the Sanitary that these are by no means the first cases of leprosy that Committee should view the houses at once, as otherwise have been discovered in New Zealand. One person be and a few months hence white from tubercular (a man) suffering they might patched up, leprosy died there might be a protest against his action in reporting in Canterbury, New Zealand, two or three years ago, It is a not infrequent event for the owners of and occasional cases have been noticed amongst the them. dilapidated property, when it comes to their knowledge that Chinese. Dr. Thomson, in his well-known book, "The the medical officer of health has reported their houses under Britain of the South," described leprosy as existing this Act, to commencewithout loss of time a number of superthe Maories. No such cases are known at present, ficial and decorative repairs : walls are covered with clean as the Maori leprosy seems to have been stamped out by a paper, ceilings are whitened, and the evils which led to system of rigorous seclusion. The New Zealand Governtheir condemnation by the officer are thus covered up; they ment should take prompt measures to get rid of this are left with an appearance of wholesomeness and cleanliness direful disease while it can be done easily and at little which makes a local authority very loth to insist upon expense. The example of the Sandwich Islands shows how substantial repairs such as their surveyor would specify. rapidly leprosy spreads when once introduced, and how ___
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___
amongst
platinum wire, one-thousandth of an inch in diameter, which is arranged as a series of parallel folds, and insulated between two small plates of mica. The ends of the platinum wire are connected with a Wheatstone’s bridge, and any variation in the strength of the current is indicated by a mirror galvanometer. Dr. Rolleston took two of these thermometers and wound round each the sciatic nerve of a frog, with the gastrocnemius still attached, so that there might be no doubt about the excitability of the nerve. Both thermometers were kept under exactly the same conditions, and most refined precautions were taken to eliminate any changes of temperature due to evaporation &c., or to the chemical changes in the adjoining muscle. The apparatus was then so arranged that the two thermometers exactly balanced each other, and that the slightest alteration in the temperature of either would cause a deflection of the mirror of the galvanometer.
The St. Pancras Committee, who appear to be largely influenced by one of their number, are devoting themselves with great energy to the work of improvement in their district. It is to be hoped that there will be no interruption to these proceedings, and that the medical officer and the committed will be properly supported by the vestry. London is now suffering from the many badly-built houses which have been erected in comparatively recent years ; in many suburban districts houses of this character are falling into decay, and the earnest efforts of sanitary authorities are required to overcome this difficulty. We are glad to see the St. Pancras Sanitary Committee seriously undertaking this duty.
CÆSAREAN SECTION AT KENSINGTON INFIRMARY.
IN regard to this case, reported in our issue of March 22nd, He then stimulated the nerve with a weak induced current, we indicated last week that we had received several comand on no occasion was there a rise of even a thousandth of of the course He found that munications, all more or less condemnatory a degree in the temperature of the nerve. Dr. Haward Buren. In Van admitting reports as the nerve lost its excitability and died, there was, on the pursued by of cases into our Mirror of Hospital Practice we do not rise of a slow without external temperature, any contrary, stimulation of the nerve. This loss of excitability and rise necessarily always agree with the treatment advocated. have often pointed out, in obstetrical cases, the necesof temperature also occurred if the nerve were subjected to We the action of too strong or protracted a stimulation. The sity of carefully appreciating the indications for the operative measures, according to the degree temperature slowly reached a maximum, often rising a respective of pelvic deformity and concomitant conditions, and of seventh of a degree centigrade, and then slowly fell again. before " the mother is exhausted Frogs only were experimented on, but it is to be hoped that proceeding accordingly, labour pains." We welcome reports of cases Dr. Rolleston will be able to extend his observations to by unavailing in which the reporters, honestly recognising their mismammals. takes, have published their experience as a guide to others who may be placed in similar circumstances. Judging THE REVERENCE OF MEDICAL STUDENTS. from the report of this case, there was, in our opinion, AN evening contemporary recently contained a short article a decided want of precision in the physical examination of reflecting on medical students and their lack of reverence the pelvis. The interspinous measurement was nine inches for the dead, observing very properly that the bodies of even and a half, which was sufficient evidence to cause a most waifs and strays who die in hospitals should be treated with careful investigation to be made of the exact reduction of the respect. The basis of this sermon to medical students was conjugate diameter of the pelvic brim, in order to determine very slight, consisting of the fact that the head of a woman the operative measures to employ. There are several details, had been found in Paris near a railway station, and that the especially in regard to the purely surgical aspect of the case, police had come to the conclusion that it was the work of open to criticism. The marked improvements made in the medical students playing a hoax on them. We think this various modifications of hysterotomy have caused a revoluis rather hard even on Paris students; but to base on such an tion in as to the dangers of the operation in cornopinion incident a charge against medical students generally is not and now petent hands, craniotomy, as an alternative operaworthy of our contemporary. Medical students of this tion, is upon the defensive. We must remember that the country, both in the hospital and the dissecting room, are success of Csesarean section depends upon the early recognitaught lessons of humanity, and take kindly to such tion of the imperative indications for the operation, the lessons. prior condition of the woman, the avoidance of all futile experimental attempts with forceps &c. to deliver per LONDON SANITARY ADMINISTRATION. vaginam, and the employment of modern antiseptic meaAT the last meeting of the Sanitary Committee of sures. St. Pancras, of which an account is given in the columns of LEPROSY IN NEW ZEALAND. an evening contemporary, the medical officer of health, Dr. J. F. J. Sykes, reported ;a number of premises under WE find by the latest news from New Zealand that two the Artisans and Labourers’ Dwellings Act, 1868, and gave cases of leprosy were discovered in the same week. One ample reasons why the vestry should proceed in respect of was a Chinaman living in Auckland and the other was a these houses. He further made a request which experience Portuguese in the South Island. A correspondent informs us has shown to be very necessary-viz., that the Sanitary that these are by no means the first cases of leprosy that Committee should view the houses at once, as otherwise have been discovered in New Zealand. One person be and a few months hence white from tubercular (a man) suffering they might patched up, leprosy died there might be a protest against his action in reporting in Canterbury, New Zealand, two or three years ago, It is a not infrequent event for the owners of and occasional cases have been noticed amongst the them. dilapidated property, when it comes to their knowledge that Chinese. Dr. Thomson, in his well-known book, "The the medical officer of health has reported their houses under Britain of the South," described leprosy as existing this Act, to commencewithout loss of time a number of superthe Maories. No such cases are known at present, ficial and decorative repairs : walls are covered with clean as the Maori leprosy seems to have been stamped out by a paper, ceilings are whitened, and the evils which led to system of rigorous seclusion. The New Zealand Governtheir condemnation by the officer are thus covered up; they ment should take prompt measures to get rid of this are left with an appearance of wholesomeness and cleanliness direful disease while it can be done easily and at little which makes a local authority very loth to insist upon expense. The example of the Sandwich Islands shows how substantial repairs such as their surveyor would specify. rapidly leprosy spreads when once introduced, and how ___
___
___
amongst