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MEDICAL CONGRESSES IN ITALY.
1181 thermo-cautery. The parietal peritoneum itself appears to be drying and extracting the fat with ether in a Soxhlet. sensitive only to painful and not to tactile or thermal apparatus. The ether is removed by distillation and the btimuli ; this sensibility to pain Dr. Lennander attributes to fat in the flask is weighed. The process is a good one but twigs of the intercostal nerves in the subserous areolar is too tedious and complicated for medical use. A comThe lungs and the anterior wall of the trachea parison of the results of the experiments, 30 in number, tissue. also insensitive. The mucous membrane of the rectum is likewise insensitive to all ordinary stimuli but if its lumen be distended to a diameter of three and a half to four centimetres a desire to defecate is produced. Again, the testes and epididymis are insensitive while their coverings are sensitive. Dr. Lennander infers that organs which are innervated from visceral nerves alone are insensitive, while those having branches supplied to them from somatic nerves are sensitive. There is perhaps little that is new in these observations of Dr. Lennander or in his interpretation of them but they lend strong support to the view that at any rate some sensations of pain depend upon nerve fibres anatomically distinct from those subserving tactile and other cutaneous sensations, since the parietal peritoneum is apparently sensitive to painful stimuli only. At the same time that diseased or injured viscera may give rise to painful sensations interpreted locally-that is to say, apart from, or in addition to, referred pain and tenderness-is a matter of daily observation and this variety of pain is usually regarded as due to an exaggeration or augmentation of the common sensibility of the part, of which in health there is no conscious are
appreciation.
-
SOLIDS
showed that the Babcock test could be relied on for accuracy and was the most suitable of all for medical use. Dr. Shaw estimates the total solids from the specific gravity of the milk and the percentage of fat, using a special form of slide-rule for the performance of the necessary calculations.
MEDICAL CONGRESSES
IN
ITALY.
THE Thirteenth Annual Congress of Internal Medicine will take place this year at Padua from Oct. 29th to Nov. lst under the presidency of Professor Guido Baccelli. In addition to other subjects which may be brought forward by any of the members of the Congress three selected themes have been put down for discussion-namely (1) the Influence of Individuality in the Pathogenesis and the Etiology of Disease, to be opened by Professor A. de Giovanni and Professor L. Giuffr6 ; (2) Immunity in Acute InfectiveDiseases, to be opened by Professor Lucatello and Professor N. Pane ; and (3) the Medical Indications for the Interruption of Pregnancy, to be opened by Professor Zaggri and Professor V. Ascoli. The Congress of the Italian Pathological Society was held in Florence from Oct. 5th to 7th under the presidency of Professor PesAn important paper was read by Professor Fo. talozza. Various papers were contributed upon Cytotoxic Serums. by the Roman school ; amongst others one upon Sclerosis of the Coronary Arteries by Professor Marchiafava, another on the Alterations of the Nerve Centres consecutive to Infantile Cerebral Lesions by Professor Bignami, and another on the Acute Ascending Paralysis of Landry by Dr. Nazari. Before closing it was decided to hold the next Congress in Milan in the spring of 1905 and to endeavour to transform the society from a national into an international one, Professor Foà and Professor Golgi being appointed to, approach the Pathological Association of Germany with the object of bringing this about. At Messina there will be held in the first half of November the National Congress for the Hygiene of the Alimentation and Care of Early Childhood.
OF FAT AND TOTAL IN MILK. IN the August number of the Archives of Pœdiatrics Dr. Henry L. K. Shaw of Albany, New York, gives details and results of a number of comparative experiments made with different processes for the determination of the fat and the total solids in milk. He first describes the Babcock method of determining fat, a method which, he says, is distinctively American and is widely employed by American dairymen. It requires a centrifuge and at his suggestion a small one has been manufactured for the use of medical men. The process is as follows: 1’7’ 5 cubic centimetres of milk are first measured into the test bottle and 17 5 cubic centimetres of sulphuric acid of specific gravity 1 082 are then slowly added. The milk and acid are thoroughly mixed by a rotary motion, placed in the centrifuge, and whirled for four minutes. BoilREPORT OF THE MINER’S PHTHISIS COMing water is then added by means of a pipette until the MISSION IN SOUTH AFRICA. lower part of the column of fat comes within the graduated scale on the neck of the bottle. A second whirling for one THE report of the commission which was appointed in minute completes the separation of the fat. The fat thus 1902 to inquire into, and to report on, the disease comobtained should form a clear yellowish liquid quite distinct monly known as ’’ miner’s phthisis " has now been issued from the acid solution and the height of the column is then together with the minutes of the proceedings and the minutes read off. The Marchand lactobutyrometer, he says, is of evidence. The terms of reference were as follows:. It consists (1) to inquire into the extent to which miner’s phthisis. better known abroad than in America. of a glass tube closed at one end, with a narrowed prevails ; (2) to ascertain the cause of the disease ; and The narrow portion is (3) to make recommendations as to the preventive and segment near the open end. The tube is marked so curative measures which should be adopted either by _graduated into 30 divisions. that the lower portion shall contain five cubic centimetres legislation or otherwise. The evidence adduced and theof milk, the middle portion five cubic centimetres of ether, deductions therefrom form interesting reading. It appears and the upper portion five cubic centimetres of alcohol. that the disease is largely confined to miners who have The milk is first introduced up to the point indicated in the worked for some time in metalliferous mines and is chiefly tube and a few drops of a 10 per cent. solution of sodium noticeable among the rock drill miners of the Witwatersrand hydrate are added, after which the ether is added and mixed, gold mines It was further shown that the disease prevails and the alcohol is then added and mixed. The tube is now to a very great extent and that a high mortality is due to it. immersed in a water-bath at 100° F. for 15 or 20 minutes and The commissioners were fully convinced that the pathology the amount of fat is read off from the scale. The other of the condition is a silicosis prodaced by the inhalation of methods or tests made use of were the Gerber method, the minute particles of inorganic matter with which the atmoLefferman-Beam (? Leffmann-Beam) test, and the Holt cream sphere of the mine is naturally charged. This conclusion gauge. The control estimations of fat, to be taken as the was the only one to be expected and the chief interest in standard, were made in the laboratory of the New York State the report lies in the suggestions which are made for the Department of Agriculture by the Adams extraction method. protection of the workmen. Valuable investigations were This consists in spreading the milk over absorbent paper, made as to the composition and quantity of the air-
DETERMINATION
____
appreciation.
-
SOLIDS
showed that the Babcock test could be relied on for accuracy and was the most suitable of all for medical use. Dr. Shaw estimates the total solids from the specific gravity of the milk and the percentage of fat, using a special form of slide-rule for the performance of the necessary calculations.
MEDICAL CONGRESSES
IN
ITALY.
THE Thirteenth Annual Congress of Internal Medicine will take place this year at Padua from Oct. 29th to Nov. lst under the presidency of Professor Guido Baccelli. In addition to other subjects which may be brought forward by any of the members of the Congress three selected themes have been put down for discussion-namely (1) the Influence of Individuality in the Pathogenesis and the Etiology of Disease, to be opened by Professor A. de Giovanni and Professor L. Giuffr6 ; (2) Immunity in Acute InfectiveDiseases, to be opened by Professor Lucatello and Professor N. Pane ; and (3) the Medical Indications for the Interruption of Pregnancy, to be opened by Professor Zaggri and Professor V. Ascoli. The Congress of the Italian Pathological Society was held in Florence from Oct. 5th to 7th under the presidency of Professor PesAn important paper was read by Professor Fo. talozza. Various papers were contributed upon Cytotoxic Serums. by the Roman school ; amongst others one upon Sclerosis of the Coronary Arteries by Professor Marchiafava, another on the Alterations of the Nerve Centres consecutive to Infantile Cerebral Lesions by Professor Bignami, and another on the Acute Ascending Paralysis of Landry by Dr. Nazari. Before closing it was decided to hold the next Congress in Milan in the spring of 1905 and to endeavour to transform the society from a national into an international one, Professor Foà and Professor Golgi being appointed to, approach the Pathological Association of Germany with the object of bringing this about. At Messina there will be held in the first half of November the National Congress for the Hygiene of the Alimentation and Care of Early Childhood.
OF FAT AND TOTAL IN MILK. IN the August number of the Archives of Pœdiatrics Dr. Henry L. K. Shaw of Albany, New York, gives details and results of a number of comparative experiments made with different processes for the determination of the fat and the total solids in milk. He first describes the Babcock method of determining fat, a method which, he says, is distinctively American and is widely employed by American dairymen. It requires a centrifuge and at his suggestion a small one has been manufactured for the use of medical men. The process is as follows: 1’7’ 5 cubic centimetres of milk are first measured into the test bottle and 17 5 cubic centimetres of sulphuric acid of specific gravity 1 082 are then slowly added. The milk and acid are thoroughly mixed by a rotary motion, placed in the centrifuge, and whirled for four minutes. BoilREPORT OF THE MINER’S PHTHISIS COMing water is then added by means of a pipette until the MISSION IN SOUTH AFRICA. lower part of the column of fat comes within the graduated scale on the neck of the bottle. A second whirling for one THE report of the commission which was appointed in minute completes the separation of the fat. The fat thus 1902 to inquire into, and to report on, the disease comobtained should form a clear yellowish liquid quite distinct monly known as ’’ miner’s phthisis " has now been issued from the acid solution and the height of the column is then together with the minutes of the proceedings and the minutes read off. The Marchand lactobutyrometer, he says, is of evidence. The terms of reference were as follows:. It consists (1) to inquire into the extent to which miner’s phthisis. better known abroad than in America. of a glass tube closed at one end, with a narrowed prevails ; (2) to ascertain the cause of the disease ; and The narrow portion is (3) to make recommendations as to the preventive and segment near the open end. The tube is marked so curative measures which should be adopted either by _graduated into 30 divisions. that the lower portion shall contain five cubic centimetres legislation or otherwise. The evidence adduced and theof milk, the middle portion five cubic centimetres of ether, deductions therefrom form interesting reading. It appears and the upper portion five cubic centimetres of alcohol. that the disease is largely confined to miners who have The milk is first introduced up to the point indicated in the worked for some time in metalliferous mines and is chiefly tube and a few drops of a 10 per cent. solution of sodium noticeable among the rock drill miners of the Witwatersrand hydrate are added, after which the ether is added and mixed, gold mines It was further shown that the disease prevails and the alcohol is then added and mixed. The tube is now to a very great extent and that a high mortality is due to it. immersed in a water-bath at 100° F. for 15 or 20 minutes and The commissioners were fully convinced that the pathology the amount of fat is read off from the scale. The other of the condition is a silicosis prodaced by the inhalation of methods or tests made use of were the Gerber method, the minute particles of inorganic matter with which the atmoLefferman-Beam (? Leffmann-Beam) test, and the Holt cream sphere of the mine is naturally charged. This conclusion gauge. The control estimations of fat, to be taken as the was the only one to be expected and the chief interest in standard, were made in the laboratory of the New York State the report lies in the suggestions which are made for the Department of Agriculture by the Adams extraction method. protection of the workmen. Valuable investigations were This consists in spreading the milk over absorbent paper, made as to the composition and quantity of the air-
DETERMINATION
____