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THE CAREY COOMBS MEMORIAL
156 the symptoms abated two days after starting treatment with pneumodine. In a case of bronchial asthma previously treated with expectorant mixture and ephedrine to relieve the difficulty of breathing, not only the cough and wheeziness but also the chest signs subsided in two days, and it was no longer necessary to use ephedrine. Two colleagues have recently reported to me similarly good results in bronchial asthma. Disappearance of sputum has also been obtained in cases of bronchiectasis. Pneumodine appeared to be particularly useful in cases of bronchitis of long duration. Pneumodine is an unsaturated ethereal compound somewhat like allyl sulphide in its constitution and general characters, but with not nearly so unpleasant It is insoluble in water but freely soluble in a smell. fats and other organic substances. It is sufficiently stable to withstand the ordinary range of reactions! within the gastro-intestinal tract, and is compatibles with pot. iod., alkaline expectorant, and fever mixtures. In the tissues it hydrolyses rapidly with liberation of free hydroiodic acid. It is best given in the form of a petroleum emulsion or elixir. A palatable preparation, free from the smell of the iodine compound, and containing in each two fluid drachms 30 minims of liq. bismuth cit. and 1/10th grain of oodeine phosphate is made by Messrs. Reynolds .and Branson, Ltd., 13, Briggate, Leeds. Used in this way, pneumodine is well tolerated. In more than 70 - cases of my own no iodism or other drawback has ,been encountered. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, Nottingham, June 23rd, 1933. G. CHAND, M.B., Ch.B. ’
SEASONAL
GROWTH
AND
HUMAN
HIBERNATION
To the Editor
of
SIR,—Your annotation of
THE LANCET
1st deals with a a general way, by A. B. Fitt, and recorded in the report of the Australasian Association for Advancement of Science or 1924, that certain seasonal changes or rhythms - observable in the physiology of man are due to a former need for hibernation in our human ancestors -when subjected to the winters of the glacial periodby which he meant the recent or Pleistocene glacial period, when man existed. Apart from the extracts and statements given in your annotation, I know nothing of this report and its contents ; but I should like to point out the strong resemblance of the views - described to the hypothesis first put forward by myself in April, 1924, and later published (January, 1931) in extended form in my book " Seasonal Variation in Man." But I have never suggested the possibility of human hibernation, which, unless the term is used in a loose sense, would be out of the question. My thesis is that the heat-stable mammal, given suitable physical conditions, annually goes through a vestigial cycle, which is the analogue of the old hibernating cycle imposed on earlier heatlabile types of mammal during and after their stages of differentiation. In the book in question this conception will be found methodically reasoned out, and further deduced for the pathological field, where it is shown capable of explaining the existence and characters of certain morbid events in ourselves, and of providing, among other things, the theory of tetany. Among the physiological consequences the expectation of an uplift in reproductive efficiency in March-April, which was confirmed by me for this district, and other facts commented on in your .article, such as seasonal weight and growth curves
July
hypothesis advanced, apparently in
and the reversal in date of such changes in the southern hemisphere, are shown to follow from the same central assumption. Since my hypothesis appears to have so great an interpretative force in physiology and medicine, and since at its first introduction in book form it received inadequate notice, I have now in course of preparation a further short account of it. Meanwhile it is interesting to learn that a contemporary has arrived, though from a different line of approach, at a view having this much of identity with my own. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, EDMUND HUGHES. Liverpool, July 6th, 1933. THE
CAREY
COOMBS
To the Editor
of THE
MEMORIAL
LANCET
SIR,—Many of the friends and patients of the late Carey Coombs have expressed the desire of establishing, in his memory, some form of permanent memorial. With this object in view a committee of eight have been appointed, representing the Bristol University, the British Medical Association, Bristol Medico-Chirurgical Society, and the Bristol General Hospital. We (the members of this committee) have decided to collect funds for the purpose of this memorial, and would offer an early opportunity of contributing Dr.
same. We are satisfied that whatever is raised, it will be possible to invest it in such a way as to keep Dr. Carey Coombs’ name in perpetual remembrance. We may be able to endow a research studentship (an object very dear to Dr. Carey Coombs’s heart) or a lectureship, associated with the Bristol University. The income of this sum will be given to Mrs. Carey Coombs for the next five years towards the education of her children. Promises of support or cheques should be sent to Dr. Elwin Harris, Jun., 13, Lansdown-place, Clifton, the cheques crossed " Coombs’ Memorial." It would be of great assistance to us if intending contributors would indicate to us as quickly as possible their intentions. We are, Sir, yours faithfully, ERNEST W. HEY GROVES,
to the
sum
President, Bristol Medico-Chirurgical Society (Chairman).
CLARE SMITH, Committee of the Bristol General
EDWARD
Hospital.
FAWCETT,
Dean of Medical Faculty, Bristol University.
C. E. K. HERAPATH, British Medical Association and Bristol
Royal Infirmary.
S.
MARLE,
Bath Division of British Medical Association.
C. A.
MOORE,
Bristol General
J. A.
Hospital.
NIXON,
Professor of Medicine, Bristol University.
H. ELWIN HARRIS, Jun., Bristol Medico-Chirurgical Society (Secretary).
Clifton, July, 1933.
PELLAGRA AND INTESTINAL INFECTIONS
To the Editor
of
THE LANCET
SIR,—Your annotation Pellagra in Denmark me of the statement interests because (June 24th) on
in it that chronic gastro-intestinal disease contributes to the causation of pellagra by impairing the absorption of food. In 1931 I published a note in which it was shown that the incidence of pellagra was markedly greater in patients suffering from intestinal schistosomiasis. Of 173 cases of pellagra, 117 had this intestinal infection-i.e., 67 per cent. compared
SEASONAL
GROWTH
AND
HUMAN
HIBERNATION
To the Editor
of
SIR,—Your annotation of
THE LANCET
1st deals with a a general way, by A. B. Fitt, and recorded in the report of the Australasian Association for Advancement of Science or 1924, that certain seasonal changes or rhythms - observable in the physiology of man are due to a former need for hibernation in our human ancestors -when subjected to the winters of the glacial periodby which he meant the recent or Pleistocene glacial period, when man existed. Apart from the extracts and statements given in your annotation, I know nothing of this report and its contents ; but I should like to point out the strong resemblance of the views - described to the hypothesis first put forward by myself in April, 1924, and later published (January, 1931) in extended form in my book " Seasonal Variation in Man." But I have never suggested the possibility of human hibernation, which, unless the term is used in a loose sense, would be out of the question. My thesis is that the heat-stable mammal, given suitable physical conditions, annually goes through a vestigial cycle, which is the analogue of the old hibernating cycle imposed on earlier heatlabile types of mammal during and after their stages of differentiation. In the book in question this conception will be found methodically reasoned out, and further deduced for the pathological field, where it is shown capable of explaining the existence and characters of certain morbid events in ourselves, and of providing, among other things, the theory of tetany. Among the physiological consequences the expectation of an uplift in reproductive efficiency in March-April, which was confirmed by me for this district, and other facts commented on in your .article, such as seasonal weight and growth curves
July
hypothesis advanced, apparently in
and the reversal in date of such changes in the southern hemisphere, are shown to follow from the same central assumption. Since my hypothesis appears to have so great an interpretative force in physiology and medicine, and since at its first introduction in book form it received inadequate notice, I have now in course of preparation a further short account of it. Meanwhile it is interesting to learn that a contemporary has arrived, though from a different line of approach, at a view having this much of identity with my own. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, EDMUND HUGHES. Liverpool, July 6th, 1933. THE
CAREY
COOMBS
To the Editor
of THE
MEMORIAL
LANCET
SIR,—Many of the friends and patients of the late Carey Coombs have expressed the desire of establishing, in his memory, some form of permanent memorial. With this object in view a committee of eight have been appointed, representing the Bristol University, the British Medical Association, Bristol Medico-Chirurgical Society, and the Bristol General Hospital. We (the members of this committee) have decided to collect funds for the purpose of this memorial, and would offer an early opportunity of contributing Dr.
same. We are satisfied that whatever is raised, it will be possible to invest it in such a way as to keep Dr. Carey Coombs’ name in perpetual remembrance. We may be able to endow a research studentship (an object very dear to Dr. Carey Coombs’s heart) or a lectureship, associated with the Bristol University. The income of this sum will be given to Mrs. Carey Coombs for the next five years towards the education of her children. Promises of support or cheques should be sent to Dr. Elwin Harris, Jun., 13, Lansdown-place, Clifton, the cheques crossed " Coombs’ Memorial." It would be of great assistance to us if intending contributors would indicate to us as quickly as possible their intentions. We are, Sir, yours faithfully, ERNEST W. HEY GROVES,
to the
sum
President, Bristol Medico-Chirurgical Society (Chairman).
CLARE SMITH, Committee of the Bristol General
EDWARD
Hospital.
FAWCETT,
Dean of Medical Faculty, Bristol University.
C. E. K. HERAPATH, British Medical Association and Bristol
Royal Infirmary.
S.
MARLE,
Bath Division of British Medical Association.
C. A.
MOORE,
Bristol General
J. A.
Hospital.
NIXON,
Professor of Medicine, Bristol University.
H. ELWIN HARRIS, Jun., Bristol Medico-Chirurgical Society (Secretary).
Clifton, July, 1933.
PELLAGRA AND INTESTINAL INFECTIONS
To the Editor
of
THE LANCET
SIR,—Your annotation Pellagra in Denmark me of the statement interests because (June 24th) on
in it that chronic gastro-intestinal disease contributes to the causation of pellagra by impairing the absorption of food. In 1931 I published a note in which it was shown that the incidence of pellagra was markedly greater in patients suffering from intestinal schistosomiasis. Of 173 cases of pellagra, 117 had this intestinal infection-i.e., 67 per cent. compared