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THE LANCET SPECIAL ANALYTICAL SANITARY COMMISSION ON GASEOUS FUEL.
GASEOUS FUEL.
1384
derogation to his surgical renown to say that he owes it chiefly to his position in the world of art as President of the Society of Painter-Etchers. Sir John Charles Bucknill, whose knighthood we referred to last week, was one of the originators of the Volunteer movement, and he has done admirable work in psychological medicine and was at one time a Lord Chancellor’s visitor in lunacy. The Right Hon. J. A. Russell, J.P., M.B., C.M. Edin., is Lord Provost of Edinburgh and Inspector of Anatomy for Scotland. In the military and naval services Surgeon-General Sir James Mouat, V. C., C.B., late Army Medical Department, honorary surgeon to the Queen, is promoted to be a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath ; and Fleet Surgeon William Rogerson White will receive a Companionship of the same Order in recognition of his services in the recent operations against Fodey Silah in Combo, on the Gambia. Surgeon Walter Bowden, R.N., is appointed to the Distinguished Service ,
Order for his services
on
the
same
occasion.
Dr. Robert
Grieve, Surgeon-General of the colony of British Guiana, receives the order of Companion of St. Michael and St. George. Deputy-Surgeon-General and Honorary SurgeonGeneral W. George Nicholas Manley, V.C., retired pay, late Army Medical Department, receives a Companionship of the Bath. ___
THE LANCET SPECIAL ANALYTICAL SANITARY COMMISSION ON GASEOUS FUEL.
WE continue to receive evidence of the widespread interest which was created by the publication of the report of our Analytical Sanitary Commission on Gas Fires which appeared in THE LANCET of Nov. 25th, 1893. On the whole we have reason to be satisfied with the manner in which the report was received. Criticisms have flowed in freely even from America and Australia, but it was chiefly in the technical press at home that the report was discussed at length and in minute detail. That imperfection would creep into it we were willing to expect, and we took an early opportunity to thank our kindly critics who promptly explained what we ought to have done and what we ought not to have done. We replied at some length to the batch of critical correspondence we received in an article that was published in THE LANCET of Dec. 9th, 1893, and our answers then, which escaped the notice of subsequent writers both in and out of the press, were such as anticipated many criticisms which were published in various papers at a later date. In the February number of the Gentleman’s Magazine, for example, there appeared an able and lengthy article by Mr. L. C. D’Oyle, with whose observations on many points we quite concur; but he devotes the bulk of his remarks to what he considers were important experimental omissions, which, after some thought, as we explained in a reply published two weeks after the issue of the report, we were led purposely to make. We do not, however, fail to perceive that the article is one full of kindly appreciation of the labour which the inquiry involved. Thus the writer regards the report as by"far the most important and authoritative contribution to this question that has been published up to the present time," and later he expresses himself even more strongly when he informs his readers that THE LANCET has investigated the question of gaseous fuel and has published the results "in a most instructive, exhaustive, and downright good special report." We are indebted, too, to the Journal of Gas Lighting for various critical contributions which have appeared now and again in its columns, some more or less severe, but couched for the most part in terms satisfactory to ourselves and to our Commissioners. We may be pardoned, however, if we express even greater satisfaction at the tribute which the President (Mr. Alfred 1
Vide THE LANCET, Dec.
9th,
1893.
Colson) of the Institution of Gas Engineers was pleased to pay in his presidential address to the members of the institution at the general meeting on May 9th. "It must be admitted, " he said (we quote from the report of the proceedings contained in the Journczl of Gas Lighting, lIiay 15th), "that in spite of some imperfections no more comprehensive investigation of the subject has ever been published, and that it reflects the highest credit upon those engaged in it. It is a report that should be studied by every gas engineer and manager in the country ; and it is gratifying to know,"he added, that there is a prospect that the scope of the inquiry may be extended at some future time ; but, before this is done, I would suggest that if THE LANCET were first to consult with the Council of this Institution it could obtain hints that would be of assistance in any further investigation into the value and merits of the different kinds of gas appliances." We need hardly add that when the opportunity occurs we shall most cordially avail ourselves of this offer of the valuable experience and knowledge of which we feela body like the Institute of Gas Engineers must be in possession. It is only by cooperation on these lines that results of any real practical value on the subject at issue can be obtained, and our work in endeavouring to place on record the results of a reliable and trustworthy investigation in order that we may possibly further the interests and welfare of the community at large will thus be greatly facilitated. SLEEPLESS CYCLING. ANOTHER of those abnormal feats to which we have more than once drawn public attention has been accomplished. One of the great "record breakers," as they are called in the cycling world, has set all his compeers at defiance by the truly marvellous effort of cycling from the Land’s End to John of Groat’s in eighty-six hours fifteen minutes-that is, nine hours and forty minutes quicker than the "safety" record. We are informed that he rode the last part of his journey at the rate of sixteen miles an hour, that he experienced little fatigue, and that to all appearances he was not in any way injured by his success ; but the most remarkable part of this act is included in the fact-and it must be recognised as a fact which admits of no disputethat he performed his task without indulging in one moment of sleep. He was three days, fourteen hours, and fifteen minutes without reclining once to rest. or ceasing his active movement of propulsion, except for the very briefest moments. There have been periods within our own recollection in which this physiological feat would not have been accepted as possible; and although we are forced to accept it now, for no one can contend’against truth even under perverted trials of endurance, we are filled with wonder. We know from the best experimental proofs that the healthy heart will beat 106, 000 times in the twenty-four hours, and that the lowest estimate of the work done by this labour is equal to lifting 122 tons one foot; but it has recently been shown that cycling tells severely and specially upon the circulation, and that the number of the strokes of the heart is doubled during such active exercise as that to which this rider subjected himself, so that the lowest estimate we can assume for the work of his heart each day was 212,000 beats, with work done of 244 foot tons; and this maintained for three days and fourteen hours and fifteen minutes was equal to more than 854 foot tons without repose. The experiment, for it must be looked upon physiologically as an experiment, is not without its uses. It surpasses every kind of ordinary experiment in showing what the human heart is capable of performing, and what tension the vessels of the greater and lesser circulation will bear in the young and healthy man. It shows, also, that there remains much that is as yet unexplained in respect to the cause of sleep, suggesting
1384
derogation to his surgical renown to say that he owes it chiefly to his position in the world of art as President of the Society of Painter-Etchers. Sir John Charles Bucknill, whose knighthood we referred to last week, was one of the originators of the Volunteer movement, and he has done admirable work in psychological medicine and was at one time a Lord Chancellor’s visitor in lunacy. The Right Hon. J. A. Russell, J.P., M.B., C.M. Edin., is Lord Provost of Edinburgh and Inspector of Anatomy for Scotland. In the military and naval services Surgeon-General Sir James Mouat, V. C., C.B., late Army Medical Department, honorary surgeon to the Queen, is promoted to be a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath ; and Fleet Surgeon William Rogerson White will receive a Companionship of the same Order in recognition of his services in the recent operations against Fodey Silah in Combo, on the Gambia. Surgeon Walter Bowden, R.N., is appointed to the Distinguished Service ,
Order for his services
on
the
same
occasion.
Dr. Robert
Grieve, Surgeon-General of the colony of British Guiana, receives the order of Companion of St. Michael and St. George. Deputy-Surgeon-General and Honorary SurgeonGeneral W. George Nicholas Manley, V.C., retired pay, late Army Medical Department, receives a Companionship of the Bath. ___
THE LANCET SPECIAL ANALYTICAL SANITARY COMMISSION ON GASEOUS FUEL.
WE continue to receive evidence of the widespread interest which was created by the publication of the report of our Analytical Sanitary Commission on Gas Fires which appeared in THE LANCET of Nov. 25th, 1893. On the whole we have reason to be satisfied with the manner in which the report was received. Criticisms have flowed in freely even from America and Australia, but it was chiefly in the technical press at home that the report was discussed at length and in minute detail. That imperfection would creep into it we were willing to expect, and we took an early opportunity to thank our kindly critics who promptly explained what we ought to have done and what we ought not to have done. We replied at some length to the batch of critical correspondence we received in an article that was published in THE LANCET of Dec. 9th, 1893, and our answers then, which escaped the notice of subsequent writers both in and out of the press, were such as anticipated many criticisms which were published in various papers at a later date. In the February number of the Gentleman’s Magazine, for example, there appeared an able and lengthy article by Mr. L. C. D’Oyle, with whose observations on many points we quite concur; but he devotes the bulk of his remarks to what he considers were important experimental omissions, which, after some thought, as we explained in a reply published two weeks after the issue of the report, we were led purposely to make. We do not, however, fail to perceive that the article is one full of kindly appreciation of the labour which the inquiry involved. Thus the writer regards the report as by"far the most important and authoritative contribution to this question that has been published up to the present time," and later he expresses himself even more strongly when he informs his readers that THE LANCET has investigated the question of gaseous fuel and has published the results "in a most instructive, exhaustive, and downright good special report." We are indebted, too, to the Journal of Gas Lighting for various critical contributions which have appeared now and again in its columns, some more or less severe, but couched for the most part in terms satisfactory to ourselves and to our Commissioners. We may be pardoned, however, if we express even greater satisfaction at the tribute which the President (Mr. Alfred 1
Vide THE LANCET, Dec.
9th,
1893.
Colson) of the Institution of Gas Engineers was pleased to pay in his presidential address to the members of the institution at the general meeting on May 9th. "It must be admitted, " he said (we quote from the report of the proceedings contained in the Journczl of Gas Lighting, lIiay 15th), "that in spite of some imperfections no more comprehensive investigation of the subject has ever been published, and that it reflects the highest credit upon those engaged in it. It is a report that should be studied by every gas engineer and manager in the country ; and it is gratifying to know,"he added, that there is a prospect that the scope of the inquiry may be extended at some future time ; but, before this is done, I would suggest that if THE LANCET were first to consult with the Council of this Institution it could obtain hints that would be of assistance in any further investigation into the value and merits of the different kinds of gas appliances." We need hardly add that when the opportunity occurs we shall most cordially avail ourselves of this offer of the valuable experience and knowledge of which we feela body like the Institute of Gas Engineers must be in possession. It is only by cooperation on these lines that results of any real practical value on the subject at issue can be obtained, and our work in endeavouring to place on record the results of a reliable and trustworthy investigation in order that we may possibly further the interests and welfare of the community at large will thus be greatly facilitated. SLEEPLESS CYCLING. ANOTHER of those abnormal feats to which we have more than once drawn public attention has been accomplished. One of the great "record breakers," as they are called in the cycling world, has set all his compeers at defiance by the truly marvellous effort of cycling from the Land’s End to John of Groat’s in eighty-six hours fifteen minutes-that is, nine hours and forty minutes quicker than the "safety" record. We are informed that he rode the last part of his journey at the rate of sixteen miles an hour, that he experienced little fatigue, and that to all appearances he was not in any way injured by his success ; but the most remarkable part of this act is included in the fact-and it must be recognised as a fact which admits of no disputethat he performed his task without indulging in one moment of sleep. He was three days, fourteen hours, and fifteen minutes without reclining once to rest. or ceasing his active movement of propulsion, except for the very briefest moments. There have been periods within our own recollection in which this physiological feat would not have been accepted as possible; and although we are forced to accept it now, for no one can contend’against truth even under perverted trials of endurance, we are filled with wonder. We know from the best experimental proofs that the healthy heart will beat 106, 000 times in the twenty-four hours, and that the lowest estimate of the work done by this labour is equal to lifting 122 tons one foot; but it has recently been shown that cycling tells severely and specially upon the circulation, and that the number of the strokes of the heart is doubled during such active exercise as that to which this rider subjected himself, so that the lowest estimate we can assume for the work of his heart each day was 212,000 beats, with work done of 244 foot tons; and this maintained for three days and fourteen hours and fifteen minutes was equal to more than 854 foot tons without repose. The experiment, for it must be looked upon physiologically as an experiment, is not without its uses. It surpasses every kind of ordinary experiment in showing what the human heart is capable of performing, and what tension the vessels of the greater and lesser circulation will bear in the young and healthy man. It shows, also, that there remains much that is as yet unexplained in respect to the cause of sleep, suggesting