- Email: [email protected]
A NEW COLOUR-TEST APPLIANCE.
1133 No other way of salvation is open because "in the Ten Commandments it has been finally enacted that the faults or ins of parents shall be visited upon the children" and "no science-no human effort-can get behind this." Perhaps, however, this loosely-written pamphlet may not contain the last word on the social problem.
unproved.
JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES.
New Inventions.
general
The PlJ’actUionelJ’.-The April number of this journal deals with a variety of subjects. An article by Dr. R. Salusbury Trevor deals with the functions and the pathology of the pancreas-a branch of medical inquiry which becomes of increasing practical importance with the progressive explorations of the abdominal surgeon of to-day. Dr. H. Campbell Thomson reviews recent literature bearing upon cerebral and mental diseases in relation to general medicine, and Mr. H. S. Clogg bases upon 25 cases some pertinent remaiks concerning carcinoma of the colon. Not everyone will agree with the details of Dr. P. R. Cooper’s recommendations in His article, however, is a a plea for aseptic midwifery. "counsel of perfection," and its principles at least are unexceptionable. Dr. Mott contributes the first of his lectures on Progressive Muscular Atrophy.
Medical Electrolngy and Radiology.-The March and April numbers of this journal may be conveniently mentioned together, several articles being in a serial form. Dr. W. S. Hedley, the editor, in a review of the progress made during 1903 deals with the therapeutic applications of direct heat rays from a luminous source, the light of arc lamps, and light of various colours ; he then discusses the conditions determining the permeability of animal tissues to the Roentgen rays, the therapeutic effects of the rays, and the measurement of their quantity and quality. Articles of which instalments appear are : Treatment of Affections of the Gastro- Intestinal Tract by Electrical Methods, by Dr. George A. Herschell; Methods of Application of High-Frcquency Currents, by Mr. Clarence A. J. Wright; and Lectures to Medical Practitioners on Physics applied to Medicine, by Sir Oliver Lodge. American news and reports of the meetings of the British Electrotherapeutic Society are given as usual. In the April number there is an account of a fatal shock received in a bath from the water-pipes conveying currents which had escaped from a tramway service. number of this journal Dr. C. F. Harford, the editor, writes on Sleeping Sickness and the Trypanosoma. Other articles deal with the Anti-malarial Measures in Ismailia, the Examinations in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene at the University of Cambridge, the Treatment of Ulcers, and various medical and dietetic hints for missionaries and explorers.
Climate.-In the
April
South .African Medical Record.-In addition to a variety original communications the March number contains reports of two meetings of the Cape Colony Medical Council. An editorial article is devoted to the mutual relations of hospitals and the medical profession ; in the course of it there is a judiciously-worded protest "against the tendency so prevalent in South Africa to divorce hospital from general of
larger hospitals under the control oj retained for that work alone and keep practitioner from active connexion witl
practice by putting salaried ing the them."
men
who
general
POST-TURBINAL SNARE. THIS snare has been designed to facilitate the snai5rg of the posterior ends of the inferior turbinals without a ansesthet’c and without the insertion of a finger
the
are
COLONIAL NURSING ASSOCIATION.-Her Ro1 a: Highness Princess Henry of Battenberg has consented to bi present at the annual meeting of the Colonial Nursing
Association to be held at Sunderland House, Curzon-street by kind permission of the Duchess of Marlborough, 0] Wednesday, June 8th. Lord Grey will preside.
into the post-nasal space. If used with a flinger in the post-nasal space it is more qufckly adjusted and more easily held in position than an unsupported wire loop. The wire loop runs in the rigid
grooved loop, the groove being continuous with the barrel of the snare. The grooved loop is bent upwards at a slight angle to the barrel and the same instrument can be used for the right and left posterior ends manipulated by the light and left hands respecttively. There is a stop in the barrel to prevent the severed posterior end’ dropping off the wire. The wire is readily replaced in the groove if the former be a medium or a fine one. Theigid the loop carrying grooved wire enables the posterior end of the turbinal to be felt for where this is not in view from the anterior nares and takes the place of the flinger in the postnasal space by insuring its encirclement the wire and retention of it in position during the process of tightei3irg the snare. The snare has been made for me by Mesrs. Mayer and Meltzer, 71, Great Portland-street, London, W. MACKAY MACDONALD, M.B., B.C. Cantab., Senior Clinical Assistant to the Throat Department, King’s Harley-street, W. College Hospital.
by
A NEW COLOUR-TEST APPLIANCE.
is a description of a new appliance for the colour vision which, I venture to suggest, will be found useful for the examination of candidates for thevarious public services. It consists of a dead-black metal screen 14 centimetres in height by nine centimetres in widtb, supported on two metal cross-bars. Just above the centre of the screen there is an oval aperture about tbhreea centimetres in diameter; around the lower half ofThe aperture is fixed a double groove, similar to that in a trial spectacle frame, for the purpose of carrying the C01(’111 ed discs and diaphragms employed in the test. In addition to the above there are four coloured mounted glass discs, blue, red, green, and yellow respectively, one groundglass disc, one smoke-glass disc, and three black vulcanite discs having central apertures, the diameters of which have been designed approximately to test the acuteress of the colour vision at varying distances of 100, 300, and 500 yards. There is also a card upon which appear four squares coloured to correspond with the four coloured discs. The method of using the test is as follows. The screen is placed upon a convenient table with a light behind it, the candidate to be examined being seated upon a chair about four metres distant. In the candidate’s hand is placed the card with the colcured squares. One of the coloured discs is then inserted in the groove in front of the aperture in the screen and the candidate is first asked to name the colour and next to point to it on the card. The remaining colours are similarly tested. Lastly the acuteness of the colour THE
testing
following
1134 vision is further inquired into by inserting the vulcanite mattresses and pillows for the chairs were used, most had diaphragms in front of the coloured discs. The ground-glass cane chairs, the exceptions being in the new sanatoriums and smoke-glass discs are for the purpose of delineating at Davos (German), Harlaching (Munich), Belzig, and " Belitz (Berlin) where iron chairs were employed. The misty " and "foggy atmospheric conditions. medical directors of the various sanatoriums told me that they found the cane chairs did not give satisfaction owing to constant repairs, renewal, and short "life-history." The points aimed at in my design are neatness, simplicity, cleanliness, durability, and adaptability to suit a patient of any height. The framework is of iron, fitted with a wire mattress (the back and seat portions being in one piece); the arms are covered with leather, the back support being adjustable to any angle. I suggest that no hair or "flock" mattress should be used but that instead thick felt material similar to that as used for stage purposes by acrobats and others. Such a "mattress"would be clean, easily rolled up and carried indoors at night, and, above all, sterilisable; on top of this would be placed the wedge-shaped pillow or knee-support depicted in the illustration ; this may also be of wire or cane and should be of the same (inside) width as the frame of the chair, easily slid along the mattress under the knees of the patient, and in this way making the chair adaptable to persons of any height. The chair may be had of Mr. Edgar Samuel, Port Talbot, South Wales. D. LLOYD SMITH. Manchester Sanatorium, Bowdon, Cheshire. "
-
A MEDICAL BAG.
The appliance is supplied in a neat mahogany box and be obtained from the manufacturer, Mr. F. Davidson, 140, Great Portland-street, London, W., to whom I am much indebted for the care with which he has carried out the can
The cost is very moderate. PERCY DUNN, F.R.C.S. Eng., Ophthalmic Surgeon to the West London Hospital; Lecturer on
design.
Ophthalmology at the West London Post-Graduate College. Wimpole-street, W.
A NEW SANATORIUM CHAIR. THE accompanying illustration shows a "sanatorium chair" which I have designed and modified after that as used at Belitz, Berlin. During my visit last year to some of the oldest and newest. both public and private, sanatoriums in Germany, the Black Forest, and Switzerland, the one thing I looked out for was a "chaise longue"which might be adapted to any patient. There are here at Bowdon 50 chairs in continual use; these are of cane, firmly made, strengthened by iron supports, but these are unsatisfactory from many points of view. The seats or horizontal portions of chairs are all of the same and curve, so that tall as length well as short patients find them uncomfortable and inconvenient. Mattresses are not being used here, their place
I HAVE lately had made for me a bag which I think should prove useful to a large number of medical men. It is of an ordinary"I kit-bag " pattern, measuring 16 X 8 X 8 inches. It contains two pockets and the usual arrangement for bottles, loops for a case of catheters, and a steriliser measuring 14 X 3 X 2½ inches inside, which latter will thus take a pair of midwifery forceps or the necessary instruments for most operations, including silver catheters. The lid can be used as a tray during operations and supplies a receptacle never obtainable in private houses, whereas bowls and other necessaries of this description are always at hand. It has been made by Messrs. Bailey of 38, Oxford-street, London, W., who have also put up for me some packets of sterilised gauze already cut up which can be either used as swabs or dressings. Each packet contains a dozen pieces and its contents can be turned out into a bowl of lotion without any direct handling. One has ready at once with these dressings and steriliser all the means for conducting an aseptic operation in a convenient and portable form. Towels which have been boiled can almost always be produced whilst the bandages and wool can be easily kept sufficiently clean. As I have had considerable difficulty in getting what I wanted and as it seems to me of such general utility I thought it might be of some service to indicate where such equipment can be obtained. Convenient methods of sterilising midwifery forceps are seldom, if ever, forthcoming and the stock pattern sterilisers are either too small or too cumbersome, whilst already cut up and sterile dressings obviate the expenditure of a large amount of time and trouble. The bag has sufficient capacity to contain the steriliser and all the instruments and dressings most usually needed, whilst the whole outfit is just as portable as the ordinary general practitioner’s bag and, in fact, also serves this purpose. ALEX. R. TWEEDIE, F.R.C.S. Eng.
SOCIETY
FOR
RELIEF
OF
WIDOWS
AND
ORPHANS
MEDICAL MEN.-A quarterly court of the directors of this society was held on April 13th at 11, Chandosstreet, Mr. Christopher Heath, the President, being in the chair. One new member was elected and the deaths of six members were reported. Two widows had become ineligible for further grants. Fresh applications for grants were read from four widows and assistance was given to three, the fourth not being eligible under the by-laws. 54 widows, 14 children, and four orphans on the Copeland Fund applied for a renewal of their grants and .61319 were voted for distribution at the next court. A legacy of .e.1000 from the late Mrs. Du Pasquier was announced. The following gentlemen being taken by a plentiful supply of rugs. Those who have were nominated for election at the annual general meeting to control of a sanatorium for know how costly fill the vacancies in the court of directors : Mr. E. C. G. consumptives these chairs may be, as they are being continually repaired, Snell, Mr. W. T. N. Bell, Dr. C. Godson, Mr. E. H. May, the seats and back supports "sag," give way, and the cane Dr. W. C. James, Mr. A. W. Green, and Dr. S. West. The unravels; some are temporarily mended or patched with expenses of the quarter were £57 3s. 6d. It was decided to thick twine, pieces of canvas, or carpet so that they look any- hold the annual general meeting at 5 P.M. on Wednesday, thing but neat and clean. In the sanatoriums which I visited May 18th. OF
unproved.
JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES.
New Inventions.
general
The PlJ’actUionelJ’.-The April number of this journal deals with a variety of subjects. An article by Dr. R. Salusbury Trevor deals with the functions and the pathology of the pancreas-a branch of medical inquiry which becomes of increasing practical importance with the progressive explorations of the abdominal surgeon of to-day. Dr. H. Campbell Thomson reviews recent literature bearing upon cerebral and mental diseases in relation to general medicine, and Mr. H. S. Clogg bases upon 25 cases some pertinent remaiks concerning carcinoma of the colon. Not everyone will agree with the details of Dr. P. R. Cooper’s recommendations in His article, however, is a a plea for aseptic midwifery. "counsel of perfection," and its principles at least are unexceptionable. Dr. Mott contributes the first of his lectures on Progressive Muscular Atrophy.
Medical Electrolngy and Radiology.-The March and April numbers of this journal may be conveniently mentioned together, several articles being in a serial form. Dr. W. S. Hedley, the editor, in a review of the progress made during 1903 deals with the therapeutic applications of direct heat rays from a luminous source, the light of arc lamps, and light of various colours ; he then discusses the conditions determining the permeability of animal tissues to the Roentgen rays, the therapeutic effects of the rays, and the measurement of their quantity and quality. Articles of which instalments appear are : Treatment of Affections of the Gastro- Intestinal Tract by Electrical Methods, by Dr. George A. Herschell; Methods of Application of High-Frcquency Currents, by Mr. Clarence A. J. Wright; and Lectures to Medical Practitioners on Physics applied to Medicine, by Sir Oliver Lodge. American news and reports of the meetings of the British Electrotherapeutic Society are given as usual. In the April number there is an account of a fatal shock received in a bath from the water-pipes conveying currents which had escaped from a tramway service. number of this journal Dr. C. F. Harford, the editor, writes on Sleeping Sickness and the Trypanosoma. Other articles deal with the Anti-malarial Measures in Ismailia, the Examinations in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene at the University of Cambridge, the Treatment of Ulcers, and various medical and dietetic hints for missionaries and explorers.
Climate.-In the
April
South .African Medical Record.-In addition to a variety original communications the March number contains reports of two meetings of the Cape Colony Medical Council. An editorial article is devoted to the mutual relations of hospitals and the medical profession ; in the course of it there is a judiciously-worded protest "against the tendency so prevalent in South Africa to divorce hospital from general of
larger hospitals under the control oj retained for that work alone and keep practitioner from active connexion witl
practice by putting salaried ing the them."
men
who
general
POST-TURBINAL SNARE. THIS snare has been designed to facilitate the snai5rg of the posterior ends of the inferior turbinals without a ansesthet’c and without the insertion of a finger
the
are
COLONIAL NURSING ASSOCIATION.-Her Ro1 a: Highness Princess Henry of Battenberg has consented to bi present at the annual meeting of the Colonial Nursing
Association to be held at Sunderland House, Curzon-street by kind permission of the Duchess of Marlborough, 0] Wednesday, June 8th. Lord Grey will preside.
into the post-nasal space. If used with a flinger in the post-nasal space it is more qufckly adjusted and more easily held in position than an unsupported wire loop. The wire loop runs in the rigid
grooved loop, the groove being continuous with the barrel of the snare. The grooved loop is bent upwards at a slight angle to the barrel and the same instrument can be used for the right and left posterior ends manipulated by the light and left hands respecttively. There is a stop in the barrel to prevent the severed posterior end’ dropping off the wire. The wire is readily replaced in the groove if the former be a medium or a fine one. Theigid the loop carrying grooved wire enables the posterior end of the turbinal to be felt for where this is not in view from the anterior nares and takes the place of the flinger in the postnasal space by insuring its encirclement the wire and retention of it in position during the process of tightei3irg the snare. The snare has been made for me by Mesrs. Mayer and Meltzer, 71, Great Portland-street, London, W. MACKAY MACDONALD, M.B., B.C. Cantab., Senior Clinical Assistant to the Throat Department, King’s Harley-street, W. College Hospital.
by
A NEW COLOUR-TEST APPLIANCE.
is a description of a new appliance for the colour vision which, I venture to suggest, will be found useful for the examination of candidates for thevarious public services. It consists of a dead-black metal screen 14 centimetres in height by nine centimetres in widtb, supported on two metal cross-bars. Just above the centre of the screen there is an oval aperture about tbhreea centimetres in diameter; around the lower half ofThe aperture is fixed a double groove, similar to that in a trial spectacle frame, for the purpose of carrying the C01(’111 ed discs and diaphragms employed in the test. In addition to the above there are four coloured mounted glass discs, blue, red, green, and yellow respectively, one groundglass disc, one smoke-glass disc, and three black vulcanite discs having central apertures, the diameters of which have been designed approximately to test the acuteress of the colour vision at varying distances of 100, 300, and 500 yards. There is also a card upon which appear four squares coloured to correspond with the four coloured discs. The method of using the test is as follows. The screen is placed upon a convenient table with a light behind it, the candidate to be examined being seated upon a chair about four metres distant. In the candidate’s hand is placed the card with the colcured squares. One of the coloured discs is then inserted in the groove in front of the aperture in the screen and the candidate is first asked to name the colour and next to point to it on the card. The remaining colours are similarly tested. Lastly the acuteness of the colour THE
testing
following
1134 vision is further inquired into by inserting the vulcanite mattresses and pillows for the chairs were used, most had diaphragms in front of the coloured discs. The ground-glass cane chairs, the exceptions being in the new sanatoriums and smoke-glass discs are for the purpose of delineating at Davos (German), Harlaching (Munich), Belzig, and " Belitz (Berlin) where iron chairs were employed. The misty " and "foggy atmospheric conditions. medical directors of the various sanatoriums told me that they found the cane chairs did not give satisfaction owing to constant repairs, renewal, and short "life-history." The points aimed at in my design are neatness, simplicity, cleanliness, durability, and adaptability to suit a patient of any height. The framework is of iron, fitted with a wire mattress (the back and seat portions being in one piece); the arms are covered with leather, the back support being adjustable to any angle. I suggest that no hair or "flock" mattress should be used but that instead thick felt material similar to that as used for stage purposes by acrobats and others. Such a "mattress"would be clean, easily rolled up and carried indoors at night, and, above all, sterilisable; on top of this would be placed the wedge-shaped pillow or knee-support depicted in the illustration ; this may also be of wire or cane and should be of the same (inside) width as the frame of the chair, easily slid along the mattress under the knees of the patient, and in this way making the chair adaptable to persons of any height. The chair may be had of Mr. Edgar Samuel, Port Talbot, South Wales. D. LLOYD SMITH. Manchester Sanatorium, Bowdon, Cheshire. "
-
A MEDICAL BAG.
The appliance is supplied in a neat mahogany box and be obtained from the manufacturer, Mr. F. Davidson, 140, Great Portland-street, London, W., to whom I am much indebted for the care with which he has carried out the can
The cost is very moderate. PERCY DUNN, F.R.C.S. Eng., Ophthalmic Surgeon to the West London Hospital; Lecturer on
design.
Ophthalmology at the West London Post-Graduate College. Wimpole-street, W.
A NEW SANATORIUM CHAIR. THE accompanying illustration shows a "sanatorium chair" which I have designed and modified after that as used at Belitz, Berlin. During my visit last year to some of the oldest and newest. both public and private, sanatoriums in Germany, the Black Forest, and Switzerland, the one thing I looked out for was a "chaise longue"which might be adapted to any patient. There are here at Bowdon 50 chairs in continual use; these are of cane, firmly made, strengthened by iron supports, but these are unsatisfactory from many points of view. The seats or horizontal portions of chairs are all of the same and curve, so that tall as length well as short patients find them uncomfortable and inconvenient. Mattresses are not being used here, their place
I HAVE lately had made for me a bag which I think should prove useful to a large number of medical men. It is of an ordinary"I kit-bag " pattern, measuring 16 X 8 X 8 inches. It contains two pockets and the usual arrangement for bottles, loops for a case of catheters, and a steriliser measuring 14 X 3 X 2½ inches inside, which latter will thus take a pair of midwifery forceps or the necessary instruments for most operations, including silver catheters. The lid can be used as a tray during operations and supplies a receptacle never obtainable in private houses, whereas bowls and other necessaries of this description are always at hand. It has been made by Messrs. Bailey of 38, Oxford-street, London, W., who have also put up for me some packets of sterilised gauze already cut up which can be either used as swabs or dressings. Each packet contains a dozen pieces and its contents can be turned out into a bowl of lotion without any direct handling. One has ready at once with these dressings and steriliser all the means for conducting an aseptic operation in a convenient and portable form. Towels which have been boiled can almost always be produced whilst the bandages and wool can be easily kept sufficiently clean. As I have had considerable difficulty in getting what I wanted and as it seems to me of such general utility I thought it might be of some service to indicate where such equipment can be obtained. Convenient methods of sterilising midwifery forceps are seldom, if ever, forthcoming and the stock pattern sterilisers are either too small or too cumbersome, whilst already cut up and sterile dressings obviate the expenditure of a large amount of time and trouble. The bag has sufficient capacity to contain the steriliser and all the instruments and dressings most usually needed, whilst the whole outfit is just as portable as the ordinary general practitioner’s bag and, in fact, also serves this purpose. ALEX. R. TWEEDIE, F.R.C.S. Eng.
SOCIETY
FOR
RELIEF
OF
WIDOWS
AND
ORPHANS
MEDICAL MEN.-A quarterly court of the directors of this society was held on April 13th at 11, Chandosstreet, Mr. Christopher Heath, the President, being in the chair. One new member was elected and the deaths of six members were reported. Two widows had become ineligible for further grants. Fresh applications for grants were read from four widows and assistance was given to three, the fourth not being eligible under the by-laws. 54 widows, 14 children, and four orphans on the Copeland Fund applied for a renewal of their grants and .61319 were voted for distribution at the next court. A legacy of .e.1000 from the late Mrs. Du Pasquier was announced. The following gentlemen being taken by a plentiful supply of rugs. Those who have were nominated for election at the annual general meeting to control of a sanatorium for know how costly fill the vacancies in the court of directors : Mr. E. C. G. consumptives these chairs may be, as they are being continually repaired, Snell, Mr. W. T. N. Bell, Dr. C. Godson, Mr. E. H. May, the seats and back supports "sag," give way, and the cane Dr. W. C. James, Mr. A. W. Green, and Dr. S. West. The unravels; some are temporarily mended or patched with expenses of the quarter were £57 3s. 6d. It was decided to thick twine, pieces of canvas, or carpet so that they look any- hold the annual general meeting at 5 P.M. on Wednesday, thing but neat and clean. In the sanatoriums which I visited May 18th. OF