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A UNIVERSITY DEGREE FOR THE GENERAL PRACTITIONER.
938 from an erosion of the genitals. The venereal nature of the disease is proved by the fact that infection is often caused by sexual intercourse, the partner showing the same symptoms some time later. The I diagnosis, according to Frey, is established by cutaneous reaction produced by attenuated bubonic For the treatment antimonial pus as antigen.
preparations
are
recommended.
An Institute of Radiological Research. An institute of radiological research has been opened in Berlin in connexion with the medical faculty of the university. The head of the new institution is Prof. Friedrich, who, at the same time, has been appointed ordinary professor of medical physics in the university. The premises were opened in the presence of the Minister for Education, who said that the Government intend also to set up an institute of radiotherapy, and that this would be done as soon funds were available. The buildings AS the necessary include a physical department with the most modern
rontgen and high-frequency apparatus,
a
biological
chemical department, a lecture room, and a laboratory for testing radium preparations used in
and
a
public hospitals.
(FROM
PARIS. CORRESPONDENT.)
OUR OWN
Correspondence. "
Audi alteram partem."
A UNIVERSITY DEGREE FOR THE GENERAL PRACTITIONER.
of THE LANCET. SIR,—General practitioners of the British Empire will welcome the practical results of the findings of the Post-graduate Medical Education Committee. It must surely be fully realised that the main object of the medical student is to get through his examinaTo the Editor
Those who can afford it-for the cost of the medical curriculum is, speaking generally, a severe strain of the finances of parents-may be able to spend further time and money in obtaining higher qualifications, but everyone is aware that at the time of qualification one knows very little, if anything, of practical medicine. It is only when one encounters practical problems, after qualification, that one begins to learn medicine in its various branches. This fact, although sufficiently obvious, has not been fully appreciated by the authorities, and concentration on the encouragement of practitioners-who after all, are treating the great proportion of the sick population-will result in the greatest benefit to medicine as a whole. Registered medical practitioners will therefore welcome with pleasure the fact that the Ministry of Health is seeking, in addition to other great authorities, the support of the University of London and will rejoice that, at last, the case of the general practitioner is beginning to be considered, and the importance of encouraging his further education is being realised. In this scheme the University of London can, if it so desires, play a unique and important part in encouraging practitioners to continue to be students of medicine. It can, in a broad and tolerant spiritby granting an M.D. Degree to registered medical practitioners of the British Empire of approved standing-i.e., those who have contributed, e.g., in their field of general practice, to clinical research, and who are of, let us say, at least ten years standing, tions.
Recuperated Bath Water. THE conduct of a thermal establishment at popular resort of St, Nectaire has been the subject of legal investigation. The place was bought some years ago by a Dutchman named Van Gerdinge, who with his family undertook its whole management. Some time later it was rumoured that the bathing plant had been reconstructed by the new owner so as to heat up again the bath water used by previous bathers, -an economical arrangement which did not conform to the precise requirements of modern hygiene. On inquiry the police found a secret plant for reheating the bath water, and the proprietor and his son were tried last week at the local police-court and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with an additional fine of about £1500. Compensation was awarded to the victimised clients to an amount ana wno nave, aner a course or study at {lne postvarying between 212 and 290 each. An expert has graduate medical school, passed a required examinabeen nominated by the Court to assess the amount tion suitable for a general practitioner--do much to make the post-graduate hospital a medical metropolis of indemnity payable to the health resort. of the British Empire, and encourage practitioners to continue to remain students of medicine. Social Insurance. In this way the University of London can share Deputies being now quit of the Budget have set to work on the social insurance law. Both Chambers in the scheme and feel that it is-by granting its degree to a registered medical practitioner of approved are due to rise shortly, and it is not quite certain that the law will have passed all its stages by the first of professional standing and attainments who has post-graduate medical school- assisting, July, the date promised when the measure was studied in itsand in a peculiar way, in the encouragepractically The desired concessions to last January. postponed ment of medical study by general post-graduate been made on all professional ethics have points in deference to pressure from the leaders of the practitioners.-I am, Sir, yours faithfully, M.D., M.R.C.P. April 16th, 1930. profession. An X Ray Martyr. Dr. Robert Chaperon has died in Paris after a long DISTRIBUTION OF TYPHUS VIRUS IN illness occasioned by professonal exposure to X rays at the Hopital Broussais, where he was radiologist THE BLOOD. and assistant in electroradiology to Dr. Laubry. To the Editor of THE LANCET. Two days before his death he was visited by the new Minister of Public Health, accompanied by members SIR,—In a recent issue you called attention to the of the hospital staff, who. conferred on him the gold important section in the reportof the Medical Research medal of the Assistance Publique. It is understood Council dealing with the virus diseases. On p. 19 of that his memory will carry the insignia of the Legion that report it is stated that it was shown, before the of Honour which was not awarded to him in his war, that the virus of typhus does not float freely in the blood, but is contained in the white corpuscles. lifetime. That was the conclusion originally arrived at by Nicolle, but it does not hold now. It was shown first by Kusama and subsequently by Bacot and ENLARGEMENT OF BROOK HOSPITAL.-This transthat the virus is contained not in the leucocytes, ferred hospital at Shooters Hill, Woolwich, is to be enlarged Ségal but in the blood-platelets. And Bacot, with his by the London County Council at a cost of £50,000, one- brilliant technique, was able to produce the infection half of which will be absorbed by a nurses’ home. When of lice per anum with platelets proved by the - this hospital is full 227 nurses will be required.
theI
preparations
are
recommended.
An Institute of Radiological Research. An institute of radiological research has been opened in Berlin in connexion with the medical faculty of the university. The head of the new institution is Prof. Friedrich, who, at the same time, has been appointed ordinary professor of medical physics in the university. The premises were opened in the presence of the Minister for Education, who said that the Government intend also to set up an institute of radiotherapy, and that this would be done as soon funds were available. The buildings AS the necessary include a physical department with the most modern
rontgen and high-frequency apparatus,
a
biological
chemical department, a lecture room, and a laboratory for testing radium preparations used in
and
a
public hospitals.
(FROM
PARIS. CORRESPONDENT.)
OUR OWN
Correspondence. "
Audi alteram partem."
A UNIVERSITY DEGREE FOR THE GENERAL PRACTITIONER.
of THE LANCET. SIR,—General practitioners of the British Empire will welcome the practical results of the findings of the Post-graduate Medical Education Committee. It must surely be fully realised that the main object of the medical student is to get through his examinaTo the Editor
Those who can afford it-for the cost of the medical curriculum is, speaking generally, a severe strain of the finances of parents-may be able to spend further time and money in obtaining higher qualifications, but everyone is aware that at the time of qualification one knows very little, if anything, of practical medicine. It is only when one encounters practical problems, after qualification, that one begins to learn medicine in its various branches. This fact, although sufficiently obvious, has not been fully appreciated by the authorities, and concentration on the encouragement of practitioners-who after all, are treating the great proportion of the sick population-will result in the greatest benefit to medicine as a whole. Registered medical practitioners will therefore welcome with pleasure the fact that the Ministry of Health is seeking, in addition to other great authorities, the support of the University of London and will rejoice that, at last, the case of the general practitioner is beginning to be considered, and the importance of encouraging his further education is being realised. In this scheme the University of London can, if it so desires, play a unique and important part in encouraging practitioners to continue to be students of medicine. It can, in a broad and tolerant spiritby granting an M.D. Degree to registered medical practitioners of the British Empire of approved standing-i.e., those who have contributed, e.g., in their field of general practice, to clinical research, and who are of, let us say, at least ten years standing, tions.
Recuperated Bath Water. THE conduct of a thermal establishment at popular resort of St, Nectaire has been the subject of legal investigation. The place was bought some years ago by a Dutchman named Van Gerdinge, who with his family undertook its whole management. Some time later it was rumoured that the bathing plant had been reconstructed by the new owner so as to heat up again the bath water used by previous bathers, -an economical arrangement which did not conform to the precise requirements of modern hygiene. On inquiry the police found a secret plant for reheating the bath water, and the proprietor and his son were tried last week at the local police-court and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with an additional fine of about £1500. Compensation was awarded to the victimised clients to an amount ana wno nave, aner a course or study at {lne postvarying between 212 and 290 each. An expert has graduate medical school, passed a required examinabeen nominated by the Court to assess the amount tion suitable for a general practitioner--do much to make the post-graduate hospital a medical metropolis of indemnity payable to the health resort. of the British Empire, and encourage practitioners to continue to remain students of medicine. Social Insurance. In this way the University of London can share Deputies being now quit of the Budget have set to work on the social insurance law. Both Chambers in the scheme and feel that it is-by granting its degree to a registered medical practitioner of approved are due to rise shortly, and it is not quite certain that the law will have passed all its stages by the first of professional standing and attainments who has post-graduate medical school- assisting, July, the date promised when the measure was studied in itsand in a peculiar way, in the encouragepractically The desired concessions to last January. postponed ment of medical study by general post-graduate been made on all professional ethics have points in deference to pressure from the leaders of the practitioners.-I am, Sir, yours faithfully, M.D., M.R.C.P. April 16th, 1930. profession. An X Ray Martyr. Dr. Robert Chaperon has died in Paris after a long DISTRIBUTION OF TYPHUS VIRUS IN illness occasioned by professonal exposure to X rays at the Hopital Broussais, where he was radiologist THE BLOOD. and assistant in electroradiology to Dr. Laubry. To the Editor of THE LANCET. Two days before his death he was visited by the new Minister of Public Health, accompanied by members SIR,—In a recent issue you called attention to the of the hospital staff, who. conferred on him the gold important section in the reportof the Medical Research medal of the Assistance Publique. It is understood Council dealing with the virus diseases. On p. 19 of that his memory will carry the insignia of the Legion that report it is stated that it was shown, before the of Honour which was not awarded to him in his war, that the virus of typhus does not float freely in the blood, but is contained in the white corpuscles. lifetime. That was the conclusion originally arrived at by Nicolle, but it does not hold now. It was shown first by Kusama and subsequently by Bacot and ENLARGEMENT OF BROOK HOSPITAL.-This transthat the virus is contained not in the leucocytes, ferred hospital at Shooters Hill, Woolwich, is to be enlarged Ségal but in the blood-platelets. And Bacot, with his by the London County Council at a cost of £50,000, one- brilliant technique, was able to produce the infection half of which will be absorbed by a nurses’ home. When of lice per anum with platelets proved by the - this hospital is full 227 nurses will be required.
theI