- Email: [email protected]
BAD RADIOGRAMS.
104 vendor
fined 210 in each case and £ l4 14s. costs, 14s. in all. Twenty-eight cases of adulteration were taken before the magistrates and conviction obtained in 25. In two cases the vendor asked for appeal to the cow " samples to be taken, and it was found that the cows were giving poor milk corresponding to the samples. Four surveys of dairy cattle by the veterinary inspectors have revealed 285,264,179, and 162 tuberculous animals, including 55,32,29, and 15 cases of tubercle of the udder. The cows examined numbered 52,131, 53,623, 44,648, and 42,126. was
making B54
Correspondence.
"
INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN ENGLAND AND WALES DURING THE WEEK-ENDED DEC. 28TH 1929. Notifications.-The following cases of infectious disease were notified during the week :-Small-pox, 232 ; scarlet fever, 2538 ; diphtheria, 1495 ; enteric
fever, 36 ; pneumonia, 1019 ; puerperal fever, 32 ; puerperal pyrexia, 89 ; cerebro-spinal fever, 3 ; acute poliomyelitis, 4 ; acute polio-encephalitis, 1; encephalitis lethargica, 12 ; continued fever, 1 ; dysentery, 8 ; ophthalmia neonatorum, 76. No case of cholera, plague, or typhus fever was notified during the week.’ The number of cases in the Infectious Hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board on Dec. 3lst-Jan. 1st was as follows : Small-pox, 415 under treatment, 13 under observation (last week 367 and 5 respectively) ; scarlet fever, 2729 ; diphtheria, 2743 ; enteric fever, 33 ; measles, 736 ; whooping cough, 135 ; puerperal fever, 24 (plus 12 babies) ; - encephalitis lethargica, 118; poliomyelitis, 2; "other diseases," 15. At St. Margaret’s Hospital there were 12 habies (plus 6 mothers) with ophthalmia neonatorum.
Deaths.-In the aggregate of great towns including London there was no death from small-pox, 3 (0) from enteric fever, 47 (17) from measles, 10 (5) from scarlet fever, 18 (3) from whooping-cough, 64 (9) from diphtheria, 50 (7) from diarrhoea and enteritis under two years, and 58 (8) from influenza. The figures in parentheses are those for London itself.
"Audi alteram partem."
BAD RADIOGRAMS. To the Editor
of
THE LANCET.
SIR,—Your leading article in the last issue on The Coming of Radiology is of special interest to those who have followed the recent discussions and letters on this subject. One very vital aspect of the case, however, seems to me to have been overlooked-namely, the preeminent importance of an X ray film which is technically and photographically of high standard. It is a regrettable fact that many very poor general and dental radiograms are still being produced, and the natural result is that the dental surgeon, the general practitioner and the patient are not thereby encouraged to utilise radiology to its fullest extent. A poor film may be more of a hindrance than a help ; it cannot be " explained " to the patient, a large and increasing number of whom insist, justifiably in my opinion, upon seeing what are, after all, photographs of themselves for which they have paid a fee. Let me, however, emulate Agag, and tread delicately over this controversial topic ! I contend that a greatly extended use of radiology would be made if a more uniform standard of excellence could be relied upon. This is no insuperable obstacle as thousands of first-class radiograms are taken daily. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, J. D. KIDD, M.B., D.M.R.E.Camb. Cavendish-square, W., Jan. 6th, 1930. THE BRUIT D’AIRAIN. To the Editor
of THE LANCET. "
"
SIR,—I am indebted to Anglo-Gallicus for his remarks and criticisms of the paper on the kindly Wigan reported 8 deaths from measles ; West Ham, Bruit d’Airain, or Coin Sound, by Dr. Dix-Perkin Manchester, and Merthyr Tydfil, each 4. Of the 43 deaths and myself. From the internal evidence of his letter from diarrhoea outside London 10 came from Liverpool, 5 from Salford, and 3 from Preston. Brighton records only Iwould deduce that he is a Saint-Bartien, if I may 1 death from influenza (against 8 last week), Manchester 5, be allowed to coin an Anglo-gallicism. But this is by
Portsmouth, Stoke- on-Trent, Liverpool and Sheffield, each 3. the way. The number of stillbirths notified during the week was 267 (corresponding to a rate of 61 per 1000 births), including 52 in London.
GREENOCK
AUXILIARY
HOSPITAL.-The
new
hospital which has been erected at a cost of .860,000 as an .auxiliary to Greenock Royal Infirmary was opened recently by Miss Rankin who, jointly with her brother, Mr. Matthew Rankin, gave z620,000 as the nucleus of the fund for building, equipment, and endowment. There are two wards to accommodate between 20 and 30 men and women convalescents from the infirmary, and 18 private and semiprivate rooms for paying patients.
DONATIONS
AND
BEQUESTS.-Lady Cargill,
of
-Kelvinside, Glasgow, among other bequests, left jE3000 to the Glasgow Royal Maternity and Women’s Hospital, including .a sum for the endowment of a bed to be called " The Mary Hope Cargill Bed," 62000 to the Royal Samaritan Hospital for Women, Glasgow, B1000 to the Royal Hospital for Sick - Children, Glasgow, and 2500 to the Glasgow Royal Cancer Hospital.-Mr. Arthur Sale, of Wallington, Surrey, other bequests, left 21000 to the Derbyamong shire Royal Infirmary ; 2500 to the Royal Hospital for Incurables, Putney ; £100 to the London Hospital.Lieut.-Colonel W. B. Brocklehurst, of Butley Hall, near Macclesfield, left 21000 to the Macclesfield General Infirmary Endowment Fund.-Dr. W. R. Ashurst, of Farningham, Kent, left over £100,000 for charity, the participating institutions including the Lock Hospital, Association for Promoting the General Welfare of the Blind ; Free Home for the Dying, Clapham Common, British Hospital and Home for Incurables, Streatham, Middlesex Hospital, Charing Cross Hospital, and St. Mary’s Hospital.
I feel that the main point of our work has not as our American friends would say. The fact that coins are not essential for the production of the bruit d’airain is a minor point of our thesis. This fact is known, or should have been known were it not that the bruit d’airain is called the coin sound in this country. What we did try to show were the reasons why the bruit d’airain is heard in some cases and not in others. I do not propose to take up your space by restating them. Admittedly Laennec recognised the tinkling qualities of a pneumothorax cavity, but the sound obtained by percussion over a tonneau vide does not constitute a bruit d’airain, which did not, as " AngloGallicus " pointed out, become a definite entity until Trousseau described it. We should, perhaps, have made the point clearer. But I feel that I must cross swords with "AngloGallicus " about the translation of airain. It does mean bronze, but it also means brass. In most languages many words have varying shades of meaning. The French word bronze most commonly means bronze, but in one connexion it must be translated by brass. Airain means (1) brass, (2) bronze, (3) bell-metal, (4) gun-metal. In one of its figurative senses it means boldness-e.g., avoir un front d’airain means " not to blush at anything," or " to be brazenfaced." Again, siecle d’airain means bronze age. And so on. I admit that in the industrial sense brass is translated by cuivre jaune-e.g., fonderie de cuivre or means brass foundry; again by laiton-e.g., usine de laiton means brass works. An object made of brass is colloquially referred to as cuivre jaune, or
" got across,"
fined 210 in each case and £ l4 14s. costs, 14s. in all. Twenty-eight cases of adulteration were taken before the magistrates and conviction obtained in 25. In two cases the vendor asked for appeal to the cow " samples to be taken, and it was found that the cows were giving poor milk corresponding to the samples. Four surveys of dairy cattle by the veterinary inspectors have revealed 285,264,179, and 162 tuberculous animals, including 55,32,29, and 15 cases of tubercle of the udder. The cows examined numbered 52,131, 53,623, 44,648, and 42,126. was
making B54
Correspondence.
"
INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN ENGLAND AND WALES DURING THE WEEK-ENDED DEC. 28TH 1929. Notifications.-The following cases of infectious disease were notified during the week :-Small-pox, 232 ; scarlet fever, 2538 ; diphtheria, 1495 ; enteric
fever, 36 ; pneumonia, 1019 ; puerperal fever, 32 ; puerperal pyrexia, 89 ; cerebro-spinal fever, 3 ; acute poliomyelitis, 4 ; acute polio-encephalitis, 1; encephalitis lethargica, 12 ; continued fever, 1 ; dysentery, 8 ; ophthalmia neonatorum, 76. No case of cholera, plague, or typhus fever was notified during the week.’ The number of cases in the Infectious Hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board on Dec. 3lst-Jan. 1st was as follows : Small-pox, 415 under treatment, 13 under observation (last week 367 and 5 respectively) ; scarlet fever, 2729 ; diphtheria, 2743 ; enteric fever, 33 ; measles, 736 ; whooping cough, 135 ; puerperal fever, 24 (plus 12 babies) ; - encephalitis lethargica, 118; poliomyelitis, 2; "other diseases," 15. At St. Margaret’s Hospital there were 12 habies (plus 6 mothers) with ophthalmia neonatorum.
Deaths.-In the aggregate of great towns including London there was no death from small-pox, 3 (0) from enteric fever, 47 (17) from measles, 10 (5) from scarlet fever, 18 (3) from whooping-cough, 64 (9) from diphtheria, 50 (7) from diarrhoea and enteritis under two years, and 58 (8) from influenza. The figures in parentheses are those for London itself.
"Audi alteram partem."
BAD RADIOGRAMS. To the Editor
of
THE LANCET.
SIR,—Your leading article in the last issue on The Coming of Radiology is of special interest to those who have followed the recent discussions and letters on this subject. One very vital aspect of the case, however, seems to me to have been overlooked-namely, the preeminent importance of an X ray film which is technically and photographically of high standard. It is a regrettable fact that many very poor general and dental radiograms are still being produced, and the natural result is that the dental surgeon, the general practitioner and the patient are not thereby encouraged to utilise radiology to its fullest extent. A poor film may be more of a hindrance than a help ; it cannot be " explained " to the patient, a large and increasing number of whom insist, justifiably in my opinion, upon seeing what are, after all, photographs of themselves for which they have paid a fee. Let me, however, emulate Agag, and tread delicately over this controversial topic ! I contend that a greatly extended use of radiology would be made if a more uniform standard of excellence could be relied upon. This is no insuperable obstacle as thousands of first-class radiograms are taken daily. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, J. D. KIDD, M.B., D.M.R.E.Camb. Cavendish-square, W., Jan. 6th, 1930. THE BRUIT D’AIRAIN. To the Editor
of THE LANCET. "
"
SIR,—I am indebted to Anglo-Gallicus for his remarks and criticisms of the paper on the kindly Wigan reported 8 deaths from measles ; West Ham, Bruit d’Airain, or Coin Sound, by Dr. Dix-Perkin Manchester, and Merthyr Tydfil, each 4. Of the 43 deaths and myself. From the internal evidence of his letter from diarrhoea outside London 10 came from Liverpool, 5 from Salford, and 3 from Preston. Brighton records only Iwould deduce that he is a Saint-Bartien, if I may 1 death from influenza (against 8 last week), Manchester 5, be allowed to coin an Anglo-gallicism. But this is by
Portsmouth, Stoke- on-Trent, Liverpool and Sheffield, each 3. the way. The number of stillbirths notified during the week was 267 (corresponding to a rate of 61 per 1000 births), including 52 in London.
GREENOCK
AUXILIARY
HOSPITAL.-The
new
hospital which has been erected at a cost of .860,000 as an .auxiliary to Greenock Royal Infirmary was opened recently by Miss Rankin who, jointly with her brother, Mr. Matthew Rankin, gave z620,000 as the nucleus of the fund for building, equipment, and endowment. There are two wards to accommodate between 20 and 30 men and women convalescents from the infirmary, and 18 private and semiprivate rooms for paying patients.
DONATIONS
AND
BEQUESTS.-Lady Cargill,
of
-Kelvinside, Glasgow, among other bequests, left jE3000 to the Glasgow Royal Maternity and Women’s Hospital, including .a sum for the endowment of a bed to be called " The Mary Hope Cargill Bed," 62000 to the Royal Samaritan Hospital for Women, Glasgow, B1000 to the Royal Hospital for Sick - Children, Glasgow, and 2500 to the Glasgow Royal Cancer Hospital.-Mr. Arthur Sale, of Wallington, Surrey, other bequests, left 21000 to the Derbyamong shire Royal Infirmary ; 2500 to the Royal Hospital for Incurables, Putney ; £100 to the London Hospital.Lieut.-Colonel W. B. Brocklehurst, of Butley Hall, near Macclesfield, left 21000 to the Macclesfield General Infirmary Endowment Fund.-Dr. W. R. Ashurst, of Farningham, Kent, left over £100,000 for charity, the participating institutions including the Lock Hospital, Association for Promoting the General Welfare of the Blind ; Free Home for the Dying, Clapham Common, British Hospital and Home for Incurables, Streatham, Middlesex Hospital, Charing Cross Hospital, and St. Mary’s Hospital.
I feel that the main point of our work has not as our American friends would say. The fact that coins are not essential for the production of the bruit d’airain is a minor point of our thesis. This fact is known, or should have been known were it not that the bruit d’airain is called the coin sound in this country. What we did try to show were the reasons why the bruit d’airain is heard in some cases and not in others. I do not propose to take up your space by restating them. Admittedly Laennec recognised the tinkling qualities of a pneumothorax cavity, but the sound obtained by percussion over a tonneau vide does not constitute a bruit d’airain, which did not, as " AngloGallicus " pointed out, become a definite entity until Trousseau described it. We should, perhaps, have made the point clearer. But I feel that I must cross swords with "AngloGallicus " about the translation of airain. It does mean bronze, but it also means brass. In most languages many words have varying shades of meaning. The French word bronze most commonly means bronze, but in one connexion it must be translated by brass. Airain means (1) brass, (2) bronze, (3) bell-metal, (4) gun-metal. In one of its figurative senses it means boldness-e.g., avoir un front d’airain means " not to blush at anything," or " to be brazenfaced." Again, siecle d’airain means bronze age. And so on. I admit that in the industrial sense brass is translated by cuivre jaune-e.g., fonderie de cuivre or means brass foundry; again by laiton-e.g., usine de laiton means brass works. An object made of brass is colloquially referred to as cuivre jaune, or
" got across,"