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CHLORAL POISONING BY MISADVENTURE.
617
beI
than from two to five grains in a dose, the: of the many eminent medical men who at the present time : are subjected to the humiliation of seeing their names attention of the dispenser would probably soon directed to the unusual character of the prescription, made use of to puff the wares of quacks will be inand he would therefore most likely exercise more than duced to incur the trouble and expense of legal proceedings ordinary care in dispensing such a mixture. The subject isi to bring some one or other of the offenders to justice, It is much to one of great importance, and deserves more attention than hasi and strike a wholesome dread into the rest. hitherto been given to it. It is scarcely necessary to pointbe wished that the law upon the point were more unout that it is most desirable that medicine should contain mistakable than it is; indeed, it seems to us that when the proper quantity of active ingredient as prescribed by once it appears that there is any room for argument at all the practitioner. The authors have been engaged in as to the legal right of an author to restrain the misuse of examining medicines containing quinine, and they find thei his own name to authenticate something which he has method of estimating quinine by the ammonia and ethernever approved, a case is shown, and even a strong one, for method is lengthy and difficult, besides necessitating thei a remedy to be applied either by a well-considered judgment use of an expensive reagent-viz., ether. They have accordwhich would establish the law on a sound basis, or for still ingly been led to the suggestion of a method which they do. more formal legislation by Act of Parliament. not urge in the place of the ammonia one, but as a process which will enable one to decide pretty quickly whether any A NOVEL ENDOSCOPE. It depends uponI error in dispensing has been committed. DR. F. HENEL, jun., of New York, describes in the New, the facts that quinine bisulphate is neutral to methyl York Medical J01.trnal of Feb. 22nd a very simple form of orange, and that the base itself has no action on phenolwhich he asserts is also efficicnt. It conendoscope, phthalein. To 25 cubic centimetres of medicine two drops sists of a truncated cone of metal orvery the narrow vulcanite, of methyl orange (’25 gramme per litre of water) and two end of which is passed into the urethra until the meatus is. drops of phenol-phthalein (’5 gramme per litre, 50 per cent. by it. The broad end of the cone is oblique and alcohol) are added. Deci-normal baryta solution is then plugged closed a glass lens. by By means of a rubber ball and tube run in, until the red colour changes to brown-that is, untilL air can be forced into the speculum and through it into the the free acid is neutralised. The number of cubic centiurethra. Dr. Henel states that when the urethra is thus. metres used is noted. More baryta water is then added, distended with air a great length of the urethra is exposed. until the pink colour of phenol-phthalein somewhat slowly to view, and can be accurately examined. The difference between the two additions of appears. baryta water, multiplied by the factor ’0218, gives the THE LONDON SCHOOL BOARD AND ITS weight of quinine sulphate (7 mol. aq.) in grammes in the 25 cubic centimetres taken. Results obtained by the authors MEDICAL OFFICER. with samples of medicine compared well with those obtained a recent article we discussed the inadequacy of the IN by the gravimetric method. Standard solutions of quininesalary offered by the London School Board for the appointalso gave good results. The method cannot of course bement of medical officer. The duties obviously were full of applied to medicine containing salts, the bases of which importance to the public, and the Board proposed to pay are precipitated by baryta water. only 9400 a year to an officer who was expected to devote the whole of his time to those duties. We now learn that a gentleman has been appointed who we cannot BY "QUOTATIONS" QUACKS. THE very serious annoyance to which medical men are believe will abandon the other offices he holds, among The these that of medical officer of health. subjected at the hands of quacks by the misquotation of: School being its must have altered intentions as. Board therefore passages from their writings is an injury which there certo must the and must the duties which devolve officer, upon tainly ought to be no difficulty in repressing. The mischief, is both a public and a private one, since unskilled readers have departed from the advertised condition that no other : appointment was to be held by their officer. We do not are misled and the authors are liable to be injured, it may be seriously, in reputation by the attribution to themI propose at the present moment to discuss the question of opinions and utterances wholly unworthy of men of, whether the Board is likely to be better served by one officer of his time or by another giving the whole of his. a science, or perhaps unworthy of honest men. Unhappily giving part is quite obvious that a very different class of but it the notion has prevailed that an eminent medical man is. time ; man would apply under the two circumstances. The point not liable to be injured in a pecuniary sense by the to is we desire the of a emphasise impropriety public body unwelcome attentions of such lowly parasites as the: vendors of quackery ; and upon this exceedingly narrow, altering the terms of an advertised appointment without the reissue of an advertisement. The proper course for the Board ground legal relief has been refused. This, for example, was; to have adopted was to reconsider the whole question, to the case in the suit brought by Sir James Clark to restraini counsel with those competent to give advice, and then take a defendant named Freeman from the use of Sir James; to have invited applications under the new conditions. TheClark’s name in an advertisement of what purported quite Board has not appeared in a good light before the recently unwarrantably to be Sir James Clark’s consumption pill. and its behaviour in regard to so important a matter public, The judge who decided that case in the defendant’s favourr as the appointment of a medical officer cannot escapehe no to in circumjurisdiction interfere thought that had criticism. stances which did not involve a to
taining more
.
.
.
.
,
,
,
>
,
tangible injury property. so long as forty years ago, That, however, CHLORAL POISONING BY MISADVENTURE. and it may well be that a more enlightened view of the rights of any man, with or without a reputation, to protect himself A VERY painful case of death from an overdose of of his an unauthorised use chloral is reported from Oakham. The practitioner was name would now against obtain. Indeed, the late Lord Cairns, commenting upon much overworked, and got a neighbouring chemist’s the very case to which we have just referred, expressed an assistant to help him to dispense. In this particular opinion that it had been wrongly decided, and this instance he seems to have dictated to the dispenser, who, circumstance alone must havegreatly reduced may misunderstanding his instructions and the nature of the even, perhaps, be said to have destroyed-the value of that preparation of chloral-a strong solution of the drug-gave. judgment as a precedent. We trust, then, that some one an enormous dose-600 grains. The lady was pregnant. ____
was a case
decided
-
618 She soon became unconscious ; labour came on and slight consciousness returned, but she finally died in about thirtysix hours. At the inquest subsequently held the following verdict was returned: ’ We find that Harriet Ellen Newton met with her death from misadventure, caused by an overdose of chloral hydrate given through a misunderstanding between doctor and dispenser in the preparation of the prescription, which arose from undue haste ot the part of the doctor, owing to pressure of business on that day." The inquiry lasted six hours and a half. The moral of such an accident, as rare as it is sad, is too obvious to be pointed. The best way of preventing its recurrence is to put it on record, for the study and the warning of all prescribers and dispensers. SIR RICHARD OWEN.
House of Commons, it was seen that a proposal had been inserted in a schedule to hand over to local authorities the entire control of their sanitary officers in so far as salary and tenure of office were concerned. Although that schedule was at the time withdrawn, the matters to which it related will certainly be again brought under the notice of Parliament ; and it would be well to remember that the changes which are promised all tend to decentralising in the matter of appointments. Those who hold that this tendency is calculated in several important respects to affect public health administration injuriously, will doubtless be prepared to have their views set forth in both Houses of Parliament. FOREIGN STUDENTS IN GERMANY. THE number of foreigners-always considerable-who flock to German Universities for the completion of their education seems to be increasing. During the present session there are no less than 1930 foreigners out of the 29,000 students-that is, 6’6 per cent. of the total, which is said to be the highest proportion yet reached. During the summer session of 1889 it was 5’8. Nearly half the foreigners are Americans, and a very large proportion of the rest are Russians. Great Britain is credited with 117. Of course these figures refer to students from all the faculties.
THE statements that have been made in the general press ’regarding the health of the illustrious man of science, Sir Richard Owen, are somewhat misleading. Sir Richard Owen has been much prostrated by a physical accident, and is - easily wearied upon exertion; but there is no paralysis, local or general, his mind is quite clear, his memory of past events good, and his spirits cheerful. He is able to interest ,himself by reading, takes note of the current events of the day,and greets his old friends, Sir James Paget, Dr. Gunther, and Dr. Richardson, who have been to see FOREIGN UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE. him, with much warmth and pleasure. That the great age Berne.-Dr. Girard has been appointed Extraordinary ,of Sir Richard Owen lends its anxieties to his family and of Surgery. Professor the Princess who many friends-including scarcely Mary, Biermer has been obliged to obtain leave Breslau.-Dr. a to without a , permits day pass making personal inquiry .after him-is quite true; but we may indulge in the hope of absence on account of illness. During his absence that with the occurrence of more genial weather he may Dr. Alexander will continue to discharge most of his rally, and, like his venerable neighbour and senior, Sir duties. Halle.-At last it seems the chair of Surgery, vacated by Edwin Chadwick, resume those favourite pursuits and comthe death of Professor Volkmann, has been definitely filled which the with Nature our found to be munings Harvey the of solace by appointment of Dr. Mikulicz of Konigsberg. happy declining years. Munich.-Professor Nussbaum has sufficiently recovered from his illness to make arrangements for resuming his MEDICINE FOR POOR CITIZENS AT THE COST lectures during the ensuing summer session. OF THE STATE. BY a law just voted in the Swiss Canton of Basle every - citizen having an income of less than 1200 fr.-say, f50-is to be entitled to gratuitous medical attendance. The Canton is to pay the medical man and provide everything which he prescribes as necessary. We should call this pauperism, but - in Switzerland, and in the fashionable language of the day, it is called " State Socialism." The poor in Switzerland are - spending money very heavily in buying alcohol. A little more care in this respect would not only be for the good of the poor, but would bring many of them over the line of income at which they become entitled to have medical attendance for nothing. -
THE SANITARY INSPECTORS’ ASSOCIATION.
THE
report by Messrs. Crookes, Odling, and Meymott
the condition of the metropolitan water-supply the analysis of 189 samples of water during the month of January, and sets forth that the quality of the water supplied to the metropolis has not shown any retrogression, but has continued to be of the same high character, exceptionally high for the period of the year, recorded in their previous monthly report. As regards the water furnished by the companies taking their supply from the Thames, the maximum amount of organic carbon found in any single sample examined was 0’146 part in 100,000 parts of the water, as against a maximum of 0’153 part, and a mean part of 0-143 in the previous month’s entire supply. In Dr. Franklin’s report it is stated that the water drawn from the Thames by the Chelsea, West Southwark, Grand Junction, and Lambeth was much inferior in quality to that delivered Companies at the close of last year. The heavy rains in the early part of January washed much polluting matter into the river, and taxed the filters of the companies severely. Nevertheless the water was delivered clear and efficiently filtered.
Tidy gives
on
AT the last meeting of the Association of Public Sanitary held at Carpenter’s Hall, resolutions were passed which in several respects followed the lines of our recent article on the same subject. They deal, however, with matters which we did not then enter into, such as periiia:nency of tenure of office, dismissal from office only to be allowed in the case of proved incompetence or misconduct, .and even then with right of appeal to the Local Government Board, and the receipt of an adequate minimum INTENDING visitors to the Berlin International Medical salary whenever the officer’s whole time is required to be .devoted to his duties. We fear, as regards these latter Congress will like to know that the Hamburg American matters, that great difficulties will have to be faced. Packet Company announce a reduction in their saloon fares Even under the existing regulations affecting medical from Southampton to Hamburg to members of the Conofficers of health these conditions have not been at- gress-viz., i22 gas. for single and i4for return tickets, the tained ; and the ground on which the Central Department latter available for fifty days. The steamers call at South. has declined to assist in securing them was revealed when, ampton on their way from New York to Hamburg, generally in the Local Government Act, 1888, as introduced into the on Thursdays.
Inspectors,
Middlesex,
beI
than from two to five grains in a dose, the: of the many eminent medical men who at the present time : are subjected to the humiliation of seeing their names attention of the dispenser would probably soon directed to the unusual character of the prescription, made use of to puff the wares of quacks will be inand he would therefore most likely exercise more than duced to incur the trouble and expense of legal proceedings ordinary care in dispensing such a mixture. The subject isi to bring some one or other of the offenders to justice, It is much to one of great importance, and deserves more attention than hasi and strike a wholesome dread into the rest. hitherto been given to it. It is scarcely necessary to pointbe wished that the law upon the point were more unout that it is most desirable that medicine should contain mistakable than it is; indeed, it seems to us that when the proper quantity of active ingredient as prescribed by once it appears that there is any room for argument at all the practitioner. The authors have been engaged in as to the legal right of an author to restrain the misuse of examining medicines containing quinine, and they find thei his own name to authenticate something which he has method of estimating quinine by the ammonia and ethernever approved, a case is shown, and even a strong one, for method is lengthy and difficult, besides necessitating thei a remedy to be applied either by a well-considered judgment use of an expensive reagent-viz., ether. They have accordwhich would establish the law on a sound basis, or for still ingly been led to the suggestion of a method which they do. more formal legislation by Act of Parliament. not urge in the place of the ammonia one, but as a process which will enable one to decide pretty quickly whether any A NOVEL ENDOSCOPE. It depends uponI error in dispensing has been committed. DR. F. HENEL, jun., of New York, describes in the New, the facts that quinine bisulphate is neutral to methyl York Medical J01.trnal of Feb. 22nd a very simple form of orange, and that the base itself has no action on phenolwhich he asserts is also efficicnt. It conendoscope, phthalein. To 25 cubic centimetres of medicine two drops sists of a truncated cone of metal orvery the narrow vulcanite, of methyl orange (’25 gramme per litre of water) and two end of which is passed into the urethra until the meatus is. drops of phenol-phthalein (’5 gramme per litre, 50 per cent. by it. The broad end of the cone is oblique and alcohol) are added. Deci-normal baryta solution is then plugged closed a glass lens. by By means of a rubber ball and tube run in, until the red colour changes to brown-that is, untilL air can be forced into the speculum and through it into the the free acid is neutralised. The number of cubic centiurethra. Dr. Henel states that when the urethra is thus. metres used is noted. More baryta water is then added, distended with air a great length of the urethra is exposed. until the pink colour of phenol-phthalein somewhat slowly to view, and can be accurately examined. The difference between the two additions of appears. baryta water, multiplied by the factor ’0218, gives the THE LONDON SCHOOL BOARD AND ITS weight of quinine sulphate (7 mol. aq.) in grammes in the 25 cubic centimetres taken. Results obtained by the authors MEDICAL OFFICER. with samples of medicine compared well with those obtained a recent article we discussed the inadequacy of the IN by the gravimetric method. Standard solutions of quininesalary offered by the London School Board for the appointalso gave good results. The method cannot of course bement of medical officer. The duties obviously were full of applied to medicine containing salts, the bases of which importance to the public, and the Board proposed to pay are precipitated by baryta water. only 9400 a year to an officer who was expected to devote the whole of his time to those duties. We now learn that a gentleman has been appointed who we cannot BY "QUOTATIONS" QUACKS. THE very serious annoyance to which medical men are believe will abandon the other offices he holds, among The these that of medical officer of health. subjected at the hands of quacks by the misquotation of: School being its must have altered intentions as. Board therefore passages from their writings is an injury which there certo must the and must the duties which devolve officer, upon tainly ought to be no difficulty in repressing. The mischief, is both a public and a private one, since unskilled readers have departed from the advertised condition that no other : appointment was to be held by their officer. We do not are misled and the authors are liable to be injured, it may be seriously, in reputation by the attribution to themI propose at the present moment to discuss the question of opinions and utterances wholly unworthy of men of, whether the Board is likely to be better served by one officer of his time or by another giving the whole of his. a science, or perhaps unworthy of honest men. Unhappily giving part is quite obvious that a very different class of but it the notion has prevailed that an eminent medical man is. time ; man would apply under the two circumstances. The point not liable to be injured in a pecuniary sense by the to is we desire the of a emphasise impropriety public body unwelcome attentions of such lowly parasites as the: vendors of quackery ; and upon this exceedingly narrow, altering the terms of an advertised appointment without the reissue of an advertisement. The proper course for the Board ground legal relief has been refused. This, for example, was; to have adopted was to reconsider the whole question, to the case in the suit brought by Sir James Clark to restraini counsel with those competent to give advice, and then take a defendant named Freeman from the use of Sir James; to have invited applications under the new conditions. TheClark’s name in an advertisement of what purported quite Board has not appeared in a good light before the recently unwarrantably to be Sir James Clark’s consumption pill. and its behaviour in regard to so important a matter public, The judge who decided that case in the defendant’s favourr as the appointment of a medical officer cannot escapehe no to in circumjurisdiction interfere thought that had criticism. stances which did not involve a to
taining more
.
.
.
.
,
,
,
>
,
tangible injury property. so long as forty years ago, That, however, CHLORAL POISONING BY MISADVENTURE. and it may well be that a more enlightened view of the rights of any man, with or without a reputation, to protect himself A VERY painful case of death from an overdose of of his an unauthorised use chloral is reported from Oakham. The practitioner was name would now against obtain. Indeed, the late Lord Cairns, commenting upon much overworked, and got a neighbouring chemist’s the very case to which we have just referred, expressed an assistant to help him to dispense. In this particular opinion that it had been wrongly decided, and this instance he seems to have dictated to the dispenser, who, circumstance alone must havegreatly reduced may misunderstanding his instructions and the nature of the even, perhaps, be said to have destroyed-the value of that preparation of chloral-a strong solution of the drug-gave. judgment as a precedent. We trust, then, that some one an enormous dose-600 grains. The lady was pregnant. ____
was a case
decided
-
618 She soon became unconscious ; labour came on and slight consciousness returned, but she finally died in about thirtysix hours. At the inquest subsequently held the following verdict was returned: ’ We find that Harriet Ellen Newton met with her death from misadventure, caused by an overdose of chloral hydrate given through a misunderstanding between doctor and dispenser in the preparation of the prescription, which arose from undue haste ot the part of the doctor, owing to pressure of business on that day." The inquiry lasted six hours and a half. The moral of such an accident, as rare as it is sad, is too obvious to be pointed. The best way of preventing its recurrence is to put it on record, for the study and the warning of all prescribers and dispensers. SIR RICHARD OWEN.
House of Commons, it was seen that a proposal had been inserted in a schedule to hand over to local authorities the entire control of their sanitary officers in so far as salary and tenure of office were concerned. Although that schedule was at the time withdrawn, the matters to which it related will certainly be again brought under the notice of Parliament ; and it would be well to remember that the changes which are promised all tend to decentralising in the matter of appointments. Those who hold that this tendency is calculated in several important respects to affect public health administration injuriously, will doubtless be prepared to have their views set forth in both Houses of Parliament. FOREIGN STUDENTS IN GERMANY. THE number of foreigners-always considerable-who flock to German Universities for the completion of their education seems to be increasing. During the present session there are no less than 1930 foreigners out of the 29,000 students-that is, 6’6 per cent. of the total, which is said to be the highest proportion yet reached. During the summer session of 1889 it was 5’8. Nearly half the foreigners are Americans, and a very large proportion of the rest are Russians. Great Britain is credited with 117. Of course these figures refer to students from all the faculties.
THE statements that have been made in the general press ’regarding the health of the illustrious man of science, Sir Richard Owen, are somewhat misleading. Sir Richard Owen has been much prostrated by a physical accident, and is - easily wearied upon exertion; but there is no paralysis, local or general, his mind is quite clear, his memory of past events good, and his spirits cheerful. He is able to interest ,himself by reading, takes note of the current events of the day,and greets his old friends, Sir James Paget, Dr. Gunther, and Dr. Richardson, who have been to see FOREIGN UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE. him, with much warmth and pleasure. That the great age Berne.-Dr. Girard has been appointed Extraordinary ,of Sir Richard Owen lends its anxieties to his family and of Surgery. Professor the Princess who many friends-including scarcely Mary, Biermer has been obliged to obtain leave Breslau.-Dr. a to without a , permits day pass making personal inquiry .after him-is quite true; but we may indulge in the hope of absence on account of illness. During his absence that with the occurrence of more genial weather he may Dr. Alexander will continue to discharge most of his rally, and, like his venerable neighbour and senior, Sir duties. Halle.-At last it seems the chair of Surgery, vacated by Edwin Chadwick, resume those favourite pursuits and comthe death of Professor Volkmann, has been definitely filled which the with Nature our found to be munings Harvey the of solace by appointment of Dr. Mikulicz of Konigsberg. happy declining years. Munich.-Professor Nussbaum has sufficiently recovered from his illness to make arrangements for resuming his MEDICINE FOR POOR CITIZENS AT THE COST lectures during the ensuing summer session. OF THE STATE. BY a law just voted in the Swiss Canton of Basle every - citizen having an income of less than 1200 fr.-say, f50-is to be entitled to gratuitous medical attendance. The Canton is to pay the medical man and provide everything which he prescribes as necessary. We should call this pauperism, but - in Switzerland, and in the fashionable language of the day, it is called " State Socialism." The poor in Switzerland are - spending money very heavily in buying alcohol. A little more care in this respect would not only be for the good of the poor, but would bring many of them over the line of income at which they become entitled to have medical attendance for nothing. -
THE SANITARY INSPECTORS’ ASSOCIATION.
THE
report by Messrs. Crookes, Odling, and Meymott
the condition of the metropolitan water-supply the analysis of 189 samples of water during the month of January, and sets forth that the quality of the water supplied to the metropolis has not shown any retrogression, but has continued to be of the same high character, exceptionally high for the period of the year, recorded in their previous monthly report. As regards the water furnished by the companies taking their supply from the Thames, the maximum amount of organic carbon found in any single sample examined was 0’146 part in 100,000 parts of the water, as against a maximum of 0’153 part, and a mean part of 0-143 in the previous month’s entire supply. In Dr. Franklin’s report it is stated that the water drawn from the Thames by the Chelsea, West Southwark, Grand Junction, and Lambeth was much inferior in quality to that delivered Companies at the close of last year. The heavy rains in the early part of January washed much polluting matter into the river, and taxed the filters of the companies severely. Nevertheless the water was delivered clear and efficiently filtered.
Tidy gives
on
AT the last meeting of the Association of Public Sanitary held at Carpenter’s Hall, resolutions were passed which in several respects followed the lines of our recent article on the same subject. They deal, however, with matters which we did not then enter into, such as periiia:nency of tenure of office, dismissal from office only to be allowed in the case of proved incompetence or misconduct, .and even then with right of appeal to the Local Government Board, and the receipt of an adequate minimum INTENDING visitors to the Berlin International Medical salary whenever the officer’s whole time is required to be .devoted to his duties. We fear, as regards these latter Congress will like to know that the Hamburg American matters, that great difficulties will have to be faced. Packet Company announce a reduction in their saloon fares Even under the existing regulations affecting medical from Southampton to Hamburg to members of the Conofficers of health these conditions have not been at- gress-viz., i22 gas. for single and i4for return tickets, the tained ; and the ground on which the Central Department latter available for fifty days. The steamers call at South. has declined to assist in securing them was revealed when, ampton on their way from New York to Hamburg, generally in the Local Government Act, 1888, as introduced into the on Thursdays.
Inspectors,
Middlesex,