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CLASSICAL CORRECTNESS.
882 the cere bro-spinal fluid had been sent to me and asked Professor Sinclair to sterilise these again, which he did, using the same technique-water from the same tap and the same steriliser. I centrifugalised the contents of the bottle, but no
found.-Iam, Sir, yours faithfully, W. W. D. THOMSON. Belfast, April 15th, 1915.
crystals
were
DIFFICULT LABOUR AND DENTAL DEFORMITIES. To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,—I have
been for some time past investirelationship of difficult labour to dental gating deformities, and I am wondering whether you would allow me through your columns to appeal for assistance to your wide circle of readers. The cases of particular interest are those of delayed labour in face presentation, breech presentation, and delivery by forceps. I should be grateful for the details of such cases together with models of mouth showing the occlusion of the teeth. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, J. F. COLYER. 11, Queen Anne-street, W., April 18th, 1915.
the
THE INHALATION OF CHLOROFORM IN BRONCHIAL CATARRH. To the Editor
of THE LANCET.
the past winter I have been called treat a to great many cases of post-influenzal upon bronchial catarrh accompanied by very troublesome cough occurring in violent paroxysms which are very exhausting for the sufferer. I find that a single deep inhalation of chloroform (from the bottle for instance), retained for a few seconds, almost invariably allays the sensation of tickling in the throat and secures immunity from reI have extended currence for a certain period. this treatment to cases of phthisis and I find that here too the whiff of chloroform exerts The method is so a manifestly sedative action. I and so effectual that commend it for a simple trial, especially as there does not seem to be any drawback to this application of chloroform. I may mention incidentally that in cases where the cough shows a tendency to become troublesome as soon as the patient goes to bed it can often be cut short by lying prone for a minute or two, after which the lateral decubitus is cautiously resumed. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, ALFRED S. GUBB, M.D.Paris.
SIR,-During
Aix-les-Bains, Savoie, April 13th, 1915.
CLASSICAL CORRECTNESS. To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,-I am glad that your reviewer, in his gratifying notice in your last issue of my " Index of Symptoms " agrees to the necessity for a word to express " reflexes " which have no connexion with the reflex arc ; but I still prefer parergia to parergon.
I have
great regard for classical large share in consigning chamber that horrible mongrel a
correctness, and claim to
the
lethal
a
uricacidgemia. is formed on the same lines as synergia, sure that had they felt a need for the and Epyov, word, the Greeks, who made &sgr;&ugr;∈&rgr;&ggr;ia from from would not have hesitated to make I am, Sir, yours faithfully, and RALPH W. LEFTWICH.
Parergia
and I
am
Ebury-street, S.W., April 17th, 1915.
"
UNPATRIOTIC DOCTORS."
To the Editor of THE LANCET. the SIR,-At request of some of my clients who. have seen a letter in the lay press, with this title, complaining of the lack of patriotism evinced by certain members of the profession, may I, as onewith 40 years’ experience in the engagement of locum-tenents for medical men, say a word in, reply to the complaints. Before the war broke out the fees for substitutes were mostly 5 and 6 guineas, the increase in a great measure being due to the extra amount of work involved and the higher incomes earned owing to the InsuranceAct. When the War broke out a large number of those who had been acting as locum-tenents. at once offered their services and were accepted and given commissions at a remuneration of, roughly, 7 guineas a week, and consequently the fees paid tothose remaining automatically went up to about the same figure, and at the present time a large numberof men unable from one cause or another to serve their country abroad are doing so by taking duty at home for those who have gone on active service,. and at moderate fees. Personally, I have not come across a single instance of 12 guineas being paid, and my register shows that out of a list of over 600, engagements that have passed through my hands. during the last six months (mostly war ones) no. fewer than 300 have been at 6 guineas, 235 at 7 guineas, 16 at 8 guineas, and the remainder at lower fees on hospitality terms, &c. As regards the suggestion to invite those willing to help at reasonable rates of remuneration, I may say that early in the war through letters in the medical papers I invited all able and willing to help to communicate with me, and have met with a most loyal response from medical men up to 70 years of age who are doing their best in their country’s need. Many of our allies are also helping, including
Egyptians, Indians, Belgians, French, Russians,. Japanese, and Greek. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, PERCIVAL TURNER. Adam-street, Adelphi, W.C., April 19th, 1915.
MEDICAL
INSPECTION
OF
SCHOOLS : ANNUAL
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER TO THE ABERDEEN SCHOOL BOARD.-In his fifth annual report Dr. George Rose, medical officer to the Aberdeen School Board, points out the significance of the coincidence of the advent and growth of picturepalaces with an increase of scarlet fever and diphtheria With regard to a recent outbreak of diphtheria, Dr. cases. Rose states that neither the social position of the scholars-, the site of the school, nor the ventilation nor method of heating had the slightest influence upon the disease. Among the children attending the public schools from 8000 to 10,000 have five or more teeth absent or decayed, and 27,000 are in need of dental treatment;:9: and apart from the children dealt with at the dental clinic not over 1 per cent. probably will receive conservativedental treatment. Children fed on tea and bread are found to have the worst teeth, while the common statement that oatmeal feeders have worse teeth than others is at variance with the figures obtainable, which support the opposite view. Dr. Rose finds that tea is doing much harm among the young people. Extreme cases of tea-fed children can be picked out infallibly in the course of medical inspection. The lack of subcutaneous fat in the face, the faint lines running from the nose to the chin round the angles of the mouth, the half-frightened air, all tell, he says, of tea-poisoning, and form a type as patent to the skilled observer as is thealcoholic. Not many children suffer from lack of food, but in many cases the quality is unsatisfactory. Though most children are born healthy, there is a large infant mortality due largely to gas ic disorders. This is followed in many of the survivors by rickets, the result of improper feeding. Most, if not all, of these disordered conditions are preventable.
found.-Iam, Sir, yours faithfully, W. W. D. THOMSON. Belfast, April 15th, 1915.
crystals
were
DIFFICULT LABOUR AND DENTAL DEFORMITIES. To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,—I have
been for some time past investirelationship of difficult labour to dental gating deformities, and I am wondering whether you would allow me through your columns to appeal for assistance to your wide circle of readers. The cases of particular interest are those of delayed labour in face presentation, breech presentation, and delivery by forceps. I should be grateful for the details of such cases together with models of mouth showing the occlusion of the teeth. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, J. F. COLYER. 11, Queen Anne-street, W., April 18th, 1915.
the
THE INHALATION OF CHLOROFORM IN BRONCHIAL CATARRH. To the Editor
of THE LANCET.
the past winter I have been called treat a to great many cases of post-influenzal upon bronchial catarrh accompanied by very troublesome cough occurring in violent paroxysms which are very exhausting for the sufferer. I find that a single deep inhalation of chloroform (from the bottle for instance), retained for a few seconds, almost invariably allays the sensation of tickling in the throat and secures immunity from reI have extended currence for a certain period. this treatment to cases of phthisis and I find that here too the whiff of chloroform exerts The method is so a manifestly sedative action. I and so effectual that commend it for a simple trial, especially as there does not seem to be any drawback to this application of chloroform. I may mention incidentally that in cases where the cough shows a tendency to become troublesome as soon as the patient goes to bed it can often be cut short by lying prone for a minute or two, after which the lateral decubitus is cautiously resumed. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, ALFRED S. GUBB, M.D.Paris.
SIR,-During
Aix-les-Bains, Savoie, April 13th, 1915.
CLASSICAL CORRECTNESS. To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,-I am glad that your reviewer, in his gratifying notice in your last issue of my " Index of Symptoms " agrees to the necessity for a word to express " reflexes " which have no connexion with the reflex arc ; but I still prefer parergia to parergon.
I have
great regard for classical large share in consigning chamber that horrible mongrel a
correctness, and claim to
the
lethal
a
uricacidgemia. is formed on the same lines as synergia, sure that had they felt a need for the and Epyov, word, the Greeks, who made &sgr;&ugr;∈&rgr;&ggr;ia from from would not have hesitated to make I am, Sir, yours faithfully, and RALPH W. LEFTWICH.
Parergia
and I
am
Ebury-street, S.W., April 17th, 1915.
"
UNPATRIOTIC DOCTORS."
To the Editor of THE LANCET. the SIR,-At request of some of my clients who. have seen a letter in the lay press, with this title, complaining of the lack of patriotism evinced by certain members of the profession, may I, as onewith 40 years’ experience in the engagement of locum-tenents for medical men, say a word in, reply to the complaints. Before the war broke out the fees for substitutes were mostly 5 and 6 guineas, the increase in a great measure being due to the extra amount of work involved and the higher incomes earned owing to the InsuranceAct. When the War broke out a large number of those who had been acting as locum-tenents. at once offered their services and were accepted and given commissions at a remuneration of, roughly, 7 guineas a week, and consequently the fees paid tothose remaining automatically went up to about the same figure, and at the present time a large numberof men unable from one cause or another to serve their country abroad are doing so by taking duty at home for those who have gone on active service,. and at moderate fees. Personally, I have not come across a single instance of 12 guineas being paid, and my register shows that out of a list of over 600, engagements that have passed through my hands. during the last six months (mostly war ones) no. fewer than 300 have been at 6 guineas, 235 at 7 guineas, 16 at 8 guineas, and the remainder at lower fees on hospitality terms, &c. As regards the suggestion to invite those willing to help at reasonable rates of remuneration, I may say that early in the war through letters in the medical papers I invited all able and willing to help to communicate with me, and have met with a most loyal response from medical men up to 70 years of age who are doing their best in their country’s need. Many of our allies are also helping, including
Egyptians, Indians, Belgians, French, Russians,. Japanese, and Greek. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, PERCIVAL TURNER. Adam-street, Adelphi, W.C., April 19th, 1915.
MEDICAL
INSPECTION
OF
SCHOOLS : ANNUAL
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER TO THE ABERDEEN SCHOOL BOARD.-In his fifth annual report Dr. George Rose, medical officer to the Aberdeen School Board, points out the significance of the coincidence of the advent and growth of picturepalaces with an increase of scarlet fever and diphtheria With regard to a recent outbreak of diphtheria, Dr. cases. Rose states that neither the social position of the scholars-, the site of the school, nor the ventilation nor method of heating had the slightest influence upon the disease. Among the children attending the public schools from 8000 to 10,000 have five or more teeth absent or decayed, and 27,000 are in need of dental treatment;:9: and apart from the children dealt with at the dental clinic not over 1 per cent. probably will receive conservativedental treatment. Children fed on tea and bread are found to have the worst teeth, while the common statement that oatmeal feeders have worse teeth than others is at variance with the figures obtainable, which support the opposite view. Dr. Rose finds that tea is doing much harm among the young people. Extreme cases of tea-fed children can be picked out infallibly in the course of medical inspection. The lack of subcutaneous fat in the face, the faint lines running from the nose to the chin round the angles of the mouth, the half-frightened air, all tell, he says, of tea-poisoning, and form a type as patent to the skilled observer as is thealcoholic. Not many children suffer from lack of food, but in many cases the quality is unsatisfactory. Though most children are born healthy, there is a large infant mortality due largely to gas ic disorders. This is followed in many of the survivors by rickets, the result of improper feeding. Most, if not all, of these disordered conditions are preventable.