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Médecine, 1920, vii., 450). The only difference consists in the longer duration of the rise of temperature in my own cases. For weeks, for months, for years even, our patients showed elevation of temperature for which no cause could be found, no tuberculosis, no general infection, no focal infection. Temperature subsided when patients ceased to worry over it or to it subsided also with rest, use the thermometer ; removal to a cool country, and various psychotherapeutical measures. The characteristic feature in my cases was an evidence of intense excitability of the sympathetic system detected by various pharmacological tests. I attributed this " constitutional hyperthermia " to an inherent instability of the heat-regulating centre which, as is generally admitted. is part of the sympathetic system. On account of this instability there is a lowering of the threshold of the factors which raise normal temperature such as fatigue and emotion. I remarked that this instability of the thermic centre may be dependent on the chemical regulating organs of body heat, that is on the endocrines. It would be

an accumulated deficit, it is calculated, of 150,000 houses, the annual requirements of the country are about 10,000 ; yet in the year 1925 it is expected

is

that not more than 8500 will have been finished. In the county of Durham only about 10,000 houses altogether have been built since the end of the war, during which period an increase of population of approximately 70,000 has occurred. The idea of the garden city was put forward by Charles Kingsley as long ago as 1857. Yet to-day there are actually only two garden cities in existence, not counting Port Sunlight and Bournville. The clearance of the notorious London slums in the Tabard-street and Bradey-strcet areas began over 30 years ago. Yet to-day in neither area is the clearSince the London ance by any means cornplete. County Council began it has spent over £1,000,000 To be a measure of public on slum clearances. health any scheme of land reform must bring about quicker results than these. It seems improbable that any scheme can succeed which lays an increasing burden upon the public purse, and does nothing to interesting to me to know if this syndrome is met diminish costs or to increase wages and the number with in England. I am of Dr. Remlinger’s opinion of building operatives. By applying tests of this sort that climatic factors play a great role in its appear- the value can be appraised of any reform purporting ance ; in Greece the syndrome is met with more to be a measure likely to improve the public health. Let us hope that the Liberal Land Committee’s frequently in the hot months. It is of common occurrence in Greece. During the war, as consulting plans will pass these tests. The Committee has physician to the Greek army, I often had difficulty worked hard and has set forth the subject with frank in distinguishing this " sympathetic fever " from breadth of view, grasp of essentials, and a wealth of tuberculosis.-I am, Sir, yours faithfully, detail which is wholly admirable. But the remedies A. P. CAWADIAS, M.D., M.R.C.P., suggested seem complicated to the uninitiated and Senior Physician and Lecturer for Clinical Medicine, are, apparently, not satisfying to the party’s supJan. 5th, 1926. Evangelismos Hospital, Athens. porters. Mr. Lloyd George himself, with characteristic skill, has assumed the power to give the people of LAND REFORM AND SLUMS. England better housing, a more spacious life if only his remedies are adopted. He sincerely regards his To the Editor of THE LANCET. land But as a public health measure. SIR,—Housing is one of the greatest medical many campaign doctors have contracted the habit of examining The of the is much behind housing problems. people caution the plans of politicians, and it would the requirements of the day, and large numbers are with well to investigate afresh the whole subject of the be still very badly housed. Go to places like Becontree between land reform, better housing, and connexion in Essex and Yardley or Stechford, suburbs of If that is done much health. will accrue. public Birmingham, where houses for the working classes Should the Liberal Land Committee’sgood plans be found have been put up by the thousand in the last few to pass the suggested tests, there is no reason why years, and see them. It is true they have generally should not be taken up irrespective of party. they which are far to those superior provided quarters I am, Sir, yours faithfully, which many of the occupiers had to inhabit previously. LUCIUS SEVERUS. But measure their capacity, inquire what is their rent, taking into account the expense of travelling EMETINE IN THE TREATMENT OF HEPATIC to and from the place of work, examine the qualities ABSCESS. they possess for enduring. Compare these little To the Editor of THE LANCET. houses or flats-hundreds of them only three-roomed -and the materials used in them with some of the SIR,—With reference to the article on this subject many small houses of Georgian or early Victorian by Dr. P. H. Manson-Bahr and Dr. R. M. Morris days, or with littfe country cottages still in use, in your issue of Jan. 9th, I think the following opinions put up two or three hundred years ago. Ask any of Dr. Manson-Bahr should be quoted. In the architect who has built for the well-to-do, and also Tropical Diseases Bulletin for January and April, 1925, participated in one of these schemes for housing the Dr. Manson-Bahr accepted the accuracy of Captain workers, what are his feelings on the cheese-paring, Fry’s diagnosis without demur, although he now finds cost-cutting, cold and calculated restrictions which the records not very convincing. As regards treatare imposed before they are erected, restrictions ment ; in the Bullelica for January, 1925, Dr. Mansonunfortunately necessary under present circumstances. Bahr says : " Surgeons should make the use of Such comparisons bring the conclusion that what are emetine an essential part of pre-operative preparation, built to-day will be looked upon as meagre and mean if not the sole treatment of liver abscess.... It would within a generation. appear that aspiration could be dispensed with in But what about the real slums now existing, and many such cases of amoebic abscess." And in the what about present-day overcrowding ? Will the Bulletin for April, 1925, he states that " he has recently - schemes of the Liberal Land Committee, should they confirmed the view that emetine therapy alone can come to fruition, really end these evil things soon ? promote absorption of pus from a liver abscess Is it on the right track to make a clear distinction without surgical interference.... In a recent case between urban and agricultural land ? . To-day, both the patient developed a fourth abscess, three having in law and in every-day practical usage, the distinction I been drained, the very prortourzced physical signs and is ever arbitrary and changing. The latest available symptoms of which were resolved ira a short time by returns show over 14,000 condemned houses still in emetine combined with E.B.I." (The italics in both occupation, and condemnations are lenient. Although cases are mine.) The opinions given in your current roughly half a million houses have been completed number and those just quoted are completely contrasince 1919, that does not make up for the previously dictory, and one is left guessing as to the cause which, existing shortage, and the present rate of construction after Dr. Manson-Bahr had advanced from scepticism is in many cities insufficient to cope with the rate of to understanding, has prompted this public confession increase of population. Manchester, for example, of his return to his first state of mind. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, has an admitted shortage of 20,000 houses now, yet V. S. HODSON. London, Jan. llth, 1926. i, to build only about 2000 a year. In Scotland there