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GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL ELECTION: ENGLAND AND WALES.
1170 than better. Notwithstanding occasional large number of these tubes became necessary, worse rather with improvement of a temporary character, she showing how little is the influence of words, whether remissions changed from an active, free-striding girl to a semispoken or written, on the men’s conduct. (b), The was invalid, capable of only doing a few hundred yards at a extraordinary immunity gained by these simple early crawl. At this stage I took her to a consulting surgeon of prophylactic measures in a highly infected district if repute, who prescribed certain treatment which was followed properly carried out. I fortunately had an orderly who for another two months, but with no more success than with a
took
great interest in this work.
my own.
Sir. vmir’s faithfully. B. R. PARMITER, M.B., B.S. Guy’s Hospital, S.E., Dec. 13th, 1919. T
Having fortified my own opinion by those of a general physician, and also a gynaecologist, that no intra-pelvic, tuberculous, or other organic disease was present, I determined that some form of really expert" manipulation was required. Knowing no one within the ranks of the profession able or willing to give the treatment
a,m.
"
SURVIVAL OF QUADRUPLETS. To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,-Some years ago I saw a lady, about 6 ft. high, that was in my mind, I took her to a well-known surprised me by saying that she was one of " bonesetter." He at once stated that the condition quadruplets, the other three being boys who all grew was familiar to him, and proceeded to some manipulaup to be strong and over 6 ft. in height and were serving tions. The two manoeuvres he executed were both new I am aware that to me, though I have had more than average experiin the same regiment in India. "what the policeman said is not evidence," and the ence of various forms of physical treatment both at home and in Sweden. same applies to a patient’s statements ; but as there The first somewhat resembled that described in Anders was no reason why the patient should state what was not true I think perhaps the. survival of quadruplets Wide’s medical gymnastics as " stretch leg-forward-lying side flexion,"but with the difference that the operator did it may not be so rare as is supposed. With regard to the influence of the male in producing alone with patient at full length prone on a couch, instead of the three gymnasts as directed by Wide. With one hand multiple pregnancies, the case alluded to in the on the sacrum, the other under the left the annotation in your issue of Dec. 13th is not so striking operator forcibly extended and rotated the shoulder, trunk a few as the one mentioned by Charpentier. It was that of times in rapid succession while keeping the pelvis immobile a Russian peasant, married twice, who had 87 children on the couch. The second movement was done while patient was prone as before. One hand being on the sacrum keeping by his two wives. His first wife had quadruplets the trunk on the couch, the other hand was applied below 4 times, triplets 7 times, and twins 16 times. His both knees in such a way as to over-extend the hip and second wife had triplets twice and twins 6 times. lumbo-sacral joints. Both movements require great muscular T Sir yours faithfully who
_
am
Harley-street, W., Dec. 15th, 1919.
HERBERT R.
effort, and during each sounds as of giving way of adhesions clearly heard. The patient was immediately relieved by the first treatment ; it was repeated again at a week’s interval, and she has remained quite well since.
SPENCER.
GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL ELECTION: ENGLAND AND WALES. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-Will you allow me to express my sincere thanks to the 1636 doctors who voted for me ? The result far exceeded my expectations. I had no committee nor funds to circularise all the electors. I am. Sir, yours faithfullv, JNO. BROWN, M.D. Blackpool, Dec. 12th, 1919.
were
In conclusion I can only express a hope that this plain tale of a personal experience may do something to dispel a prejudice too general in the profession, and encourage a study and practice of methods as old and historic as they are scientifically interesting and
of THE LANCET. article on SIR,-In his Myalgic Pains in THE LANCET of Nov. 29th Dr. Madison Taylor calls attention to the value of " really expert " manipulation in these cases. But where are the really expert manipulators to be found, and where are the regular practitioners who aree competent to direct their operations ? Such is the barrier of suspicion and prejudice that surrounds these methods of practice, it happens, that while no enlightened modern surgeon can deny the brilliant results obtainable in appropriate cases, the cures stand chiefly to the credit of the irregular practitioner or "bonesetter." Whilst in the field of physical therapeutics every other path is being mapped and explored and fully utilised for the benefit of humanity, this one- call it manipulative surgery, or bonesetting, or what you will-remains a no man’s land, or is left to the operations of the franc-tireur. The following illustrative case was throughout its course under my daily observation :— The patient, a full-grown girl of more than average height, with no tendency to rheumatic or arthritic trouble, had for a year previous to her illness been in active work in garden and with car, and was in full health and strength. One night in February she woke with a rather severe pain in the sacral region. Next day, finding it had nearly gone, she continued her work. But she found the pain returned when To the Editor
she walked, and day by day was less able to walk or stoop account of it. After a week she consulted me. I found evidence of fibrositis, the clinical signs being tenderness on deep pressure over the sacral spines and the left synchondrosis. She felt most comfortable sacro-iliac in a relaxed bent position, extension of the spine being painful. Walking, hitherto fast and free, could only be done at a crawl, and her carriage, usually erect, was a slouch. After two months of treatment by rest, massage, ionisation, and various local and general remedies, she was on
am.
Sir.
mec. 3rd, 1919.
faithfullv. NON QUIS, SED QUID.
vours
CORRIGENDUM.-In Dr. J. Elliott’s
interesting paper which we published last a date was inserted to make clear that the week, " Edwardian " walls of Chester meant walls built in the Plantagenet era. For immediately in front of the sentence came the date " 1912 to 1914." Dr. Elliott points out that the interpolation, being the date of Edward II., might commit him to a definite statement on a matter which has been much in dispute-namely, the precise date of the building of the ancient walls. on an
MYALGIC PAINS AND MANIPULATION.
I
valuable.
Achondroplasic Skull,
URBAN VITAL STATISTICS.
(Week ended Dec. 13th, 1919.) English and Welsh Towns.-In the 96 English and Welsh towns, with an aggregate civil population estimated at
16,500,000 persons, the annual rate of mortality, which had been 14.8,13.8, and 14’4 in the three preceding weeks, fell to 13-9 per 1000. In London, with a population slightly exceeding 4,000,000 persons, the annual death-rate was 13.4, or 1.1 per 1000 below that recorded in the previous week, while among the remaining towns the rates ranged from 7.4 in Bournemouth, 8-1 in St. Helens, and 8’3 in Walthamstow, to 20-2 in Grimsby, 21’3 in Bath, and 22-0 in South Shields. The principal epidemic diseases caused 282 deaths, which corresponded to an annual rate of 0-9 per 1000. and comprised 76 from measles, 75 from diphtheria, 58 from infantile diarrhoea, 44 from whooping-cough, 27 from scarlet fever, and 2 from enteric fever. Measles caused a death-rate of 1-5 in Preston and in Sunderland, 1’8 in Tynemouth, 2-2 in Burnley, 2-7 in Barrow-in-Furness, and 2’9 in Carlisle; whooping-cough of 1-6 in East Ham and 1’7 in West Hartlepool ; and diphtheria of 1-7 in Plymouth. The 81 deaths from influenza were 4 in excess of the number in the previous week, and included 17 in London, 7 in Manchester, 6 in Birmingham, and 4 in Stoke-on-Trent. There were 2947 cases of scarlet fever and 1796 of diphtheria under treatment in the Metropolitan Asylums Hospitals and the London Fever Hospital, against 2990 and 1699 respectively at the end of the previous week. The causes of 28 deaths in the 96 towns were uncertified, of which 6 were registered in Birmingham and 3 in Preston.
took
great interest in this work.
my own.
Sir. vmir’s faithfully. B. R. PARMITER, M.B., B.S. Guy’s Hospital, S.E., Dec. 13th, 1919. T
Having fortified my own opinion by those of a general physician, and also a gynaecologist, that no intra-pelvic, tuberculous, or other organic disease was present, I determined that some form of really expert" manipulation was required. Knowing no one within the ranks of the profession able or willing to give the treatment
a,m.
"
SURVIVAL OF QUADRUPLETS. To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,-Some years ago I saw a lady, about 6 ft. high, that was in my mind, I took her to a well-known surprised me by saying that she was one of " bonesetter." He at once stated that the condition quadruplets, the other three being boys who all grew was familiar to him, and proceeded to some manipulaup to be strong and over 6 ft. in height and were serving tions. The two manoeuvres he executed were both new I am aware that to me, though I have had more than average experiin the same regiment in India. "what the policeman said is not evidence," and the ence of various forms of physical treatment both at home and in Sweden. same applies to a patient’s statements ; but as there The first somewhat resembled that described in Anders was no reason why the patient should state what was not true I think perhaps the. survival of quadruplets Wide’s medical gymnastics as " stretch leg-forward-lying side flexion,"but with the difference that the operator did it may not be so rare as is supposed. With regard to the influence of the male in producing alone with patient at full length prone on a couch, instead of the three gymnasts as directed by Wide. With one hand multiple pregnancies, the case alluded to in the on the sacrum, the other under the left the annotation in your issue of Dec. 13th is not so striking operator forcibly extended and rotated the shoulder, trunk a few as the one mentioned by Charpentier. It was that of times in rapid succession while keeping the pelvis immobile a Russian peasant, married twice, who had 87 children on the couch. The second movement was done while patient was prone as before. One hand being on the sacrum keeping by his two wives. His first wife had quadruplets the trunk on the couch, the other hand was applied below 4 times, triplets 7 times, and twins 16 times. His both knees in such a way as to over-extend the hip and second wife had triplets twice and twins 6 times. lumbo-sacral joints. Both movements require great muscular T Sir yours faithfully who
_
am
Harley-street, W., Dec. 15th, 1919.
HERBERT R.
effort, and during each sounds as of giving way of adhesions clearly heard. The patient was immediately relieved by the first treatment ; it was repeated again at a week’s interval, and she has remained quite well since.
SPENCER.
GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL ELECTION: ENGLAND AND WALES. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-Will you allow me to express my sincere thanks to the 1636 doctors who voted for me ? The result far exceeded my expectations. I had no committee nor funds to circularise all the electors. I am. Sir, yours faithfullv, JNO. BROWN, M.D. Blackpool, Dec. 12th, 1919.
were
In conclusion I can only express a hope that this plain tale of a personal experience may do something to dispel a prejudice too general in the profession, and encourage a study and practice of methods as old and historic as they are scientifically interesting and
of THE LANCET. article on SIR,-In his Myalgic Pains in THE LANCET of Nov. 29th Dr. Madison Taylor calls attention to the value of " really expert " manipulation in these cases. But where are the really expert manipulators to be found, and where are the regular practitioners who aree competent to direct their operations ? Such is the barrier of suspicion and prejudice that surrounds these methods of practice, it happens, that while no enlightened modern surgeon can deny the brilliant results obtainable in appropriate cases, the cures stand chiefly to the credit of the irregular practitioner or "bonesetter." Whilst in the field of physical therapeutics every other path is being mapped and explored and fully utilised for the benefit of humanity, this one- call it manipulative surgery, or bonesetting, or what you will-remains a no man’s land, or is left to the operations of the franc-tireur. The following illustrative case was throughout its course under my daily observation :— The patient, a full-grown girl of more than average height, with no tendency to rheumatic or arthritic trouble, had for a year previous to her illness been in active work in garden and with car, and was in full health and strength. One night in February she woke with a rather severe pain in the sacral region. Next day, finding it had nearly gone, she continued her work. But she found the pain returned when To the Editor
she walked, and day by day was less able to walk or stoop account of it. After a week she consulted me. I found evidence of fibrositis, the clinical signs being tenderness on deep pressure over the sacral spines and the left synchondrosis. She felt most comfortable sacro-iliac in a relaxed bent position, extension of the spine being painful. Walking, hitherto fast and free, could only be done at a crawl, and her carriage, usually erect, was a slouch. After two months of treatment by rest, massage, ionisation, and various local and general remedies, she was on
am.
Sir.
mec. 3rd, 1919.
faithfullv. NON QUIS, SED QUID.
vours
CORRIGENDUM.-In Dr. J. Elliott’s
interesting paper which we published last a date was inserted to make clear that the week, " Edwardian " walls of Chester meant walls built in the Plantagenet era. For immediately in front of the sentence came the date " 1912 to 1914." Dr. Elliott points out that the interpolation, being the date of Edward II., might commit him to a definite statement on a matter which has been much in dispute-namely, the precise date of the building of the ancient walls. on an
MYALGIC PAINS AND MANIPULATION.
I
valuable.
Achondroplasic Skull,
URBAN VITAL STATISTICS.
(Week ended Dec. 13th, 1919.) English and Welsh Towns.-In the 96 English and Welsh towns, with an aggregate civil population estimated at
16,500,000 persons, the annual rate of mortality, which had been 14.8,13.8, and 14’4 in the three preceding weeks, fell to 13-9 per 1000. In London, with a population slightly exceeding 4,000,000 persons, the annual death-rate was 13.4, or 1.1 per 1000 below that recorded in the previous week, while among the remaining towns the rates ranged from 7.4 in Bournemouth, 8-1 in St. Helens, and 8’3 in Walthamstow, to 20-2 in Grimsby, 21’3 in Bath, and 22-0 in South Shields. The principal epidemic diseases caused 282 deaths, which corresponded to an annual rate of 0-9 per 1000. and comprised 76 from measles, 75 from diphtheria, 58 from infantile diarrhoea, 44 from whooping-cough, 27 from scarlet fever, and 2 from enteric fever. Measles caused a death-rate of 1-5 in Preston and in Sunderland, 1’8 in Tynemouth, 2-2 in Burnley, 2-7 in Barrow-in-Furness, and 2’9 in Carlisle; whooping-cough of 1-6 in East Ham and 1’7 in West Hartlepool ; and diphtheria of 1-7 in Plymouth. The 81 deaths from influenza were 4 in excess of the number in the previous week, and included 17 in London, 7 in Manchester, 6 in Birmingham, and 4 in Stoke-on-Trent. There were 2947 cases of scarlet fever and 1796 of diphtheria under treatment in the Metropolitan Asylums Hospitals and the London Fever Hospital, against 2990 and 1699 respectively at the end of the previous week. The causes of 28 deaths in the 96 towns were uncertified, of which 6 were registered in Birmingham and 3 in Preston.