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HEIGHT AND BODY-WEIGHT.
1127 labour at a given time, but in view of the importance that must be attributed to the occurrence of complete maturity of the foetus and placenta when labour does occur it is difficult to imagine that mere hypnotic influit on in a ca.se in which it was ence could bring not very imminent. Indeed, Dr. Bonjour admits that his method of suggestion fails if it is attempted more than eight days before the expected date of the confinement. The use of hypnotic suggestion is no new matter in connexion with obstetric medicine. A large number of cases have now been placed on record in which hypnotism has been employed to annul or, at any rate, to diminish the pains of labour, and in many instances with surprisingly good effect. In one series of 28 cases published by a Russian observer in no less than 20 as the result of the hypnotic suggestion the labours took place painlessly, in three the first stage was painless, while five of the patients could not be hypnotised. In ten instances the hypnotic séances were commenced one and a half months before full term, and in the remaining 18 immediately before the onset of the pains. Suggestion has been used not only with success in the treatment of the pains of labour but also as a means of treating some of the neuroses of pregnancy. Thus it has proved often successful in cases of nervous vomiting. No bad results have been observed either in the mother or the child and it has been found in cases where it is difficult to induce the hypnotic state on account of the presence of uterine pains the administration of a little chloroform is frequently followed by success. The occurrence of painless, or almost painless, labour during the hypnotic state is a well-authenticated fact and has been observed by many trustworthy observers and as a therapeutic measure has undoubtedly proved of considerable value in the hands of many practitioners. We shall await with interest further evidence as to the possibility of determining the onset of labour by the same means but we fear, even if it be proved possible, that the numbar of cases in which it can be practised with any degree of certainty will be very small
i
indeed. -------
AN
INSULT TO THE PROFESSION.
IT has happened more than once in the history of human achievement that the work of some great artist has not fully come home to the minds of his contemporaries and has only been completely appreciated, even by a later generation, when light has been thrown upon it by the mind of In the twentieth some supremely gifted commentator. century things move more quickly than of yore and good fortune brings us the commentator within a comparatively short period after the work of the artist has been completed. We are moved to these reflections by the perusal of a speech recently delivered in the House of Commons by Mr. Henry Vivian, M.P., who at the last election attained the eminence of " L3bour Member " for Birkenhead and who feels himself to be acquainted intimately with the views and thoughts of the medical profession. His discourse has reminded us of the great painting by Mr. Fildes, R.A., which a few years ago charmed all spectators at the exhibition and which since, in the form of an engraving, has become an ornament of many homes. The picture represented a medical man, apparently a hard-worked country doctor, bending in profound anxiety over the bed of a sick child, amid the humble surroundings of a cottage. To the superficial view of the ordinary spectator the strong and rugged, though kindly, face was expressive of deep solicitude for the recovery of the little patient and of profound sympathy for the distress of which the illness was the cause, all of which was sufficiently indicated in the bearing and positions of the parents. The ordinary spectator was quite wrong. Mr. Vivian knows better and has told
I
Parliament thoughtful
all about it. The question which really troublea the doctor in these situations is to determine whether it would be more profitable to him to cure the and to take his chance of eventual payment from the father, or to withhold his hand and thus to secure the secret commission which he would reoeive from the coffin maker. We had never before thought of this aspect of the question, and we recognise at a glance the illuminating power of genius-the genius of misrepresentation.
child
HEIGHT AND
BODY-WEIGHT.
ACCORDING to the formula propounded by Paul Broca a grown man’s weight in kilogrammes should correspond with the number of centimetres in his stature above one metre. In order to test the approximate accuracy of this statement Generalarzt Villaret of the German army has collated data. from the records of 42,563 soldiers who had all been accepted as physically fit for the service. As far as regards little men-that is, men whose height varied between 1’54 and I - 59 metres-the formula of Broca was confirmed, but with medium-sized men-that is, men whose height varied between 1’60 and 1-74 metres-the body-weight was under the standard, the divergence increasing with almost mathematical regularity from below upwards. In the case of tall menthat is, men above 1 -74 metres (5 feet 7 inches)-the divergence was still greater and here, too, it increased regularly in accordance with the individual’s height. Generally speaking, Generalarzt Villaret found that a recruit’s weight after a few months’ service was largely influenced bhis calling before enlistment. Men coming from a sedentary occupation, such as clerks, tailors, saddlers, and so on, put on weight very quickly, whereas those who had had opportunities for overfeeding, such as confectioners, bakers, butchers, and brewers,. lost it with corresponding rapidity. Recruits recovering from serious illnesses, or who had had to work under defective sanitary conditions, might safely be accepted when below the standard, for their weight was certain to increase,. and the same rule applied to youths brought up in poverty who had never in their lives had as much food as they could eat. ____
THE IN
VERMIFORM APPENDIX.
memoir
published several years ago Dr. J. A. Berry account of the histology of the true csecaldetailed gave apex or the vermiform appendix in animals from pisces to anthropoids. In a paper read at the first International Federation Congress of Anatomy held at Geneva in August, 1905, and reproduced in the Journal of Anatomy and Physia
a
vol. xl., part 3, p. 247, Dr. Berry, in conjunction with Dr. L. A. H. Lack, gives the results of his later researches in man, influenced in their direction by the important essay of Mr. C. B. Lockwood on Appendicitis, its Pathology and Surgery. Dr. Berry having in his first paper shown that lymphoid tissue is the characteristic feature of the appendix, in his present communication, aided by Dr. Lack, gives the results of his investigations as to the age at which lymphoid tissue first appears in the human appendix, for it does not exist in the newly born infant ; next the age at which it tends, if at all, to disappear; and, lastly, discusses the question whether the obliteration of the human appendix is a physiological or a pathological process. In regard to the first poiat, whilst at birth there is practically no lymphoid tissue and lymph follicles are absent, within 14 days two well-marked lymph follicles have made their appearance and lymphoid tissue is scattered profusely throughout the whole of the mucosa. At six weeks there are from eight to 12 l3mph follicles, and the whole of the mucosa and submucosa, as is clearly shown in the reproduction of a photograph, is
ology,
i
indeed. -------
AN
INSULT TO THE PROFESSION.
IT has happened more than once in the history of human achievement that the work of some great artist has not fully come home to the minds of his contemporaries and has only been completely appreciated, even by a later generation, when light has been thrown upon it by the mind of In the twentieth some supremely gifted commentator. century things move more quickly than of yore and good fortune brings us the commentator within a comparatively short period after the work of the artist has been completed. We are moved to these reflections by the perusal of a speech recently delivered in the House of Commons by Mr. Henry Vivian, M.P., who at the last election attained the eminence of " L3bour Member " for Birkenhead and who feels himself to be acquainted intimately with the views and thoughts of the medical profession. His discourse has reminded us of the great painting by Mr. Fildes, R.A., which a few years ago charmed all spectators at the exhibition and which since, in the form of an engraving, has become an ornament of many homes. The picture represented a medical man, apparently a hard-worked country doctor, bending in profound anxiety over the bed of a sick child, amid the humble surroundings of a cottage. To the superficial view of the ordinary spectator the strong and rugged, though kindly, face was expressive of deep solicitude for the recovery of the little patient and of profound sympathy for the distress of which the illness was the cause, all of which was sufficiently indicated in the bearing and positions of the parents. The ordinary spectator was quite wrong. Mr. Vivian knows better and has told
I
Parliament thoughtful
all about it. The question which really troublea the doctor in these situations is to determine whether it would be more profitable to him to cure the and to take his chance of eventual payment from the father, or to withhold his hand and thus to secure the secret commission which he would reoeive from the coffin maker. We had never before thought of this aspect of the question, and we recognise at a glance the illuminating power of genius-the genius of misrepresentation.
child
HEIGHT AND
BODY-WEIGHT.
ACCORDING to the formula propounded by Paul Broca a grown man’s weight in kilogrammes should correspond with the number of centimetres in his stature above one metre. In order to test the approximate accuracy of this statement Generalarzt Villaret of the German army has collated data. from the records of 42,563 soldiers who had all been accepted as physically fit for the service. As far as regards little men-that is, men whose height varied between 1’54 and I - 59 metres-the formula of Broca was confirmed, but with medium-sized men-that is, men whose height varied between 1’60 and 1-74 metres-the body-weight was under the standard, the divergence increasing with almost mathematical regularity from below upwards. In the case of tall menthat is, men above 1 -74 metres (5 feet 7 inches)-the divergence was still greater and here, too, it increased regularly in accordance with the individual’s height. Generally speaking, Generalarzt Villaret found that a recruit’s weight after a few months’ service was largely influenced bhis calling before enlistment. Men coming from a sedentary occupation, such as clerks, tailors, saddlers, and so on, put on weight very quickly, whereas those who had had opportunities for overfeeding, such as confectioners, bakers, butchers, and brewers,. lost it with corresponding rapidity. Recruits recovering from serious illnesses, or who had had to work under defective sanitary conditions, might safely be accepted when below the standard, for their weight was certain to increase,. and the same rule applied to youths brought up in poverty who had never in their lives had as much food as they could eat. ____
THE IN
VERMIFORM APPENDIX.
memoir
published several years ago Dr. J. A. Berry account of the histology of the true csecaldetailed gave apex or the vermiform appendix in animals from pisces to anthropoids. In a paper read at the first International Federation Congress of Anatomy held at Geneva in August, 1905, and reproduced in the Journal of Anatomy and Physia
a
vol. xl., part 3, p. 247, Dr. Berry, in conjunction with Dr. L. A. H. Lack, gives the results of his later researches in man, influenced in their direction by the important essay of Mr. C. B. Lockwood on Appendicitis, its Pathology and Surgery. Dr. Berry having in his first paper shown that lymphoid tissue is the characteristic feature of the appendix, in his present communication, aided by Dr. Lack, gives the results of his investigations as to the age at which lymphoid tissue first appears in the human appendix, for it does not exist in the newly born infant ; next the age at which it tends, if at all, to disappear; and, lastly, discusses the question whether the obliteration of the human appendix is a physiological or a pathological process. In regard to the first poiat, whilst at birth there is practically no lymphoid tissue and lymph follicles are absent, within 14 days two well-marked lymph follicles have made their appearance and lymphoid tissue is scattered profusely throughout the whole of the mucosa. At six weeks there are from eight to 12 l3mph follicles, and the whole of the mucosa and submucosa, as is clearly shown in the reproduction of a photograph, is
ology,