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INSTRUCTION IN PSYCHIATRY.
479 Drummond’s paper of 1925 has during these years So long as such a short period of time is allotted in .served as the basis for an exceedingly intense the medical curriculum for the teaching of psychiatry advertising of Newfoundland cod-liver oil, at the in general, it seems to me that it would be unwise expense of the Norwegian oil and at great economic to employ more than a modicum of it in dealing with contentious psychological matters. When there is loss to the latter. 3. It was not until several months later that I something approaching a settled doctrine I shall became aware of Drummond’s article in THE LANCET be only too glad to set it forth for those students of
Sept. 26th, 1925, and
I
thereupon wrote
a
rejoinder
which appeared in your issue of Feb. 6th, 1926 (p. 320). Therein I expressed surprise that the Prof. Drummond of 1925 should contradict the Prof. Drummond (and his colleagues) of 1924. My paper I sent a - was couched in the most moderate terms. copy of it to
Drummond, and although it appeared
necessary that he should furnish
some
and others who may care to read what I write. In conclusion, I find myself in complete agreement with what you say in your note that " so important and difficult a subject should be properly taught or left alone." It seems to me that there is a good deal of modern pseudo-psychology-or pseudo-psychopathology-which is not properly taught, but which is
explanation, improperly practised.
he sent me no answer. 4. On the other hand, a reply was made by Dr. Zilva, who had previously collaborated with Prof. Drummond. This reply is now made use of in such a way by Drummond in your issue of June 30th (p. 1353) that the reader who has not kept fully in touch with developments may get the impression that Zilva supported Drummond. I do not believe others Zilva’s reply will agree with this interpretation. leaves nothing to be desired in the way of explicitness:
I am. Sir, yours faithfully, Wimereux, August 20th, 1928. HUBERT J. NORMAN.
"FUSSING OVER
CANCER."
To the Editor
of THE LANCET. SiR,-Your correspondent D.P.H.," in the course of an excellent letter, remarks that it is really a ,
"
truism to say that " the earlier cancer is detected the better are the patient’s chances of recovery." Having made this uncontroversial statement, he goes on to ask: " Why is there a certain hesitancy in launching educational campaigns with regard to cancer ? " and the inference would seem to be was shown by my colleagues and myself, and I feel gratified that this work has been confirmed by our Norwegian that " cancer campaigns throughout the world " have colleague." neglected this very useful pait of what should be Prof. Drummond must be in a most unhappy frame one of their primary activities. In order to attempt of mind when he accepts this severe correction to prevent this inference being accepted as the whole truth of the matter, may I be allowed to draw the without a word of protest. It appeared inevitable that Prof. Drummond should attention of your readers to some of the educational at this juncture explain himself, but no such explana- work undertaken by the Yorkshire Council of the tion has been made, not even in his last letter. British Empire Cancer Campaign ? Shortly after the Yorkshire Council was created, Instead of explaining upon what basis in 1925 he denies results achieved by himself and his colleagues our leader, Sir Berkeley Moynihan, recognising that in 1924, he devotes a lot of space to treating other the education of the public was of prime importance, subcommittee should subjects not relevant to the present issue. For proposed that a propaganda be formed and financed. This was done, and the example, a comparison is made between the biological funds placed at its disposal were considerable in and colorimetric tests, obviously in order to get an derived from donations opportunity to point out that my tests of certain amount and were mainly and Insurance Panel committees in the had been carried out given of cod-liver oil by according samples This subcommittee has done a great deal to a defective method. In this connexion I will County. content myself with pointing out that these assays of work. It has issued a very comprehensive little had partly been completed already in 1923 ; the book entitled " Notes on Cancer," prepared under direction of the Medical and Scientific Committee improved and now applicable method was described the of the Yorkshire Council. Free copies of this book by Steenbock in 1924. Summarising the above, we find ourselves faced have been sent to all practitioners in the county with an instance of an author contradicting himself and many have been sent, by request, to almost all and his colleagues without communicating with them parts of the Empire. Any practitioner requiring (one of them subsequently denying responsibility), the book may have it on application to our Secretary, without producing new data, and without offering at 47, Park-square, Leeds. The subcommittee has any explanation. A situation of this kind is organised several courses of post-graduate lectures unparalleled in scientific discussion, and the situation to practitioners by eminent authorities, the list of is by no means clarified by Drummond’s last letter, lecturers including the names of such well-known except in so far as he has now abandoned the con- men as Sir Berkeley Moynihan, Prof. G. E. Gask, tention which formed the chief basis of his paper in Prof. Grey Turner, Dr. Major Greenwood, and Prof. THE LANCET of Sept. 26th, 1925-namely, that the Sampson Handley. Most of these lectures have been sexual condition of the cod during the spawning very largely attended, and there is a demand for period influences the vitamin content of the liver further courses which the subcommittee hopes shortly to be able to meet. oil. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, Having, in the above ways, attempted to assist E. POULSSON. Oslo. practitioners by placing before them the latest available information, the subcommittee directed its attention to an effort to educate the public. It INSTRUCTION IN PSYCHIATRY. first succeeded in obtaining the services of a comTo the Editor of THE LANCET. petent woman doctor who was well fitted to place SIR,-I should like in the first place to thank you facts before individuals which it felt they ought to for the kindly notice of my book on " Mental Dis- know. It then organised a series of public demonstraorder" in your issue of July 21st. My object in tions, called-for want of a better name-" cancer writing to you now is to comment on Dr. Estelle exhibitions." Each exhibition visits a selected town Cole’s letter in your issue of August llth. I hope and is open to the public for, usually, one week. that your review will be approved not only by " many Various statistics, showing the number of deaths of the older school of psychiatry," but also by those arising from cancer in different parts of the body are of some at least of the newer schools who realise the exhibited in graphical form. Large quantities of inchoate condition of much of modern psychological leaflets are used and visitors urged to take them teaching regarding, for example, the psychoneuroses. home and show them to their friends. Information
" As I did not see Prof. Drummond’s article until it appeared in print I do not hold myself responsible for everything stated therein. Prof. Poulsson is quite right in asserting that the sexual condition of the cod during spawning has no bearing upon the activity of the oil as "
...
Sept. 26th, 1925, and
I
thereupon wrote
a
rejoinder
which appeared in your issue of Feb. 6th, 1926 (p. 320). Therein I expressed surprise that the Prof. Drummond of 1925 should contradict the Prof. Drummond (and his colleagues) of 1924. My paper I sent a - was couched in the most moderate terms. copy of it to
Drummond, and although it appeared
necessary that he should furnish
some
and others who may care to read what I write. In conclusion, I find myself in complete agreement with what you say in your note that " so important and difficult a subject should be properly taught or left alone." It seems to me that there is a good deal of modern pseudo-psychology-or pseudo-psychopathology-which is not properly taught, but which is
explanation, improperly practised.
he sent me no answer. 4. On the other hand, a reply was made by Dr. Zilva, who had previously collaborated with Prof. Drummond. This reply is now made use of in such a way by Drummond in your issue of June 30th (p. 1353) that the reader who has not kept fully in touch with developments may get the impression that Zilva supported Drummond. I do not believe others Zilva’s reply will agree with this interpretation. leaves nothing to be desired in the way of explicitness:
I am. Sir, yours faithfully, Wimereux, August 20th, 1928. HUBERT J. NORMAN.
"FUSSING OVER
CANCER."
To the Editor
of THE LANCET. SiR,-Your correspondent D.P.H.," in the course of an excellent letter, remarks that it is really a ,
"
truism to say that " the earlier cancer is detected the better are the patient’s chances of recovery." Having made this uncontroversial statement, he goes on to ask: " Why is there a certain hesitancy in launching educational campaigns with regard to cancer ? " and the inference would seem to be was shown by my colleagues and myself, and I feel gratified that this work has been confirmed by our Norwegian that " cancer campaigns throughout the world " have colleague." neglected this very useful pait of what should be Prof. Drummond must be in a most unhappy frame one of their primary activities. In order to attempt of mind when he accepts this severe correction to prevent this inference being accepted as the whole truth of the matter, may I be allowed to draw the without a word of protest. It appeared inevitable that Prof. Drummond should attention of your readers to some of the educational at this juncture explain himself, but no such explana- work undertaken by the Yorkshire Council of the tion has been made, not even in his last letter. British Empire Cancer Campaign ? Shortly after the Yorkshire Council was created, Instead of explaining upon what basis in 1925 he denies results achieved by himself and his colleagues our leader, Sir Berkeley Moynihan, recognising that in 1924, he devotes a lot of space to treating other the education of the public was of prime importance, subcommittee should subjects not relevant to the present issue. For proposed that a propaganda be formed and financed. This was done, and the example, a comparison is made between the biological funds placed at its disposal were considerable in and colorimetric tests, obviously in order to get an derived from donations opportunity to point out that my tests of certain amount and were mainly and Insurance Panel committees in the had been carried out given of cod-liver oil by according samples This subcommittee has done a great deal to a defective method. In this connexion I will County. content myself with pointing out that these assays of work. It has issued a very comprehensive little had partly been completed already in 1923 ; the book entitled " Notes on Cancer," prepared under direction of the Medical and Scientific Committee improved and now applicable method was described the of the Yorkshire Council. Free copies of this book by Steenbock in 1924. Summarising the above, we find ourselves faced have been sent to all practitioners in the county with an instance of an author contradicting himself and many have been sent, by request, to almost all and his colleagues without communicating with them parts of the Empire. Any practitioner requiring (one of them subsequently denying responsibility), the book may have it on application to our Secretary, without producing new data, and without offering at 47, Park-square, Leeds. The subcommittee has any explanation. A situation of this kind is organised several courses of post-graduate lectures unparalleled in scientific discussion, and the situation to practitioners by eminent authorities, the list of is by no means clarified by Drummond’s last letter, lecturers including the names of such well-known except in so far as he has now abandoned the con- men as Sir Berkeley Moynihan, Prof. G. E. Gask, tention which formed the chief basis of his paper in Prof. Grey Turner, Dr. Major Greenwood, and Prof. THE LANCET of Sept. 26th, 1925-namely, that the Sampson Handley. Most of these lectures have been sexual condition of the cod during the spawning very largely attended, and there is a demand for period influences the vitamin content of the liver further courses which the subcommittee hopes shortly to be able to meet. oil. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, Having, in the above ways, attempted to assist E. POULSSON. Oslo. practitioners by placing before them the latest available information, the subcommittee directed its attention to an effort to educate the public. It INSTRUCTION IN PSYCHIATRY. first succeeded in obtaining the services of a comTo the Editor of THE LANCET. petent woman doctor who was well fitted to place SIR,-I should like in the first place to thank you facts before individuals which it felt they ought to for the kindly notice of my book on " Mental Dis- know. It then organised a series of public demonstraorder" in your issue of July 21st. My object in tions, called-for want of a better name-" cancer writing to you now is to comment on Dr. Estelle exhibitions." Each exhibition visits a selected town Cole’s letter in your issue of August llth. I hope and is open to the public for, usually, one week. that your review will be approved not only by " many Various statistics, showing the number of deaths of the older school of psychiatry," but also by those arising from cancer in different parts of the body are of some at least of the newer schools who realise the exhibited in graphical form. Large quantities of inchoate condition of much of modern psychological leaflets are used and visitors urged to take them teaching regarding, for example, the psychoneuroses. home and show them to their friends. Information
" As I did not see Prof. Drummond’s article until it appeared in print I do not hold myself responsible for everything stated therein. Prof. Poulsson is quite right in asserting that the sexual condition of the cod during spawning has no bearing upon the activity of the oil as "
...