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INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL VISITORS BUREAU
460
IN ENGLAND NOW
Prof. Robert Walmsley, F.R.C.S.E., professor of anatomy in the University of St. Andrews. The address of the association is B.M.A. House, Tavistock Square, London, W.C.I. EMPIRE MEDICAL ADVISORY BUREAU THE British Medical Association has set up the Empire Medical Advisory Bureau with a view to making the stay of overseas medical visitors to this country as profitable and pleasant as possible, by welcoming them and providing a personal advisory service. The bureau, which is at B.M.A. House, Tavistock Square, London, W.C.1, caters for Dominion and Colonial medical men and women who are staying in this country for postgraduate education or other purposes. Information is obtainable about postgraduate education and courses of study for higher qualifications ; and inquirers can be put in touch with the organisations and authorities providing postgraduate education. The visitor who wishes to see something of the latest medical work in his own specialty can be put in touch with the appropriate
experts. A register of suitable hotels and lodgings is maintained by the bureau, and every effort is made to help visitors to solve the problem of finding somewhere to live. By social functions and in other ways doctors from the Dominions and Colonies are enabled to meet each other and prominent members of the profession in this country. General information about travel, sports facilities, exhibitions, theatres, &c., may also be had. The bureau can be of greatest service to the visitor if he writes as long as possible in advance of arrival, giving information on the following lines : projected date of arrival, mode of travel, whether accompanied by wife, period of stay, objects of the visit, and in what ways assistance is desired. On arrival a letter of introduction from the local hon. secretary of the visitors’ medical association,. although not essential, would be welcome. The medical director of the bureau is Brigadier H. A. Sandiford, to whom all communications should be addressed. INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL VISITORS BUREAU
In A
England Now
Running Commentary by Peripatetic Correspondents
THE bruit d’airain of pneumothorax is still taught in all medical schools, although extensive research has recently cast discredit on its value as" a physical sign. Commonly known as the " bell " or coin " sound, it would seem that more is involved than the mere jangling of one coin on another. The position of the coin in relation to the stethoscope is an important and much neglected detail. Using a photo-electric thoracometer with a differential action potential of ten decibels, it was found that the soundwaves in a fur-stripped cat were no less absent in pneumothorax than in a dead animal. Only by inflating both lungs with a mixture of oxygen and radioactive uranium was it possible to produce a low-pitched sonorous undertone, likened to the rumble of distant thunder. Such factors as the rate, force, and frequency of percussion were also considered in great detail. A special electrically powered percussor was devised into which 6 patients could be strapped at one time. In this way it was hoped to eliminate individual idiosyncrasy, so common in an experiment of this kind. It was conclusively shown that, with a frequency of 100 strokes per sec. at a pressure of 300 lb. per sq. in., the true bruit d’ airain was indistinguishable from sounds produced by borborygmi in the sigmoid colon, air-locks in the central heating, or the time signal on the radio. Ambitious experiments were also conducted on the metallurgic properties of plessor and pleximeter. An interesting phenomenon occurred in many subjects when a 10-franc piece was struck with the Hungarian pengo. The result, paradoxically, could best be described by the sound made when the lid of a half-filled samovar is lightly tapped with the wooden handle of a twelveThe investigators concluded that gauge screwdriver. if this physical sign is to be elicited at all, the common penny must be discarded in favour of the Colombian peso. It would appear therefore that the test as ordinarily performed gives no reliable evidence of air in the chest. ’
To further cooperation with fellow member associations of the World Medical Association, the British Medical Association has set up the International Medical Visitors Bureau to provide a personal advisory service to doctors visiting the United Kingdom from countries outside the British Commonwealth. The bureau, which is at B.M.A. House, Tavistock Square, London, W.C.I, offers information on postgraduate education facilities, while visits to hospitals and clinics can be arranged and help given in finding accommodation. General information on travel, The car hire, theatres, and exhibitions is also available. medical director of the bureau is Brigadier H. A. Sandiford, to whom all communications should be addressed. THE MEDICAL WOMEN’S FEDERATION ALL medical women on the British Medical Register are eligible as members of the Medical Women’s Federation, which has active local associations all over the country and in Northern Ireland, as well as a large London association and an overseas association linking up members all over the world. The federation is nonpolitical. It provides medical and social meetings for its members and publishes a quarterly journal reviewing subjects of special interest to women doctors. These naturally cover a wide tract of social medicine, including maternity and child welfare, women in industrv, the care of children and of difficult and delinquent children, the management of nursery schools and day-nurseries, women in prisons, children in approved schools and remand homes, the illegitimate child, and many related subjects. Advances in obstetrics and gynaecology, and psychological studies of women and children are naturally of special interest to women doctors ; recent work in these branches of medicine is reviewed in the journal. From time to time the federation undertakes social studies and publishes the results. It is also able to protect the interests of its members by presenting arguments in any cases where there has been discrimination against women doctors. The federation’s headquarters are at Tavistock House North, Tavistock Square, London, W.C.l.
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Written examinations are a challenge to the student’s knowledge and ability. To the unfortunate invigilator they are a time of unrelieved boredom, and my recent three-hour session was no exception. One cannot peripatet the hall unceasingly like a policeman on the beat, looking for trouble, for one appears so untrusting and, besides, when one really has the feet of a policeman the floorboards creak so badly. A medical journal held my attention for a few minutes only, and the morning paper for another few; then on one of my strolls I noticed that left-handedness appeared to be unusually prevalent in this class of 72. With commendable scientific curiosity I began to count as I strolled, and found that 6 of the 52 men and 2 of the 20 women wrote with the left hand, 11 % in all. It was my academic colleague who suggested then that the hair partings were " good for another fifteen minutes," so I embarked on another census. 37 of the men parted the hair on the left, 12 on the right, 1 in the middle, and 2 did not take the trouble. 13 of the women chose the left and 7 the right; not for them nowadays the middle course or no course at all. Strange to say, head and hand were not statistically wed, for all 8 left-handers parted the hair on the popular left-side. The final census should have been designed to correlate laterality with examination results, but this proved technically difficult. It would have involved noting the table numbers of those in the minority groups. The task was too complex for my unretentive memory, and I had no wish to snoop round with paper and pencil, taking notes. Relief of boredom must not be paid for with loss of good will and reputation. I have begun already to plan my next statistical investigation, which will reveal how many men tackle exams with their jackets off, how many use exotic colours of ink, how many sketch the answers on the question paper, how many doodle. The fun is endless, as you can see, and I’m almost looking forward to my next three-hour session. -
IN ENGLAND NOW
Prof. Robert Walmsley, F.R.C.S.E., professor of anatomy in the University of St. Andrews. The address of the association is B.M.A. House, Tavistock Square, London, W.C.I. EMPIRE MEDICAL ADVISORY BUREAU THE British Medical Association has set up the Empire Medical Advisory Bureau with a view to making the stay of overseas medical visitors to this country as profitable and pleasant as possible, by welcoming them and providing a personal advisory service. The bureau, which is at B.M.A. House, Tavistock Square, London, W.C.1, caters for Dominion and Colonial medical men and women who are staying in this country for postgraduate education or other purposes. Information is obtainable about postgraduate education and courses of study for higher qualifications ; and inquirers can be put in touch with the organisations and authorities providing postgraduate education. The visitor who wishes to see something of the latest medical work in his own specialty can be put in touch with the appropriate
experts. A register of suitable hotels and lodgings is maintained by the bureau, and every effort is made to help visitors to solve the problem of finding somewhere to live. By social functions and in other ways doctors from the Dominions and Colonies are enabled to meet each other and prominent members of the profession in this country. General information about travel, sports facilities, exhibitions, theatres, &c., may also be had. The bureau can be of greatest service to the visitor if he writes as long as possible in advance of arrival, giving information on the following lines : projected date of arrival, mode of travel, whether accompanied by wife, period of stay, objects of the visit, and in what ways assistance is desired. On arrival a letter of introduction from the local hon. secretary of the visitors’ medical association,. although not essential, would be welcome. The medical director of the bureau is Brigadier H. A. Sandiford, to whom all communications should be addressed. INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL VISITORS BUREAU
In A
England Now
Running Commentary by Peripatetic Correspondents
THE bruit d’airain of pneumothorax is still taught in all medical schools, although extensive research has recently cast discredit on its value as" a physical sign. Commonly known as the " bell " or coin " sound, it would seem that more is involved than the mere jangling of one coin on another. The position of the coin in relation to the stethoscope is an important and much neglected detail. Using a photo-electric thoracometer with a differential action potential of ten decibels, it was found that the soundwaves in a fur-stripped cat were no less absent in pneumothorax than in a dead animal. Only by inflating both lungs with a mixture of oxygen and radioactive uranium was it possible to produce a low-pitched sonorous undertone, likened to the rumble of distant thunder. Such factors as the rate, force, and frequency of percussion were also considered in great detail. A special electrically powered percussor was devised into which 6 patients could be strapped at one time. In this way it was hoped to eliminate individual idiosyncrasy, so common in an experiment of this kind. It was conclusively shown that, with a frequency of 100 strokes per sec. at a pressure of 300 lb. per sq. in., the true bruit d’ airain was indistinguishable from sounds produced by borborygmi in the sigmoid colon, air-locks in the central heating, or the time signal on the radio. Ambitious experiments were also conducted on the metallurgic properties of plessor and pleximeter. An interesting phenomenon occurred in many subjects when a 10-franc piece was struck with the Hungarian pengo. The result, paradoxically, could best be described by the sound made when the lid of a half-filled samovar is lightly tapped with the wooden handle of a twelveThe investigators concluded that gauge screwdriver. if this physical sign is to be elicited at all, the common penny must be discarded in favour of the Colombian peso. It would appear therefore that the test as ordinarily performed gives no reliable evidence of air in the chest. ’
To further cooperation with fellow member associations of the World Medical Association, the British Medical Association has set up the International Medical Visitors Bureau to provide a personal advisory service to doctors visiting the United Kingdom from countries outside the British Commonwealth. The bureau, which is at B.M.A. House, Tavistock Square, London, W.C.I, offers information on postgraduate education facilities, while visits to hospitals and clinics can be arranged and help given in finding accommodation. General information on travel, The car hire, theatres, and exhibitions is also available. medical director of the bureau is Brigadier H. A. Sandiford, to whom all communications should be addressed. THE MEDICAL WOMEN’S FEDERATION ALL medical women on the British Medical Register are eligible as members of the Medical Women’s Federation, which has active local associations all over the country and in Northern Ireland, as well as a large London association and an overseas association linking up members all over the world. The federation is nonpolitical. It provides medical and social meetings for its members and publishes a quarterly journal reviewing subjects of special interest to women doctors. These naturally cover a wide tract of social medicine, including maternity and child welfare, women in industrv, the care of children and of difficult and delinquent children, the management of nursery schools and day-nurseries, women in prisons, children in approved schools and remand homes, the illegitimate child, and many related subjects. Advances in obstetrics and gynaecology, and psychological studies of women and children are naturally of special interest to women doctors ; recent work in these branches of medicine is reviewed in the journal. From time to time the federation undertakes social studies and publishes the results. It is also able to protect the interests of its members by presenting arguments in any cases where there has been discrimination against women doctors. The federation’s headquarters are at Tavistock House North, Tavistock Square, London, W.C.l.
*
*
*
Written examinations are a challenge to the student’s knowledge and ability. To the unfortunate invigilator they are a time of unrelieved boredom, and my recent three-hour session was no exception. One cannot peripatet the hall unceasingly like a policeman on the beat, looking for trouble, for one appears so untrusting and, besides, when one really has the feet of a policeman the floorboards creak so badly. A medical journal held my attention for a few minutes only, and the morning paper for another few; then on one of my strolls I noticed that left-handedness appeared to be unusually prevalent in this class of 72. With commendable scientific curiosity I began to count as I strolled, and found that 6 of the 52 men and 2 of the 20 women wrote with the left hand, 11 % in all. It was my academic colleague who suggested then that the hair partings were " good for another fifteen minutes," so I embarked on another census. 37 of the men parted the hair on the left, 12 on the right, 1 in the middle, and 2 did not take the trouble. 13 of the women chose the left and 7 the right; not for them nowadays the middle course or no course at all. Strange to say, head and hand were not statistically wed, for all 8 left-handers parted the hair on the popular left-side. The final census should have been designed to correlate laterality with examination results, but this proved technically difficult. It would have involved noting the table numbers of those in the minority groups. The task was too complex for my unretentive memory, and I had no wish to snoop round with paper and pencil, taking notes. Relief of boredom must not be paid for with loss of good will and reputation. I have begun already to plan my next statistical investigation, which will reveal how many men tackle exams with their jackets off, how many use exotic colours of ink, how many sketch the answers on the question paper, how many doodle. The fun is endless, as you can see, and I’m almost looking forward to my next three-hour session. -