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IODISM.
485 FISH CARRIAGE. A BILL for imposing a uniform tariff of
freights for the British of fish the railway companies has upon carriage been brought into the House of Commons under the auspices of Sir Edward Birkbeck and the National Sea Fisheries Protection Association. It would be hard to name an object more worthy the attention and effort of all who have the national prosperity at heart than this of facilitating the cheap distribution of fish. Invaluable as a food, the use of fish is practically only limited by the means of conveyanea, for up to the present time the possible supply is vastly greater than any actual demand, and the fisheries industry is therefore capable of almost indefinite extension. Our sympathies, then, are entirely with Sir Edward Birkbeck and his collaborateurs ; but we are a little afraid that their present scheme is somewhat too inelastic. In a word, what they propose to do amounts to this. They would impose upon all railway companies, without distinction, a uniform tariff of 1½d. per ton per fifty miles, with an additional 1½d. for the first fifty and another additional 1½d. for the last fifty, and in the case of a journey of less than fifty miles a special freight of 4d. per ton. This for land carriage. When sea carriage is included, a further additional charge of Gd. per ton is to be permitted. This scheme takes account, as will easily be seen, of all the common elements in the problem. Thare is a haulage rate of 1½d. per fifty-mile-ton; terminal charges are ’represented by the additional 1½d. allowed at the beginning and at the end of the journey, and transshipment charges are provided by the extra sixpence for sea carriage. It may also be assumed that the rate of charge prescribed is a fair average rate. And, if so, it is abundantly clear that legislation of the sort is needed. A dozen ports could be named from which, if this scheme were applied, fish could be brought to London at half the present rates, and in some instances the reduction would be to one-third of the present cost, and even to less than that. It is pitiful to think that men and women are starving in the east of London while good food is wasting in the sea that washes our shores, and fishing industries are languishing upon our coast, all for want of a better organised transport. If the present scheme can be applied, then Sir Edward Birkbeck’s Bill ought to pass without delay. If it can by any reasonable measure of amendment be made workable, then it should be the duty of members of Parliament, especially of such as sit for metropolitan constituencies, to see that it does not miscarry ; and, in any event, the people of this island kingdom, and especially of this vast city, have the best and strongest claim to be supplied with every possible facility for receiving the invaluable tribute of the sea. ___
IODISM.
subject of iodism has been studied in a thesisl by Dr. Elir.abeth Bradley of New York, undertaken at the instance of Professor Fournier. The writer has collected and analysed a large number of published cases, proving that the effects known under this head are due to the absorption of free iodine, these effects being widely produced in the organism. A susceptibility to the action of iodine is fully recognised, and it is pointed out that in cases of renal or cardiac disease, or of morbid irritability of the nervous system, the physiological action of iodine may be increased, and symptoms of intoxication induced. These symptoms point to derangement of every organic function. They may ensue on a long course of medication or appear at the commencement of the treatment, THE
and may develop gradually or suddenly. The most constant of these phenomena is an increased rate of the pulse, which 1
L’Iodisme, Paris : Steinheil, 1887.
at the same time becomes weak and compressible ; but the temperature is not raised, rather depressed. The disturbance
of circulation is evidenced by the occurrence of oedema, which in slight cases may be limited to the eyelids, but in severe cases may involve other parts-as the glottis, lungs, and brain. The blood itself is altered, and there may be produced albuminuria or haematuria, with more or less suppressiou of urine. The nerve symptoms are mostly those which are referable either to cerebral anaemia or cerebral congestion. They sometimes take on the form of uræmia, at other times of melancholia and general paralysis. The pulmonary symptoms may be those due to the derangement of circulation, such as bronchitis, or œdema with haemoptysis, or there may be dyspnoea independent of mechanical difficulties. On the side of the alimentary system, anasroxia or boulimia, nausea, vomiting, pain (gastric and intestinal), diarrhoea and constipation, are conditions which have all been met with in various cases. The skin may be affectedas evidenced in the various iodide rashes, which may take on the type of erythema, urticaria, bullous or papular eruptions, or purpura. Lastly, the joints may be attacked and become swollen and painful.
OVER-PRESSURE IN A BOARD SCHOOL. THE golden mean of school work still remains an
un-
realised though not unpractical possibility, and it is not even clear that we shall soon see the end of complaints, discussions, and reforms relating to this subject. The precise coefficient of study which agrees with fair bodily health is indeed an uncertain quantity regulated by diverse personal peculiarities. Its fixation must be ordered in each In arranging a system of education, case by a special rule. however, it is both possible and needful to allot to the average intelligence an average amount of mental effort which will duly provide for the requirements of education and of health. It is further very desirable and not very difficult, in allotting tasks, to keep in view the leading constitutional characters, as well as any marked personal aptitudes or disabilities such as are illustrated by the learners in every school. We are aware that these facts are to a greater extent than is commonly known recognised by judicious teachers throughout the country. It is equally true, however, that, whether from a fault in the system or in those who administer it, evidences of over-work are far from uncommon. Recent reports from Yeovil assign to a Board school in that town an unenviable notoriety in this respect. The deaths of two pupil teachers and the illness of another, as well as of several children, have been attributed to over-pressure. There appears to be a mixture of truth and error in these reports; for in one fatal case death was associated with heart disease ; in another its connexion with mental over-work is said to have been more plainly indicated by the appearance of the brain after death. In all such cases it is somewhat difficult to separate the effects of causes from mere coincidences. But the prevalence of ill health in this particular school seems to have been sufficient to justify a suspicion that study has been seriously overdone. It is our duty not merely to draw attention to such instances of mismanagement, but to indicate as far as possible the most suitable alterative measures. One or two of these have been touched upon already. An improvement which readily suggests itself is the substitution of some better method of remuneration for teachers than that which affixes a money value to every pupil passed on examination. It should also be kept in mind that Board-school children are not invariably well fed, and that it may consequently be necessary in certain cases to evoke somewhat cautiously the efforts of a brain incompetent through hunger. Neglect of simple rules like these will probably account for some obscure and
freights for the British of fish the railway companies has upon carriage been brought into the House of Commons under the auspices of Sir Edward Birkbeck and the National Sea Fisheries Protection Association. It would be hard to name an object more worthy the attention and effort of all who have the national prosperity at heart than this of facilitating the cheap distribution of fish. Invaluable as a food, the use of fish is practically only limited by the means of conveyanea, for up to the present time the possible supply is vastly greater than any actual demand, and the fisheries industry is therefore capable of almost indefinite extension. Our sympathies, then, are entirely with Sir Edward Birkbeck and his collaborateurs ; but we are a little afraid that their present scheme is somewhat too inelastic. In a word, what they propose to do amounts to this. They would impose upon all railway companies, without distinction, a uniform tariff of 1½d. per ton per fifty miles, with an additional 1½d. for the first fifty and another additional 1½d. for the last fifty, and in the case of a journey of less than fifty miles a special freight of 4d. per ton. This for land carriage. When sea carriage is included, a further additional charge of Gd. per ton is to be permitted. This scheme takes account, as will easily be seen, of all the common elements in the problem. Thare is a haulage rate of 1½d. per fifty-mile-ton; terminal charges are ’represented by the additional 1½d. allowed at the beginning and at the end of the journey, and transshipment charges are provided by the extra sixpence for sea carriage. It may also be assumed that the rate of charge prescribed is a fair average rate. And, if so, it is abundantly clear that legislation of the sort is needed. A dozen ports could be named from which, if this scheme were applied, fish could be brought to London at half the present rates, and in some instances the reduction would be to one-third of the present cost, and even to less than that. It is pitiful to think that men and women are starving in the east of London while good food is wasting in the sea that washes our shores, and fishing industries are languishing upon our coast, all for want of a better organised transport. If the present scheme can be applied, then Sir Edward Birkbeck’s Bill ought to pass without delay. If it can by any reasonable measure of amendment be made workable, then it should be the duty of members of Parliament, especially of such as sit for metropolitan constituencies, to see that it does not miscarry ; and, in any event, the people of this island kingdom, and especially of this vast city, have the best and strongest claim to be supplied with every possible facility for receiving the invaluable tribute of the sea. ___
IODISM.
subject of iodism has been studied in a thesisl by Dr. Elir.abeth Bradley of New York, undertaken at the instance of Professor Fournier. The writer has collected and analysed a large number of published cases, proving that the effects known under this head are due to the absorption of free iodine, these effects being widely produced in the organism. A susceptibility to the action of iodine is fully recognised, and it is pointed out that in cases of renal or cardiac disease, or of morbid irritability of the nervous system, the physiological action of iodine may be increased, and symptoms of intoxication induced. These symptoms point to derangement of every organic function. They may ensue on a long course of medication or appear at the commencement of the treatment, THE
and may develop gradually or suddenly. The most constant of these phenomena is an increased rate of the pulse, which 1
L’Iodisme, Paris : Steinheil, 1887.
at the same time becomes weak and compressible ; but the temperature is not raised, rather depressed. The disturbance
of circulation is evidenced by the occurrence of oedema, which in slight cases may be limited to the eyelids, but in severe cases may involve other parts-as the glottis, lungs, and brain. The blood itself is altered, and there may be produced albuminuria or haematuria, with more or less suppressiou of urine. The nerve symptoms are mostly those which are referable either to cerebral anaemia or cerebral congestion. They sometimes take on the form of uræmia, at other times of melancholia and general paralysis. The pulmonary symptoms may be those due to the derangement of circulation, such as bronchitis, or œdema with haemoptysis, or there may be dyspnoea independent of mechanical difficulties. On the side of the alimentary system, anasroxia or boulimia, nausea, vomiting, pain (gastric and intestinal), diarrhoea and constipation, are conditions which have all been met with in various cases. The skin may be affectedas evidenced in the various iodide rashes, which may take on the type of erythema, urticaria, bullous or papular eruptions, or purpura. Lastly, the joints may be attacked and become swollen and painful.
OVER-PRESSURE IN A BOARD SCHOOL. THE golden mean of school work still remains an
un-
realised though not unpractical possibility, and it is not even clear that we shall soon see the end of complaints, discussions, and reforms relating to this subject. The precise coefficient of study which agrees with fair bodily health is indeed an uncertain quantity regulated by diverse personal peculiarities. Its fixation must be ordered in each In arranging a system of education, case by a special rule. however, it is both possible and needful to allot to the average intelligence an average amount of mental effort which will duly provide for the requirements of education and of health. It is further very desirable and not very difficult, in allotting tasks, to keep in view the leading constitutional characters, as well as any marked personal aptitudes or disabilities such as are illustrated by the learners in every school. We are aware that these facts are to a greater extent than is commonly known recognised by judicious teachers throughout the country. It is equally true, however, that, whether from a fault in the system or in those who administer it, evidences of over-work are far from uncommon. Recent reports from Yeovil assign to a Board school in that town an unenviable notoriety in this respect. The deaths of two pupil teachers and the illness of another, as well as of several children, have been attributed to over-pressure. There appears to be a mixture of truth and error in these reports; for in one fatal case death was associated with heart disease ; in another its connexion with mental over-work is said to have been more plainly indicated by the appearance of the brain after death. In all such cases it is somewhat difficult to separate the effects of causes from mere coincidences. But the prevalence of ill health in this particular school seems to have been sufficient to justify a suspicion that study has been seriously overdone. It is our duty not merely to draw attention to such instances of mismanagement, but to indicate as far as possible the most suitable alterative measures. One or two of these have been touched upon already. An improvement which readily suggests itself is the substitution of some better method of remuneration for teachers than that which affixes a money value to every pupil passed on examination. It should also be kept in mind that Board-school children are not invariably well fed, and that it may consequently be necessary in certain cases to evoke somewhat cautiously the efforts of a brain incompetent through hunger. Neglect of simple rules like these will probably account for some obscure and