- Email: [email protected]
JERUSALEM UNIVERSITY LIBRARY.
937
ofI
These devices were suggested by the preparation detoxicated vaccines as described by Dr. Thomson, and have saved much time and trouble during the last year. Dr. Thomson believes the bacterial proteins to be similar to animal proteins. My observations lead me to believe that they differ much from both animal and vegetable proteins; for example, the alkaline solutions scarcely yield a biuret reaction. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, J. R. KAY-MOUAT.
any better figures for the British than those quoted recently in Parliament-viz., 168 per 1000 per annum-more than twice the present American rate. As the question of issuing directions with medicaments is now under official consideration in England I quote the following from a recent American Army We
are still without on the Rhine
Forces
report :"The use of ointment or cream as a protective and lubricant before intercourse has been insisted upon by us for some time. The printed directions which are securely to the container in which all individual prophylactics are pasted Msued are specific on this point. It is without doubt a preventive measure of great value. The principle has been made use of by mechanics in the preliminary preparation of their hands with soap before work. The soap fills the pores of the skin, thus preventing grease and dirt from penetrating, while subsequent cleansing is greatly facilitated. Our chief difficulty lies in getting men to use prophylaxis (either personal or at stations), and this in spite of the fact that all men who acquire venereal disease without having taken prophylaxis at stations are brought before courts martial." This also was the chief difficulty with the Anzacs, but we overcame it very largely (1) by personal appeals for cleanliness for the sake of the women and children at home; and (2) by recommending disinfection with absolute confidence, and attributing failures not to the medicaments but to careless application-the individual responsibility of the man who incurred the risk of I am, Sir, yours faithfully, disease.
-
JERUSALEM UNIVERSITY LIBRARY. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-At the Third Annual Conference of the InterUniversity Jewish Federation, held at Oriel College, Oxford, on August 3rd, 1920, it was unanimously resolved, in response to a request of the Zionist Organisation, to render every possible assistance to all efforts on behalf of the Hebrew University at Jerusalem. The most urgent need at the present juncture is an immediate and abundant supply of books for the Jerusalem University Library. We can conceive no cause more precious and commendable than the full development and firm consolidation of the intellectual and spiritual resources of the Jewish National Home. To this end books are the first requisite. In a scarcity of books the mind of a people is denied free expansion and healthy growth. To Jews with their love of learning the want of books is most distressing. In Palestine, unfortunately, there is a real book famine, and even with help from all over the world it will need a great effort to build up the present University library of about 40,000 volumes into an up-to-date library worthy of the Jewish University. Serious works dealing with all branches of knowledge, standard works of fiction in any language, and more especially books which will be of use to university students are needed. Books on Hebraica, Judaica, and Semitica, mathematics, physics, chemistry, microbiology, and medical research are, however, the most urgently called for, as the first departments of the University that are to be opened will deal in research in these subjects. Books on law, economics, history, and philosophy will also be much appreciated. Sets of scientific journals, transactions of learned societies, official reports, and other publications and works and pamphlets of permanent value are especially required ; good text-books of established repute will also be useful. Considering that this is an important step towards a spiritual revival of Palestine and that our credit as an enlightened people is at stake, we appeal to your readers to send all the books they can spare as a free-will offering to those who will treasure them in Palestine. A single book will be welcome ; but it is hoped that donors will send as many as they can. Gifts of books may be sent either direct to " The University Library, Jerusalem," or to the hon. secretary, Mr. D. B. Stanhill, B.Sc., F.I.C., 75, Great Russell-street, London, W.C. 1, who will, if necessary, arrange for the collection of the books. An artistically designed book-plate, the generous work of Mrs. L. Pilichowski (Lena Pillico) will permanently record the names of the donors. We are, Sir, yours faithfully, S. ALEXANDER, Chairman. ISRAEL M. SIEFF, Treasurer. D. B. STANHILL, Hon. Secretary.
ETTIE A. ROUT, Late Hon. Sec., N.Z. Volunteer Sisters.
HYPNO-NARCOSIS. To the Editor
of TH LANCET.
your interesting leading article in THE LANCET of April 16th on Professor Friedlander’s hypno-narcosis, you mention James Esdaile’s work on surgical operations under mesmerism. I would ask you to permit me to make a few additional remarks to the with reference latter. Esdaile was a surgeon in the Indian Medical Service; he followed Thomas Wise(another surgeon in that Service) as civil surgeon of Hooghly (near Calcutta) in 1839. He commenced operating under mesmerism on April 4th, 1845, at Hooghly, and in eight months he carried out 73 operations on patients, some of them being major operations, such as removal of scrotal tumours (one of which weighed 80 lb.), excision of the breast, amputations, &c. On receiving the record of these Government ordered a committee to report on further experiments carried out by Esdaile in the Of the first ten patients Calcutta Native Hospital. experimented on three could not be mesmerised; the other seven were mesmerised and operated on successfully, in four painlessly, in three the complete absence of pain was considered doubtful. The committee’s report being favourable, the Government sanctioned the opening of a mesmeric hospital in Calcutta in November, 1846, for one year. Into this hospital all kinds of surgical cases were admitted for operation under mesmerism. It was closed in January, 1848. The public of Calcutta appealed to Government to keep the institution going ; the reply given was that this could be done by voluntary subscription. It was reopened under Esdaile on Sept. lst, 1848, but only for another year. Shortly after this Esdaile was appointed as superintendent of a large dispensary in Calcutta, HARRY DAGUT, Chairman, I.U.J.F. and continued to practise mesmerism in it until June, I am indebted to Lieutenant-Colonel D. G. 1851. VENEREAL INFECTION IN RHINE ARMY. Crawford’s delightful " History of the Indian Medical 1 0 tne L’CL2t09’ or THE LANCET. Service " for some of these facts. The introduction of chloroform in 1847 by Sir James SIR,-With further reference to my lettersgiving the American rate for January-October, 1920, as 142 per Simpson naturally militated against the widespread 1000 per annum, and for November 1920-April, 1921, as use of mesmerism to produce unconsciousness in opera114 per 1000 per annum, I now learn that the American tions. If Esdaile had worked a century earlier, or the rate has been still further reduced, the latest available discovery of general anaesthesia had been delayed for a few generations he, like Sir James Simpson, would have figures being as follows:Per 1000 p.a. been enrolled among the immortals. Week ending April lst 76-26
SIR, - In
............
"
1
"
.,
8th
THE LANCET, March 26th
............
(p. 666)
79-74
and April 16th
(p. 826).
1
I
Wise
was
the author of
one
of the best accounts we possess of on the Hindu System
Ayurvedic treatment, entitled Commentary of Medicine, Calcutta, 1845.
ofI
These devices were suggested by the preparation detoxicated vaccines as described by Dr. Thomson, and have saved much time and trouble during the last year. Dr. Thomson believes the bacterial proteins to be similar to animal proteins. My observations lead me to believe that they differ much from both animal and vegetable proteins; for example, the alkaline solutions scarcely yield a biuret reaction. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, J. R. KAY-MOUAT.
any better figures for the British than those quoted recently in Parliament-viz., 168 per 1000 per annum-more than twice the present American rate. As the question of issuing directions with medicaments is now under official consideration in England I quote the following from a recent American Army We
are still without on the Rhine
Forces
report :"The use of ointment or cream as a protective and lubricant before intercourse has been insisted upon by us for some time. The printed directions which are securely to the container in which all individual prophylactics are pasted Msued are specific on this point. It is without doubt a preventive measure of great value. The principle has been made use of by mechanics in the preliminary preparation of their hands with soap before work. The soap fills the pores of the skin, thus preventing grease and dirt from penetrating, while subsequent cleansing is greatly facilitated. Our chief difficulty lies in getting men to use prophylaxis (either personal or at stations), and this in spite of the fact that all men who acquire venereal disease without having taken prophylaxis at stations are brought before courts martial." This also was the chief difficulty with the Anzacs, but we overcame it very largely (1) by personal appeals for cleanliness for the sake of the women and children at home; and (2) by recommending disinfection with absolute confidence, and attributing failures not to the medicaments but to careless application-the individual responsibility of the man who incurred the risk of I am, Sir, yours faithfully, disease.
-
JERUSALEM UNIVERSITY LIBRARY. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-At the Third Annual Conference of the InterUniversity Jewish Federation, held at Oriel College, Oxford, on August 3rd, 1920, it was unanimously resolved, in response to a request of the Zionist Organisation, to render every possible assistance to all efforts on behalf of the Hebrew University at Jerusalem. The most urgent need at the present juncture is an immediate and abundant supply of books for the Jerusalem University Library. We can conceive no cause more precious and commendable than the full development and firm consolidation of the intellectual and spiritual resources of the Jewish National Home. To this end books are the first requisite. In a scarcity of books the mind of a people is denied free expansion and healthy growth. To Jews with their love of learning the want of books is most distressing. In Palestine, unfortunately, there is a real book famine, and even with help from all over the world it will need a great effort to build up the present University library of about 40,000 volumes into an up-to-date library worthy of the Jewish University. Serious works dealing with all branches of knowledge, standard works of fiction in any language, and more especially books which will be of use to university students are needed. Books on Hebraica, Judaica, and Semitica, mathematics, physics, chemistry, microbiology, and medical research are, however, the most urgently called for, as the first departments of the University that are to be opened will deal in research in these subjects. Books on law, economics, history, and philosophy will also be much appreciated. Sets of scientific journals, transactions of learned societies, official reports, and other publications and works and pamphlets of permanent value are especially required ; good text-books of established repute will also be useful. Considering that this is an important step towards a spiritual revival of Palestine and that our credit as an enlightened people is at stake, we appeal to your readers to send all the books they can spare as a free-will offering to those who will treasure them in Palestine. A single book will be welcome ; but it is hoped that donors will send as many as they can. Gifts of books may be sent either direct to " The University Library, Jerusalem," or to the hon. secretary, Mr. D. B. Stanhill, B.Sc., F.I.C., 75, Great Russell-street, London, W.C. 1, who will, if necessary, arrange for the collection of the books. An artistically designed book-plate, the generous work of Mrs. L. Pilichowski (Lena Pillico) will permanently record the names of the donors. We are, Sir, yours faithfully, S. ALEXANDER, Chairman. ISRAEL M. SIEFF, Treasurer. D. B. STANHILL, Hon. Secretary.
ETTIE A. ROUT, Late Hon. Sec., N.Z. Volunteer Sisters.
HYPNO-NARCOSIS. To the Editor
of TH LANCET.
your interesting leading article in THE LANCET of April 16th on Professor Friedlander’s hypno-narcosis, you mention James Esdaile’s work on surgical operations under mesmerism. I would ask you to permit me to make a few additional remarks to the with reference latter. Esdaile was a surgeon in the Indian Medical Service; he followed Thomas Wise(another surgeon in that Service) as civil surgeon of Hooghly (near Calcutta) in 1839. He commenced operating under mesmerism on April 4th, 1845, at Hooghly, and in eight months he carried out 73 operations on patients, some of them being major operations, such as removal of scrotal tumours (one of which weighed 80 lb.), excision of the breast, amputations, &c. On receiving the record of these Government ordered a committee to report on further experiments carried out by Esdaile in the Of the first ten patients Calcutta Native Hospital. experimented on three could not be mesmerised; the other seven were mesmerised and operated on successfully, in four painlessly, in three the complete absence of pain was considered doubtful. The committee’s report being favourable, the Government sanctioned the opening of a mesmeric hospital in Calcutta in November, 1846, for one year. Into this hospital all kinds of surgical cases were admitted for operation under mesmerism. It was closed in January, 1848. The public of Calcutta appealed to Government to keep the institution going ; the reply given was that this could be done by voluntary subscription. It was reopened under Esdaile on Sept. lst, 1848, but only for another year. Shortly after this Esdaile was appointed as superintendent of a large dispensary in Calcutta, HARRY DAGUT, Chairman, I.U.J.F. and continued to practise mesmerism in it until June, I am indebted to Lieutenant-Colonel D. G. 1851. VENEREAL INFECTION IN RHINE ARMY. Crawford’s delightful " History of the Indian Medical 1 0 tne L’CL2t09’ or THE LANCET. Service " for some of these facts. The introduction of chloroform in 1847 by Sir James SIR,-With further reference to my lettersgiving the American rate for January-October, 1920, as 142 per Simpson naturally militated against the widespread 1000 per annum, and for November 1920-April, 1921, as use of mesmerism to produce unconsciousness in opera114 per 1000 per annum, I now learn that the American tions. If Esdaile had worked a century earlier, or the rate has been still further reduced, the latest available discovery of general anaesthesia had been delayed for a few generations he, like Sir James Simpson, would have figures being as follows:Per 1000 p.a. been enrolled among the immortals. Week ending April lst 76-26
SIR, - In
............
"
1
"
.,
8th
THE LANCET, March 26th
............
(p. 666)
79-74
and April 16th
(p. 826).
1
I
Wise
was
the author of
one
of the best accounts we possess of on the Hindu System
Ayurvedic treatment, entitled Commentary of Medicine, Calcutta, 1845.