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MEDICAL "EX-VOTOS" IN ANCIENT GREECE.
422 few slender and very pale chromatic masses devoid of chromatic bodies. As regards the cerebral cortex the usual nuclear changes were very prominent and the chromatolytic changes were advanced, most of the cells failing to show distinct chromatic In the posterior spinal ganglia bodies or network. the chromatic bodies in most of the cells were pale and minutely subdivided, while many were absolutely colourless. The nucleoli of these cells were much swollen. In the second case-viz., that of a male, aged 38 years, there was a previous attack of sunstroke for which he had been successfully treated a week before. The present attack rendered him unconscious and he fell from a waggon. He was admitted to hospital with the usual symptoms and with a temperature of 109.6° F. With treatment in repeated ice packs the patient partially rallied, the temperature during 24 hours ranging between 97’4° and 1050, but he finally died. The necropsy in this case disclosed but slight lesions in the bulbo-spinal cord and cerebrum, while marked changes were found only in the cerebellum. This case served to show that high temperature alone was inadequate to produce the changes in question.
only and
a
some were
MEDICAL "EX-VOTOS" IN ANCIENT GREECE.
number of minute grey points could also be distin-guished by means of a lens in the neighbouring conjunctiva. which was of a reddish colour. The appearance gave theicopresnon of a cysticercus, the "canary seed" being the head. An incision, however, was followed by the escape of fluid containing a number of minute granules which, as the microscope showed, consisted of masses of actinomycetes. The fungus had developed in a lymphatic canal which had, become dilated so as to form the vesicle which had been mistaken for the caudal appendage of a cysticercus. In. Dr. Demicheri’s case, which was that of a young man in Montevideo, the part affected was the conjunctiva of the upper eyelid, on eversion of which about 15 yellowish-grey granules were seen near the superior tarsal border, mostly of the size of from a tenth to a fifth of a millimetre, somefew being larger than this. The appearance suggested tubercle. On with the microscope, examination miliary however, the typical star-shaped fungus of actinomycosis was easily seen. The etiology of the case was not very clear as the disease is most common amongst country folk who are infected by means of straw or grass, and the patient was a town-dweller who had not been in the country and, had nothing to do with the care of animals. The affection, was successfully treated by excising the granules and by th& administration of iodide of potassium.
vesicle ;
IT is well known that a curious collection could be made of medical "ex-votos"discovered by recent excavations at various temples of Æsculapius. Models have been found not only of external, but sometimes of internal, organs of the body. About a year ago Dr. Lanciani presented to one of the Roman museums a little marble base bearing an inscription in Greek which is a votive dedication in honour of Æsculapius of a very laudatory nature. It tells us that the donor’s cause of gratitude was that he had been cured of a tumour of the spleen by the god and in recompense for the deity’s succour he made an offering of an image of the diseased organ. Unfortunately, the little model, probably of gold, has disappeared, nothing remaining upon the marble but the mark of the place where it adhered to the In the memoirs of the German Archaeological base. School at Athens Herr Zingerle has published an interesting memoir upon a temple of Asculapius at It was known that the deity had a Lebena in Crete. at sanctuary Gortyna near by, but the Lebena one is new. Among the texts from it is one referring to a votary with a wounded finger to whom the god appeared in a dream and . indicated the requisite remedy which was the application of It is known to oil of mallows (althœa) and massage. scholars that when Asculapius worship was introduced into Athens about B.C. 420 by Telemachos of Acharnse, Sophocles the poet was looked upon as the first and principal patron of the god’s worship. The cause of this position of Sophocles was unknown but is now ascertained. He was priest of an old hero deity or patriarchal quack named Amynos and it was as holder of this office that he naturally fell into the position of pre-eminent votary of the new medical cult. A temple has been disinterred at Athens dedicated to Amynos, Æsculapius, and Sophocles, as Dexion, the inscriptions upon which clear up the matter.
CONJUNCTIVAL ACTINOMYOOSIS IN SOUTH AMERICA. DR. DEMICHERI publishes in the Revista Médica del Uruguay some notes of a case of conjunctival actinomycosis, a condition so rare that he has only been able to discover one recorded instance-that of a man who had resided in Baenos Ayres but who came under the observation of Dr. de Vicentiis in Italy. Here the bulbar conjunctiva was affected, a yellowish-grey granule like a canary seed being. near the caruncle attached to a seen semi-transparent ,
a
PROVISION FOR HARMLESS LUNATICS. THERE has been recently a great deal of overcrowding im the Belfast Workhouse and to relieve this congestion the guardians waited upon the Finance Committee of the corporation urging them to provide an auxiliary asylum for the reception of those harmless lunatics located in the workhouse. By doing this not only would the guardiansobtain the accommodation they want but the corporation. could claim the capitation grant from the Local Taxation (Ireland) account. The carrying-out of such a purpose would be expensive and the cost of maintenance the Finance Committee of the corporation ascertained would be 8s. per head instead of 4s. 5d. as at present, and the difference would mean ld. in the r. to the ratepayers and it would entail a change in the rate as half the poor-rate was paid, by the landlord. The committee decided to adjourn the matter until they could give the corporation some more definite idea of what the cost would be. This matter came before the asylum governors at their meeting on July 10th and after a long discussion it was decided that the Committee of Management of the asylum should, conjointly with the members of the corporation" inspect the workhouse, the asylum, and the grounds at Purdysburn with the view of coming to a final decision. The question of dealing with pauper lunatics is now giving rise to considerable discussion in Ireland, one set of people advising that they must be placed in the asylum, and this would accordingly entail additional and relatively expensive buildings being erected with an increased cost, for the maintenance of these lunatics who are in the main harmless ; while, on the other hand, many thoughtful people urge, why not devote portions of the present country workhouses which are unfilled to the special housing of harmless patients and thus avoid additional, expense for new buildings2 Everyone is agreed that the present arrangement of keeping curable or improvablelunatics in workhouses with other patients is a mistake: and it is absolutely necessary that those who requirespecial care and attention should be located in asylums;.;. but there is another and a large class of pauper lunaticswho are quite harmless and simply require warm and comfortable housing and proper food and who perhaps. could do a little work in the grounds. Now many think that the latter class might very well be located in the;
only and
a
some were
MEDICAL "EX-VOTOS" IN ANCIENT GREECE.
number of minute grey points could also be distin-guished by means of a lens in the neighbouring conjunctiva. which was of a reddish colour. The appearance gave theicopresnon of a cysticercus, the "canary seed" being the head. An incision, however, was followed by the escape of fluid containing a number of minute granules which, as the microscope showed, consisted of masses of actinomycetes. The fungus had developed in a lymphatic canal which had, become dilated so as to form the vesicle which had been mistaken for the caudal appendage of a cysticercus. In. Dr. Demicheri’s case, which was that of a young man in Montevideo, the part affected was the conjunctiva of the upper eyelid, on eversion of which about 15 yellowish-grey granules were seen near the superior tarsal border, mostly of the size of from a tenth to a fifth of a millimetre, somefew being larger than this. The appearance suggested tubercle. On with the microscope, examination miliary however, the typical star-shaped fungus of actinomycosis was easily seen. The etiology of the case was not very clear as the disease is most common amongst country folk who are infected by means of straw or grass, and the patient was a town-dweller who had not been in the country and, had nothing to do with the care of animals. The affection, was successfully treated by excising the granules and by th& administration of iodide of potassium.
vesicle ;
IT is well known that a curious collection could be made of medical "ex-votos"discovered by recent excavations at various temples of Æsculapius. Models have been found not only of external, but sometimes of internal, organs of the body. About a year ago Dr. Lanciani presented to one of the Roman museums a little marble base bearing an inscription in Greek which is a votive dedication in honour of Æsculapius of a very laudatory nature. It tells us that the donor’s cause of gratitude was that he had been cured of a tumour of the spleen by the god and in recompense for the deity’s succour he made an offering of an image of the diseased organ. Unfortunately, the little model, probably of gold, has disappeared, nothing remaining upon the marble but the mark of the place where it adhered to the In the memoirs of the German Archaeological base. School at Athens Herr Zingerle has published an interesting memoir upon a temple of Asculapius at It was known that the deity had a Lebena in Crete. at sanctuary Gortyna near by, but the Lebena one is new. Among the texts from it is one referring to a votary with a wounded finger to whom the god appeared in a dream and . indicated the requisite remedy which was the application of It is known to oil of mallows (althœa) and massage. scholars that when Asculapius worship was introduced into Athens about B.C. 420 by Telemachos of Acharnse, Sophocles the poet was looked upon as the first and principal patron of the god’s worship. The cause of this position of Sophocles was unknown but is now ascertained. He was priest of an old hero deity or patriarchal quack named Amynos and it was as holder of this office that he naturally fell into the position of pre-eminent votary of the new medical cult. A temple has been disinterred at Athens dedicated to Amynos, Æsculapius, and Sophocles, as Dexion, the inscriptions upon which clear up the matter.
CONJUNCTIVAL ACTINOMYOOSIS IN SOUTH AMERICA. DR. DEMICHERI publishes in the Revista Médica del Uruguay some notes of a case of conjunctival actinomycosis, a condition so rare that he has only been able to discover one recorded instance-that of a man who had resided in Baenos Ayres but who came under the observation of Dr. de Vicentiis in Italy. Here the bulbar conjunctiva was affected, a yellowish-grey granule like a canary seed being. near the caruncle attached to a seen semi-transparent ,
a
PROVISION FOR HARMLESS LUNATICS. THERE has been recently a great deal of overcrowding im the Belfast Workhouse and to relieve this congestion the guardians waited upon the Finance Committee of the corporation urging them to provide an auxiliary asylum for the reception of those harmless lunatics located in the workhouse. By doing this not only would the guardiansobtain the accommodation they want but the corporation. could claim the capitation grant from the Local Taxation (Ireland) account. The carrying-out of such a purpose would be expensive and the cost of maintenance the Finance Committee of the corporation ascertained would be 8s. per head instead of 4s. 5d. as at present, and the difference would mean ld. in the r. to the ratepayers and it would entail a change in the rate as half the poor-rate was paid, by the landlord. The committee decided to adjourn the matter until they could give the corporation some more definite idea of what the cost would be. This matter came before the asylum governors at their meeting on July 10th and after a long discussion it was decided that the Committee of Management of the asylum should, conjointly with the members of the corporation" inspect the workhouse, the asylum, and the grounds at Purdysburn with the view of coming to a final decision. The question of dealing with pauper lunatics is now giving rise to considerable discussion in Ireland, one set of people advising that they must be placed in the asylum, and this would accordingly entail additional and relatively expensive buildings being erected with an increased cost, for the maintenance of these lunatics who are in the main harmless ; while, on the other hand, many thoughtful people urge, why not devote portions of the present country workhouses which are unfilled to the special housing of harmless patients and thus avoid additional, expense for new buildings2 Everyone is agreed that the present arrangement of keeping curable or improvablelunatics in workhouses with other patients is a mistake: and it is absolutely necessary that those who requirespecial care and attention should be located in asylums;.;. but there is another and a large class of pauper lunaticswho are quite harmless and simply require warm and comfortable housing and proper food and who perhaps. could do a little work in the grounds. Now many think that the latter class might very well be located in the;