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METEOROLOGICAL READINGS.
783 METEOROLOGICAL READINGS. (Taken daily at 8.30 a.m. by Stewartfs Instruments.) THE LANCET
Office, April 2nd,
Notes, Short Comments, &
1890.
Answers to
Correspondents.
It is
especially requested that early intelligence oj local having a medical interest, or which it is desirable bring under the notice of the profession, may be sent direct to this Office. All communications relating to the editorial business oj the journal must be addressed " To the Editors." Lectures, original articles, and reports should be written on one side only of the paper. Letters, whether intended for insertion or for private information, must be authenticated by the names and addresses of their writers, not necessarily for publication. We cannot prescribe or recommend practitioners. Local papers containing reports or news paragraphs should events to
be marked and addressed "To the Sub-Editor." Letters relating to the publication, sale, and advertising departments of THE LANCET to be addressed "To the Publisher." We cannot undertake to return MSS. not used. SECTARIANISM
IN
HOSPITALS.
THE Nonconformists of Bath are protesting against an advertisement for a nurse, one stipulation being that she be a member of the Church of England. It is a pity to excite such controversies, the only ’essentials being that a nurse should know her work, and be likely to do it thoroughly and conscientiously.
Enquirer, M.R.C.S., might try the following :-Resorcin,
gr.xx.; sulph. sublim. gr. x. ; lanolin, 5 iii. ; ol. amygd. dulc., 5 iii. ; adip. benz., 3 ii. ; o1. lavand., 111 vi. To be rubbed into the scalp every night at first, and after three weeks twice a week. Cleanse the hair when necessary with a liniment composed of sap. mol., si., and eau-de-Cologne, i. ; and then use a pomade, after the washing, of hyd. perch., gr. , and lanolin, oil, and lard to the ounce, as described above. R. B. K.-Dr. Charteris’s book, "Health Resorts at Home and Abroad," published by Messrs. Churchill, will probably meet the requirements of our correspondent. Mr. W. M. Gibaect.-Our correspondent had better communicate with the author of the paper, who would no doubt afford the information
required.
THE RECOGNITION OP FOREIGX DIPLOMAS. Scrutator.—We are not aware of the denunciation of all foreigners holding medical degrees. The statement which our correspondent charsfcterises as untrue is absolutely true, so far as enabling legislation on the part of England is concerned. We do not mean, of course, that all degrees are to be indiscriminately recognised, either of the United States or other countries. A distinguished graduate in the States, Dr. Billings, has well shown some difficulties in the following words in his evidence before the Royal Commission : "It would be rather difficult, I fancy, for the General Medical Council to inquire into the character of the examinations of the American schools. There are a great many of them, and of all grades ; and in the majority of the States any three, or four, or five men who choose to associate themselves together and expend a very small sum of money £15 or ,jE20, perhaps, paid to a lawyer to conduct the matter) can obtain a charter from the State, which will empower them to act as a medical school and confer the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Consequently, there are numbers of such schools being constantly formed." But there is not likely to be any serious difficulty on the part of England in the recognition of the "reputable degrees " of the United States. Mr. Geoffrey Stead.-We regret that we can assist our correspondent only by referring him to our advertising columns.
EXAMINATION OF TEETH AT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE. To the Editors of THE LANCET. SIRS,—As I think you will dpem the accompanying copy of a letter sent by me to the Postmaster-General of sufficient importance, I shall be much obliged if you will kindly insert it in THE LANCET, together with the letter received by me in reply. I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, PERCY MAY. Endsleigh-gardens, N.W., March 27th, 1890.
"Endsleigh-gardens, N. W., March 19th, 1890. has long been a source of astonishment to me that the General Post Office of London should not have a qualified dental surgeon attached to it. When a young man or boy presents himself for posts in that Department his mouth is examined by the medical officer ; and if the candidate is discovered to have any decayed teeth, a certificate is given to him to take to a dentist, with the request that the latter will do what is requisite, and sign the paper certifying that the necessary operations have been performed and the mouth is in a satisfactory condition. This seems very well at first sight; but I am told by the Post Office employés that there is a difficulty in obtaining a letter to the dental hospital, and that when they do get one they have to wait their turn with the other patients, and so much time is occupied in filling perhaps as many as half a dozen or even more teeth of a candidate, that another who has the good fortune to possess sound ones is accepted over him. "It is my custom to see patients gratuitously, and perform extractions for them from 9 to 10 daily, and I am continually being called upon by poor applicants to remove some of the worst decayed teeth and to sign their certificates, which is, of course, out of the question for any medical man to do, knowing how important an element teeth are for digestion and general health. Only the other day a youth came with eight teeth extensively decayed, and wished me to extract four upper which, if I had been barbarous enough to do, would have caused infinitely more injury to the health than their remaining could do even if unstopped. " It is doubtless perfectly right of the Post Office officials to be particular in so important a matter ; but it appears to me that they should go a step farther, and give a, little more facility for the performance of their demand, or otherwise they will defeat their own object, and at the same time put temptation in the way of the poor young fellows by compelling them to go to unprincipled men, who will sign their certificates when only part of the requirements have been carried out. " Yours faithfully, "PERCY MAY, M.R.C.S. &L.D.S.Edin." "SIR,—It
molars,
" General Post Office, London, March 28th, 1890. TYPHOID FEVER OCCURRING IN A PHTHISICAL SUBJECT. "SIR,-In reply to your letter of the 19th instant I am directed by the Postmaster-General to thank you for your renewed suggestion on To the Editors of THE LANCET. the subject of the appointment of a dental surgeon to the Department, SIRS,—The case published by Dr. Shaw in THE LANCET of to-day and to inform you that the present arrangements are found to work and that no alteration is contemplated at present. recalls to my memory one which I saw nearly twenty years since. A satisfactorily, " ’ I am, Sir, your obedient servant, young gentleman had been sent abroad for his health, and had had severe H. JOYCE." " Percy May, Esq." on occasions to the attack of several haemoptysis previously typhoid THE MOON FUND. for which I attended him. He made a good recovery. I saw him about ten To the Editors of THE LANCET. years subsequently, he being still phthisical. I heard of his marriage a - couple of years ago ; and as I have not heard of his death since, I conSIRS,-Kindly insert the following subscriptions to this fund in your clude that he is still in the land of the living. In his case circumstances next issue. The list is now closed. were very different from those of Dr. Shaw’s patient. I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, Ample means ’enabled my patient to go to every health resort which was thought PETER HORROCKS, M.D., St. Thomas’s-street, S.E., March 31st, 1890. Hon. Treasurer. desirable, and to take long sea voyages. Perhaps the only remarkable feature in his case was that he had an excellent appetite, which never William M.D. .. £5 5 M.R.C.S. £0 10 6 Carter, Puzey, failed him. When I last saw him he was anaemic, and complained J. C. Steele, M.D.. .. . 2 2 0 Robert Jones, F.R.C.S... 0 10 6 much of cold. I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, Roland F. Cox, L.R.C.P. 1 1 0 H. Harvey, !l-LB..... 0 10 6 H. G. Rawdon, F.R.C.S. 0 10 6 J. A. MEXZIES, M.D.Ed. d Paris. Brighton, March 15th, 1890. "
0 Chauncy
A
NEEDLES OF HYPODERMIC SFRIBGE3. QUERY. To the Editors of THE LANCET. . To the Editors of THE LANCET. slRS,-Some periodical gave directions how to clean the rust from the SIRS,-Can any of your readers supply me through the columns of inside of the above when they get corroded, but I cannot find the same. THE LAXCET with any information or reference to literature respecting If someone could supply me with directions, or refer me to the para- the influence of fish in keeping down the growth of weeds in reservoirs of water for town supply ?—I am, Sirs, yours truly, graph, I should esteem it a favour.-I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, March 29th, 1690. F. C. H. PIGGOTT, M.O.H. Nl. D. April lbt, 1890. ’
Office, April 2nd,
Notes, Short Comments, &
1890.
Answers to
Correspondents.
It is
especially requested that early intelligence oj local having a medical interest, or which it is desirable bring under the notice of the profession, may be sent direct to this Office. All communications relating to the editorial business oj the journal must be addressed " To the Editors." Lectures, original articles, and reports should be written on one side only of the paper. Letters, whether intended for insertion or for private information, must be authenticated by the names and addresses of their writers, not necessarily for publication. We cannot prescribe or recommend practitioners. Local papers containing reports or news paragraphs should events to
be marked and addressed "To the Sub-Editor." Letters relating to the publication, sale, and advertising departments of THE LANCET to be addressed "To the Publisher." We cannot undertake to return MSS. not used. SECTARIANISM
IN
HOSPITALS.
THE Nonconformists of Bath are protesting against an advertisement for a nurse, one stipulation being that she be a member of the Church of England. It is a pity to excite such controversies, the only ’essentials being that a nurse should know her work, and be likely to do it thoroughly and conscientiously.
Enquirer, M.R.C.S., might try the following :-Resorcin,
gr.xx.; sulph. sublim. gr. x. ; lanolin, 5 iii. ; ol. amygd. dulc., 5 iii. ; adip. benz., 3 ii. ; o1. lavand., 111 vi. To be rubbed into the scalp every night at first, and after three weeks twice a week. Cleanse the hair when necessary with a liniment composed of sap. mol., si., and eau-de-Cologne, i. ; and then use a pomade, after the washing, of hyd. perch., gr. , and lanolin, oil, and lard to the ounce, as described above. R. B. K.-Dr. Charteris’s book, "Health Resorts at Home and Abroad," published by Messrs. Churchill, will probably meet the requirements of our correspondent. Mr. W. M. Gibaect.-Our correspondent had better communicate with the author of the paper, who would no doubt afford the information
required.
THE RECOGNITION OP FOREIGX DIPLOMAS. Scrutator.—We are not aware of the denunciation of all foreigners holding medical degrees. The statement which our correspondent charsfcterises as untrue is absolutely true, so far as enabling legislation on the part of England is concerned. We do not mean, of course, that all degrees are to be indiscriminately recognised, either of the United States or other countries. A distinguished graduate in the States, Dr. Billings, has well shown some difficulties in the following words in his evidence before the Royal Commission : "It would be rather difficult, I fancy, for the General Medical Council to inquire into the character of the examinations of the American schools. There are a great many of them, and of all grades ; and in the majority of the States any three, or four, or five men who choose to associate themselves together and expend a very small sum of money £15 or ,jE20, perhaps, paid to a lawyer to conduct the matter) can obtain a charter from the State, which will empower them to act as a medical school and confer the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Consequently, there are numbers of such schools being constantly formed." But there is not likely to be any serious difficulty on the part of England in the recognition of the "reputable degrees " of the United States. Mr. Geoffrey Stead.-We regret that we can assist our correspondent only by referring him to our advertising columns.
EXAMINATION OF TEETH AT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE. To the Editors of THE LANCET. SIRS,—As I think you will dpem the accompanying copy of a letter sent by me to the Postmaster-General of sufficient importance, I shall be much obliged if you will kindly insert it in THE LANCET, together with the letter received by me in reply. I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, PERCY MAY. Endsleigh-gardens, N.W., March 27th, 1890.
"Endsleigh-gardens, N. W., March 19th, 1890. has long been a source of astonishment to me that the General Post Office of London should not have a qualified dental surgeon attached to it. When a young man or boy presents himself for posts in that Department his mouth is examined by the medical officer ; and if the candidate is discovered to have any decayed teeth, a certificate is given to him to take to a dentist, with the request that the latter will do what is requisite, and sign the paper certifying that the necessary operations have been performed and the mouth is in a satisfactory condition. This seems very well at first sight; but I am told by the Post Office employés that there is a difficulty in obtaining a letter to the dental hospital, and that when they do get one they have to wait their turn with the other patients, and so much time is occupied in filling perhaps as many as half a dozen or even more teeth of a candidate, that another who has the good fortune to possess sound ones is accepted over him. "It is my custom to see patients gratuitously, and perform extractions for them from 9 to 10 daily, and I am continually being called upon by poor applicants to remove some of the worst decayed teeth and to sign their certificates, which is, of course, out of the question for any medical man to do, knowing how important an element teeth are for digestion and general health. Only the other day a youth came with eight teeth extensively decayed, and wished me to extract four upper which, if I had been barbarous enough to do, would have caused infinitely more injury to the health than their remaining could do even if unstopped. " It is doubtless perfectly right of the Post Office officials to be particular in so important a matter ; but it appears to me that they should go a step farther, and give a, little more facility for the performance of their demand, or otherwise they will defeat their own object, and at the same time put temptation in the way of the poor young fellows by compelling them to go to unprincipled men, who will sign their certificates when only part of the requirements have been carried out. " Yours faithfully, "PERCY MAY, M.R.C.S. &L.D.S.Edin." "SIR,—It
molars,
" General Post Office, London, March 28th, 1890. TYPHOID FEVER OCCURRING IN A PHTHISICAL SUBJECT. "SIR,-In reply to your letter of the 19th instant I am directed by the Postmaster-General to thank you for your renewed suggestion on To the Editors of THE LANCET. the subject of the appointment of a dental surgeon to the Department, SIRS,—The case published by Dr. Shaw in THE LANCET of to-day and to inform you that the present arrangements are found to work and that no alteration is contemplated at present. recalls to my memory one which I saw nearly twenty years since. A satisfactorily, " ’ I am, Sir, your obedient servant, young gentleman had been sent abroad for his health, and had had severe H. JOYCE." " Percy May, Esq." on occasions to the attack of several haemoptysis previously typhoid THE MOON FUND. for which I attended him. He made a good recovery. I saw him about ten To the Editors of THE LANCET. years subsequently, he being still phthisical. I heard of his marriage a - couple of years ago ; and as I have not heard of his death since, I conSIRS,-Kindly insert the following subscriptions to this fund in your clude that he is still in the land of the living. In his case circumstances next issue. The list is now closed. were very different from those of Dr. Shaw’s patient. I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, Ample means ’enabled my patient to go to every health resort which was thought PETER HORROCKS, M.D., St. Thomas’s-street, S.E., March 31st, 1890. Hon. Treasurer. desirable, and to take long sea voyages. Perhaps the only remarkable feature in his case was that he had an excellent appetite, which never William M.D. .. £5 5 M.R.C.S. £0 10 6 Carter, Puzey, failed him. When I last saw him he was anaemic, and complained J. C. Steele, M.D.. .. . 2 2 0 Robert Jones, F.R.C.S... 0 10 6 much of cold. I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, Roland F. Cox, L.R.C.P. 1 1 0 H. Harvey, !l-LB..... 0 10 6 H. G. Rawdon, F.R.C.S. 0 10 6 J. A. MEXZIES, M.D.Ed. d Paris. Brighton, March 15th, 1890. "
0 Chauncy
A
NEEDLES OF HYPODERMIC SFRIBGE3. QUERY. To the Editors of THE LANCET. . To the Editors of THE LANCET. slRS,-Some periodical gave directions how to clean the rust from the SIRS,-Can any of your readers supply me through the columns of inside of the above when they get corroded, but I cannot find the same. THE LAXCET with any information or reference to literature respecting If someone could supply me with directions, or refer me to the para- the influence of fish in keeping down the growth of weeds in reservoirs of water for town supply ?—I am, Sirs, yours truly, graph, I should esteem it a favour.-I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, March 29th, 1690. F. C. H. PIGGOTT, M.O.H. Nl. D. April lbt, 1890. ’