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NASAL SINUSITIS IN CHILDHOOD
882 observer is a factor. Stocks relies on fingerprints and certain anthropometric measurements. Case 18 in Newman, Freeman, and Holzinger’s book does not come up to the criterion adopted by Stocks on fingerprint similarity required for monozygotism. None of these investigators mentions blood groups excepting Siemens who apparently deems them to be of minor importance, since he does not use them in his case records. Dr. Denys Jennings in THE LANCET of March 13th, p. 660, refers to the accuracy of the methods used by the Kaiser-Wilhelm Institut fur Anthropologie in investigating twins, and it seems to me that we cannot hope to get further until such methods are adopted. Prof. Newman has noted the lack of information derived from cases under operation where there is opportunity to observe the number of corpora lutea present. I think that many obstetricians consider one placenta to be proof of monozygotism ; perhaps they would be interested enough to supply evidence in support of this thesis. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, IRENE YATES. Regent’s Park, N.W. ,Oct. 2nd. RADIODERMATITIS AND CANCER To the Editor of THE LANCET
annotation last week (p. 812) you say soft rays encourage malignant growth while hard ones counteract it." Is it really so simple as all that If so, how explain the excellent results in skin cancer which are obtained by the Chaoul tube, working at only 60,000 volts. At a discussion on the subject of specificity of wavelength at the June meeting in London of the British Association of Radiologists-a discussion in which the heads of various radium institutes took partonly one speaker out of half a dozen expressed belief in the specific action of hard rays. I am, Sir, vours faithfullv. F. HERNAMAN-JOHNSON.
SiR,-In
"...
we
an
recognise that
tonsils and adenoids are present : and I still see recovery following the operation in such instances. Of course if sinusitis is the cause of the otitis the treatment is of the sinuses. Likewise I fear lest his statement that sinusitis is more common in people who have had their tonsils and adenoids removed should be interpreted to mean that those who have had their tonsils and adenoids removed are more liable to sinusitis. As I have written, and as Mr. Griffiths himself is obviously aware, the tonsils and adenoids are often removed in a misdirected attempt to cure the symptoms of sinusitis. My anxiety that these facts should be fairly stated is increased by finding his work quoted at length in the lay press, with my name in support. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, JAMES CROOKS. Harley-street, W., Oct. 4th. MEAL-TIME POLEMICS
To the Editor
of
THE LANCET
SiR,-The brief account which you published in your last issue (p. 814) of the conference on tuberculosis at Lisbon does not mention an incident which occurred at the last meeting of members, and which has aroused indignation amongst those who were attending from this country, America, and France especially. It must be a matter for serious consideration by the executive committee of the International Union as to whether anything is to be gained by allowing individual members to speak, uninvited, at the final dinner of the assembly on questions of purely
political significance. The sight of medical specialists embracing each other in political fervour is not at any time particularly convincing; it is merely repugnant to those who may not share their views. The same manifestation at a banquet in this country given under international auspices would be regarded as a breach of hospitality. Let us hope that some guarantee may be forthcoming from the Union that Brook-street, W., Oct. 4th. reasonable steps will be taken to prevent the recurrence of such an incident at the Berlin meeting DEAFNESS : PREVENTION VERSUS PALLIATION in 1939, and that such differences of opinion as may To the Editor of THE LANCET E exist amongst delegates will be confined, in public SiR,—I should like to congratulate Mr. Tumarkinat least, to the special problems on the official medical I am, Sir, yours faithfully, upon his paper with the above title. I have been
to refer to
NASAL SINUSITIS IN CHILDHOOD
To the Editor
of
THE LANCET
SiR,-In Mr. Ivor Griffiths’s article upon the function of the tonsils and nasal catarrh, published in your issue of Sept. 25th, I find much with which I am in accord. No one who has read my work upon sinusitis1 could think that I do not hold the sinuses responsible for much. But I feel that in questioning the value of removal of the tonsils and adenoids in otitis media, because he has seen many children who have had this operation performed and still have inflammation of the ear, Mr. Griffiths is discouraging a means of treatment which has not received, even yet, the recognition it merits. I still see many patients at hospital with chronic or recurrent otitis, where the 1 Nasal Accessory Sinusitis in Children, Arch. Dis. Child. 1936, 11, 281.
F!fBfBilF! (Rr1U!/’,a ci m,n,t,ra,nn_ R.n xh _ 1.
We are, Sir, uct. am.
yours
faithfully.
BURROUGHS WELLCOME
AND
Co
RELIEF OF DISTRESS IN CHINA
A LETTER reaches us, signed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York together with many leaders of the civil and religious life of this country, announcing the opening of a fund for the relief of distress
annotation last week (p. 812) you say soft rays encourage malignant growth while hard ones counteract it." Is it really so simple as all that If so, how explain the excellent results in skin cancer which are obtained by the Chaoul tube, working at only 60,000 volts. At a discussion on the subject of specificity of wavelength at the June meeting in London of the British Association of Radiologists-a discussion in which the heads of various radium institutes took partonly one speaker out of half a dozen expressed belief in the specific action of hard rays. I am, Sir, vours faithfullv. F. HERNAMAN-JOHNSON.
SiR,-In
"...
we
an
recognise that
tonsils and adenoids are present : and I still see recovery following the operation in such instances. Of course if sinusitis is the cause of the otitis the treatment is of the sinuses. Likewise I fear lest his statement that sinusitis is more common in people who have had their tonsils and adenoids removed should be interpreted to mean that those who have had their tonsils and adenoids removed are more liable to sinusitis. As I have written, and as Mr. Griffiths himself is obviously aware, the tonsils and adenoids are often removed in a misdirected attempt to cure the symptoms of sinusitis. My anxiety that these facts should be fairly stated is increased by finding his work quoted at length in the lay press, with my name in support. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, JAMES CROOKS. Harley-street, W., Oct. 4th. MEAL-TIME POLEMICS
To the Editor
of
THE LANCET
SiR,-The brief account which you published in your last issue (p. 814) of the conference on tuberculosis at Lisbon does not mention an incident which occurred at the last meeting of members, and which has aroused indignation amongst those who were attending from this country, America, and France especially. It must be a matter for serious consideration by the executive committee of the International Union as to whether anything is to be gained by allowing individual members to speak, uninvited, at the final dinner of the assembly on questions of purely
political significance. The sight of medical specialists embracing each other in political fervour is not at any time particularly convincing; it is merely repugnant to those who may not share their views. The same manifestation at a banquet in this country given under international auspices would be regarded as a breach of hospitality. Let us hope that some guarantee may be forthcoming from the Union that Brook-street, W., Oct. 4th. reasonable steps will be taken to prevent the recurrence of such an incident at the Berlin meeting DEAFNESS : PREVENTION VERSUS PALLIATION in 1939, and that such differences of opinion as may To the Editor of THE LANCET E exist amongst delegates will be confined, in public SiR,—I should like to congratulate Mr. Tumarkinat least, to the special problems on the official medical I am, Sir, yours faithfully, upon his paper with the above title. I have been
to refer to
NASAL SINUSITIS IN CHILDHOOD
To the Editor
of
THE LANCET
SiR,-In Mr. Ivor Griffiths’s article upon the function of the tonsils and nasal catarrh, published in your issue of Sept. 25th, I find much with which I am in accord. No one who has read my work upon sinusitis1 could think that I do not hold the sinuses responsible for much. But I feel that in questioning the value of removal of the tonsils and adenoids in otitis media, because he has seen many children who have had this operation performed and still have inflammation of the ear, Mr. Griffiths is discouraging a means of treatment which has not received, even yet, the recognition it merits. I still see many patients at hospital with chronic or recurrent otitis, where the 1 Nasal Accessory Sinusitis in Children, Arch. Dis. Child. 1936, 11, 281.
F!fBfBilF! (Rr1U!/’,a ci m,n,t,ra,nn_ R.n xh _ 1.
We are, Sir, uct. am.
yours
faithfully.
BURROUGHS WELLCOME
AND
Co
RELIEF OF DISTRESS IN CHINA
A LETTER reaches us, signed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York together with many leaders of the civil and religious life of this country, announcing the opening of a fund for the relief of distress