- Email: [email protected]
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MORE Americans buy and read books than attend baseball games. MiIIions more are interested in books than in prize fights or horse races. It has been found that after the first flurry of TV viewing in sections where teIevision is newIy introduced, book sales snap back to normaI in a matter of weeks or at the most months. Still, we lag far behind England, AustraIia and Canada in per capita book saIes. You have to hunt for a bookstore in America as you never do in Iceland, Denmark, France or even povertystricken Japan. The respect due to men of mental stature seems missing here. We caricature brilliance, sneer at brain trusts, scoff at “egg heads.” Although we survive so1eIy by the superior menta1 endowments of our inteIIectua1 Ieaders in a score of fieIds, we habituahy underpay them. Meanwhite aI1eged “humorists” on television make up to a miI1ion dohars a year, muscular morons in the heavyweight cIass fight for purses in six figures and brickIayers by union scaIe make more than professors in many of our coIIeges. You can earn much more driving a truck these days than by writing serious fiction, composing symphonic music or painting pictures that can be recognized. [From SterIing North Reviews the Books, New York World-
has reported that beneficial poliomyelitis, effects were not demonstrated either in the inocuIation of famiIy associates of polio cases or in the mass inoculation of chiIdren in epidemic areas. Observation of the twentythree communities in which mass inocuIation of chiIdren was carried out did not provide enough information to permit the committee to concIude whether or not gamma globulin had an effect in preventing or aIIeviating the disease when used in this way, the committee said. Among the cities where gamma g1obuIin was administered on a mass basis to al1 children last summer, the committee’s report said that in most of them the inocuIations were given after the peak of the epidemic had been passed, so there was little chance to demonstrate an effect of gamma gIobuIin in modifying the epidemic. The committee expressed the opinion that demonstration of the efficacy of gamma gIobu1in under the conditions pertaining to mass inocuIations wouId require Iarger experience with greater opportunity for scientific observation. The committee did find, however, that the “famiIy contact” use of gamma gIobuIin, where members of the househoId of a po1io case were inocuIated as soon as the iIIness was recognized, did not measurably reduce the number of subsequent paraIytic cases in these househoIds:
Telegram-Sun.] American business contributed $I,367,gTg to medical education in IgS3---an increase of 74 per cent over the previous year. Colby M. Cbester, Cbairman of the industrial committee of the National Fund for Medical Education said the increase in tbe number of contributing companies was I 93 per cent-994 firms in I 933, as compared with 339 tbe previousyear. Grants are unrestricted, but tbe money is used mostly by medical schools to supplement salaries, recruit personnel, initiate teaching experiments and open new courses in areas of recent scientibc progress. The National Fund for Medical Education was formed under the leadership of President Eisenbower, when be was bead of Columbia University, and former President Herbert Hoover.
Despite an outbreak of injluenza in tbe early montbs of the year and a severe beat wave in late summer, record low mortality was experienced in 1933 by the Industrial policyholders of tbe Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Virtually every age group sbowed a lower deatb rate than in 1952. It tbus appears tbat American wage earners and their families enjoyed exceptionally favorable health conditions in 1953, benefiting from the continued improvement in medical and public health services, tbe fruits of research in tbese fields and our bigb standard of living.
THE HeaIth Information Foundation disclosed that seven and a haIf million American famiIies owed an average of $121.00 for medica1, denta and hospita1 care by last JuIy. This amounts to a tota debt of $goo,ooo,ooo. We Iearn that we spent $10,200,000,000 (between JuIy, 1952, and June, 1933) for medica and denta services and
A COMMITTEE of experts asked by the Public HeaIth Service, U. S. Department of HeaIth, Education and WeIfare, to evaluate data coIIected Iast summer to study the effectiveness of gamma gIobuIin as used to prevent or aIIeviate 36
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goods. About $2,000,000,000 of this went to hospitals, physicians received $3,800,000,000, dentists $1,600,000,000, while $1,5oo,ooo,ooo went for medicines. Other medica expenses took $1,300,000,000. OnIy one-third of the people see a dentist once a year. In families that have surgica1 insurance the number of operations is seven for IOO persons, whiIe in uninsured famiIies the rate is four per IOO[couId this have any significance? Ed.]. About 57 per cent of the population (87,000,000) are enroIled in some type of heaIth insurance. The great majority have insurance to cover or aid in hospita1 costs; fewer have surgica1 plans or payment aids. The greatest number of insured was in the income group of $5,000 and over where four-fifths were enroIled.
Sclerosis Society in its membership bulletin, Arms Forward, in which one of the questions asked was: “Do you think that patients with muItipIe scIerosis shouId be toId of their diagnosis? Why?” An overwheIming majority of patients (89 per cent) of the 327 who repIied were in favor of patients Iearning the truth about their iIIness. The chief reasons given for wanting to be informed of diagnosis were that patients could better adjust to MS; avoid worry and fear; Iearn how to retard deterioration and cooperate in therapeutic efforts and avoid the fruitless task of “shopping” for diagnosis, reIief and cure. The deatb rate due to accidents dropped to 38.7 per IOO,OOOpopulation in New York City in 1953, tbe Greater New York Safety Council reported. It was tbe lowest rate for tbe period tbat reliable statistics bave been kept bere. Basing its figures on provisional statistics from tbe Department of Health, tbe Council said 3,142 New Yorkers died as a result of accidents last year, compared witb 3,214 in 1952. Tbe Council reported a fairly steady decrease in tbe fatal accident rate. The average rate of accidental deatbs per 100,000 was fig.9 from 1933 to 39; 49.8 for 1940 to 49; 41.1 in 1950; 39.5 in 1951; 40.0 in 1932, and an estimated 38.7 last year.
A relatively large proportion of tbe people past age sixty-five are still actively at work. However, tbe occupations typical of tbis period of life are somewbat diferent from tbose at tbe main working ages. In all age groups tbe people employed in industry jar outnumber tbose in agriculture, but as tbe older ages are reached tbe proportion engaged in industry decreases while tbat in farming rises. As one would expect, tbe proportion seljemployed in both industry and agriculture is bigber at the older ages than at tbe younger. At tbe same time, many people wbo continue in employment in tbeir later years reduce tbeir activity to part-time work. Contrary to the general impression tbat age sixty-jive usually marks the end of productive life, fully three-jijtbs of tbe men at ages sixty-five to sixty-nine are still employed. The proportion is almost two-fifths at ages seventy to seventy-four, but drops to one-fifb at ages seventy-five and over. For women, tbe corresponding proportions are, understandably, much smaller. [Statistical Review -Metropolitan Lije Insurance Co.]
NationaI Science Foundation has announced the award of 657 predoctora1 graduate feIIowships in the natura1 sciences to United States citizens for the academic year 1954 to 1955. SuccessfuI feIIows were seIected from 2,865 appIicants from a11parts of the continenta1 United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. In addition, 1,355 applicants were accorded HonorabIe Mention in the seIection. Awards were approved by the NationaI Science Board upon the recommendation of AIan T. Waterman, Director of the Foundation. The awards announced incIuded onIy predoctoral candidates. Eighty NSF postdoctora1 fellowship awards were announced on April I, 1954. AI1 feIIows were seIected on the basis of ability with awards made in cases of substantiaIIy equa1 abiIity so as to resuIt in a wide geographic distribution. The Iist of feIIowship recipients incIudes 185 individuaIs who have been NSF feIIows during
THE
THE great majority of muItipIe scIerosis patients poIIed in a specia1 survey beIieve that MS patients shouId be toId their diagnosis, according to a paper, “The Attitude of the Patient Toward MuItipIe ScIerosis,” by Dr. MiIton TarIau, pubIished by the New York State Journal of Medicine, March I, 1954. Dr. Tarlau, in his paper, anaIyzes the resuIts of a ~011 sponsored by the NationaI MuItipIe
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QUOTES Honorary Chairman of the Board of General Foods Corporation. Corporation contributions are turned over to the NationaI Fund for Medica1 Education, pooled with contributions from physicians and distributed to the nation’s seventy-nine medica schooIs in the form of annua1 grants. Physicians contribute through the American MedicaI Education Foundation, sponsored by the American MedicaI Association. Fund grants are unrestricted, but the money, Mr. Prange said, is used primariIy to suppIement Iow facuIty salaries, recruit personne1, initiate teaching experiments and open new courses in areas of recent scientific progress. He paid tribute to those “forward-looking companies who are thus helping to preserve and strengthen one of the country’s great nationa resources.”
the current academic year. Candidates for renewal fehowships competed on an equa1 basis with new apphcants. A tota of 220 awards were made to first-year graduate students, 240 awards were made to graduate students in the intermediate years, and 197 awards to terminalyear predoctoral students. The Iargest group of feIIowships, 156, was awarded in chemistry. In other fields the numbers of awards were: physics 134, engineering sciences 91, mathematica1 sciences 60, biochemistry 36, zooIogy 34, earth sciences 31, microbioIogy 23, psychoIogy 22, biophysics 14, botany 14, agricuIture I I, medica sciences IO, astronomy 8, genetics 7, anthropoIogy 3 and genera1 biology 3. PredoctoraI appIicants were required to take examinations for scientific aptitude and achievement. These tests were administered by the Educationa Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey.
A good artisan or craftsman, wbetber carpenter, jeweler or surgeon is only as good as tbe tools witb wbicb he works. Altbougb band surgery is one of the most delicate operations, a surgeon and his assistant usually must work on a makesbijt table or board for long periods of time in tense, cramped positions. Those wbo have used the scienti&cally developed Boyes-Parker band operating table cite these advantages: (I) Eliminates tension and strain during operations. Relieves cramped positions of bands, arms and sboulders, witb maximum jreedom of movement. Space for forearms and elbows make for operating steadiness witbout tiring. (2) Pull-out instrument board makes it possible for surgeon to select instruments without looking away from focal point of operation, and speed up interchange of tools. (3) Adjustable leg allows table to be fitted to any operating table level whetber in tbe ofice or bospital. (4) Inexpensive. Pays for its total cost in the first few operations, cutting down surgeons’ and nurses’ time, as well as operation room expense. Price of band operating table includes stainless steel pan. The Boyes-Parker band operating table is manufactured by Medical Devices, Inc., Dept. 8, 0407 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles 14, California. It can be ordered direct or from medical supply bouses.
A limited supply of radioactive corticosterone (Compound B) is now available to qualiJed investigators, free of charge, tbrougb funds supplied by the Public Health Service’s National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, it was announced. Requests, in the form of a letter concisely describing tbe proposed research may be sent to the Endocrinology Study Section, Dtvrsion of Research Grants, Nationaf Institutes of Health, Betbesda 14, Md. Transfer and use of tbese materials are subject to current Atomic Energy Commission regulations.
HOSPITAL, surgical and opticaI firms in 1933 contributed $30,180 to the support of medica education through the Committee of American Industry, CharIes H. Prange, President, Austenal Laboratories, Inc., has announced. Mr. Prange, who is chairman of the CAI’s HospitaI, SurgicaI and OpticaI Committee, said that the number of contributing companies in 19~3 was seventeen. Over-a11 corporation contributions to the CAI, a division of the NationaI Fund for Medical Education, totaIed $I ,367,979 Iast year, compared to $786,962 in 1952, an increase of 74 per cent. The number of contributing companies was 994, compared to 339 in 1952, an increase of 193 per cent. Mr. Prange’s division is one of the sixty industria1 divisions of the CAI, headed by CoIby M. Chester,
THE National Vitamin Foundation invites individuaIs hoIding doctorate degrees in medicine 40
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or one of the biologica sciences, who are interested in continuing their training in the science of nutrition, to become candidates for the newIy established Russell M. WiIder FeIIowship. This post-doctorate fehowship was created by the Foundation to honor Dr. Wilder, of the Emeritus Staff of the Mayo CIinic, for his more than forty years devoted service and significant contributions to medicine and pubIic heaIth, and particuIarIy for his Ieadership in advancing our knowledge of diseases of metaboIism and nutrition. In estabIishing the feIIowship, the Foundation expresses its feeIing of deep appreciation to Dr. Wilder for his pioneering work and provides, upon his retirement, an opportunity to a qualified young scientist to equip himseIf for a career inspired by Dr. Wilder’s exampIe. The feIIowship is one more important step taken by the Foundation in its continuaIIy growing program directed to the purpose that the health and welfare of mankind may be improved through better nutrition. The FeIIowship is for three years and pays the recipient $4,300 the first year, $5,000 the second, and $5,500 the third year. It becomes effective September I, 1954. AppIication forms can be obtained from the o&es of The Nationa1 Vitamin Foundation at 15 East 58th Street, New York 22, N. Y. AppIications must be accompanied by a letter from the executive officer of the institution where the work is to be done and by a Ietter from the head of the department under which the candidate is to work, attesting to the fact that the candidate wiI1 be permitted and encouraged to carry on his work and studies in the institution and department indicated. The candidate must outIine a program of investigation which must be approved by his preceptor and must give reasonabIe assurance that he wiI1 compIete his fellowship and continue to work in the tieId of nutrition folIowing the period covered by the feIIowship. The successfu1 candidate wiI1 be chosen by The National Vitamin Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Committee.
saver, too, frequently utilizing space tbat is otberwise wasted or unusable. Individual, sturdy, nonslip bangers are easily booked on, lifted o$ or spaced as needed along the rigid steel bar mount; and it is tbeir complete jlexibility of spacing and arrangement that makes Adjusta-Rak so perfectly adaptable to almost any type of instruments. They may be made to any length-to fit exactly the available spaces-yet tbeir cost is remarkably little. Consider Adjusta-Raks for surgeries and supply rooms. THE problem
of recompression of the lungs folIowing thoracic surgery, and maintaining inAation as long as necessary, is now solved by a new automaticaIIy controIIed Thermotic Thoracic Pump. The new pump, deveIoped by Gomco SurgicaI Manufacturing Corp., over a three-year period, meets rigid requirements of chest surgeons and is caIIed the Gomco Thermotic Thoracic Pump. It accomplishes re-inhation by appiication of gentIe, steady intrapleura1 suction, or negative pressure. This lowered pressure around the outside of the lung components prevents collapse. Suction of the pump is easiIy reguIated between the safe limits of o to 25 cm. of water, to avoid hemorrhage; at the same time, volume of suction is high enough to take care of cases in which Ieakage is present. The Gomco Thermotic Thoracic Pump operates on the same principle of expansion and contraction of air under temperature variations, as used in the we11 known Gomco Thermotic Drainage Pumps, with the addition of a timing mechanism to smooth out the suction. There are no moving parts in the pump; therefore, action is siIent and there is nothing to wear out. It operates on I 15 voIts, 6o-cycle A.C. current onIy. Further information may be had by writing: Gomco Surgical Manufacturing Corporation, 852-M East Ferry St., BuffaIo II, N. Y. A chemical metbod of
key to restoring decayed teetb, a measuring temperature e$ect on lubricating grease and a survey of promising uses for industrial wastes were among tbe subjects discussed in 106 scientific papers presented at an all-day technical conference of tbe American Chemical Society’s New York Section at Hunter College on February Iztb. More tban
Easily mounted in any instrument cabinet, storage or wall cabinet-or on any wall-tbe new Adjusta-Rak (V. Mueller @ Co., Chicago, Ill.) is just tbe thing for bandy, time-saving sorting and storage of surgical instruments. It’s a great space-
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QUOTES Tbree doctors associated with tbe San Francisco Sbriners bospital for crippled children said they have employed the procedure on twelve patients, most of tbem children sufering from various forms of muscle imbalance. Two of the children underwent four operations to restore their ability to eat. Prior to surgery their mouths hung open and they bad to work their lower jaws up and down with tbeir bands to masticate hard food. The muscle transplanting technic described as opening a new era in reconstructive surgery, was developed by Drs. E. R. Schottstaedt, Loren J. Larsen, Jr. and Frederic C. Bost who have been working since 1948 to perfect it. A spokesman for the academy said tbe three investigators have demonstrated for the first time that it is possible to shijt both ends of a muscle to a new position and have it take over tbe functions of impaired tendons.
a thousand chemists and chemical engineers of the New York area convened on the college’s campus for the technical sessions. Chemical processes tbat occur in growing tissue, a plastic covering for outdoor wire and cable, and a system ,for conducting an odor clinic were also among tbe topics discussed in the technical program.
A NEW plastic filIing materia1 (pIombe) developed in Denmark for partiaI Iung coIIapse in treatment of puImonary tubercuIosis has been made avaiIabIe to the medical profession in the United States by Lakeside Laboratories, Inc. In pIombage the chest is opened, part of the lung around the Iesion is coIIapsed and the fiIIing materia1 is left permanentIy in pIace. This promotes heaIing and prevents the spread of the lesion. The method has advantages over thoracopIasty, an operation in which ribs are removed and the entire lung coIIapses. PIombage provides seIective coIIapse and avoids deformity and complications. The ribs are saved. As the bIood suppIy comes from the ribs, pIombage keeps intact the natura1 barriers against the spread of tuberculosis. CaIIed PoIystan PIombe, this new type of high-molecuIar plastic is said to offer distinctive advantages over previousIy used materials. Bone and wax materiaIs, for exampIe, had to be abandoned because they caused foreign body reactions. Other pIombes resembling “ping pong” baIIs have been too mobiIe and inappropriate in size. The new Polystan Plombe is unaffected by body fluids and causes no foreign body reaction. It can be cut and moIded into any shape required to fit into the coIIapsed area. EspeciaIIy important, it permits the bIood vesseIs and connective tissue to grow into it, fixing it in position. It does not shrink nor does it interfere with postoperative x-ray pictures. Dr. Jens Herman Bing of Copenhagen did much of the work in deveIoping the PoIystan PIombe. Extensive clinica research and pubIished reports in Europe, covering hundreds of cases, have substantiated the advantages and removed the main objections to pIombage.
ELIZABETH BLACKWELL CITATIONS, awarded annuaIIy by the New York Infirmary, were presented to nine women physicians on January 24th in recognition of their distinguished achievements. The 1954 awards were made to Dr. Dorothy H. Andersen of New York City for her work as pediatric pathoIogist; Dr. EmiIy Dunning Barringer of New York City for practice of gynecoIogy and obstetrics; Dr. MadeIaine Ray Brown of Boston for her work in neurology; Dr. Mary M. Crawford of New York City for deveIoping the MedicaI Department of the FederaI Reserve Bank of New York; Dr. Jessie Gray of Toronto for furthering the knowIedge of operative technics in abdomina1 surgery; Dr. AIice FreeIand MaxweII of Los AItos, CaIifornia for her work in the practice of obstetrics and gynecoIogy; Dr. Jane Sands Robb of Syracuse for research in the anatomy and physioIogy of the heart; Dr. HeIen B. Taussig of BaItimore for investigation and correction of congenita1 maIformations of the heart and Dr. PrisciIIa White of’Boston for her work on diabetes in chiIdhood and during pregnancy. The Citations were established in 1949, the one hundredth anniversary of her graduation from medica school. Dr. BIackweII founded the New York Infirmary, which is ceIebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The presentations were made by Mrs. Frank A. Vanderlip, President of the hospita1.
A new technic for transplanting muscles to overcome some of the paralytic efects of polio was described at tbe twenty-first annual meeting of tbe American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
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MORE Americans buy and read books than attend baseball games. MiIIions more are interested in books than in prize fights or horse races. It has been found that after the first flurry of TV viewing in sections where teIevision is newIy introduced, book sales snap back to normaI in a matter of weeks or at the most months. Still, we lag far behind England, AustraIia and Canada in per capita book saIes. You have to hunt for a bookstore in America as you never do in Iceland, Denmark, France or even povertystricken Japan. The respect due to men of mental stature seems missing here. We caricature brilliance, sneer at brain trusts, scoff at “egg heads.” Although we survive so1eIy by the superior menta1 endowments of our inteIIectua1 Ieaders in a score of fieIds, we habituahy underpay them. Meanwhite aI1eged “humorists” on television make up to a miI1ion dohars a year, muscular morons in the heavyweight cIass fight for purses in six figures and brickIayers by union scaIe make more than professors in many of our coIIeges. You can earn much more driving a truck these days than by writing serious fiction, composing symphonic music or painting pictures that can be recognized. [From SterIing North Reviews the Books, New York World-
has reported that beneficial poliomyelitis, effects were not demonstrated either in the inocuIation of famiIy associates of polio cases or in the mass inoculation of chiIdren in epidemic areas. Observation of the twentythree communities in which mass inocuIation of chiIdren was carried out did not provide enough information to permit the committee to concIude whether or not gamma globulin had an effect in preventing or aIIeviating the disease when used in this way, the committee said. Among the cities where gamma g1obuIin was administered on a mass basis to al1 children last summer, the committee’s report said that in most of them the inocuIations were given after the peak of the epidemic had been passed, so there was little chance to demonstrate an effect of gamma gIobuIin in modifying the epidemic. The committee expressed the opinion that demonstration of the efficacy of gamma gIobu1in under the conditions pertaining to mass inocuIations wouId require Iarger experience with greater opportunity for scientific observation. The committee did find, however, that the “famiIy contact” use of gamma gIobuIin, where members of the househoId of a po1io case were inocuIated as soon as the iIIness was recognized, did not measurably reduce the number of subsequent paraIytic cases in these househoIds:
Telegram-Sun.] American business contributed $I,367,gTg to medical education in IgS3---an increase of 74 per cent over the previous year. Colby M. Cbester, Cbairman of the industrial committee of the National Fund for Medical Education said the increase in tbe number of contributing companies was I 93 per cent-994 firms in I 933, as compared with 339 tbe previousyear. Grants are unrestricted, but tbe money is used mostly by medical schools to supplement salaries, recruit personnel, initiate teaching experiments and open new courses in areas of recent scientibc progress. The National Fund for Medical Education was formed under the leadership of President Eisenbower, when be was bead of Columbia University, and former President Herbert Hoover.
Despite an outbreak of injluenza in tbe early montbs of the year and a severe beat wave in late summer, record low mortality was experienced in 1933 by the Industrial policyholders of tbe Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Virtually every age group sbowed a lower deatb rate than in 1952. It tbus appears tbat American wage earners and their families enjoyed exceptionally favorable health conditions in 1953, benefiting from the continued improvement in medical and public health services, tbe fruits of research in tbese fields and our bigb standard of living.
THE HeaIth Information Foundation disclosed that seven and a haIf million American famiIies owed an average of $121.00 for medica1, denta and hospita1 care by last JuIy. This amounts to a tota debt of $goo,ooo,ooo. We Iearn that we spent $10,200,000,000 (between JuIy, 1952, and June, 1933) for medica and denta services and
A COMMITTEE of experts asked by the Public HeaIth Service, U. S. Department of HeaIth, Education and WeIfare, to evaluate data coIIected Iast summer to study the effectiveness of gamma gIobuIin as used to prevent or aIIeviate 36
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goods. About $2,000,000,000 of this went to hospitals, physicians received $3,800,000,000, dentists $1,600,000,000, while $1,5oo,ooo,ooo went for medicines. Other medica expenses took $1,300,000,000. OnIy one-third of the people see a dentist once a year. In families that have surgica1 insurance the number of operations is seven for IOO persons, whiIe in uninsured famiIies the rate is four per IOO[couId this have any significance? Ed.]. About 57 per cent of the population (87,000,000) are enroIled in some type of heaIth insurance. The great majority have insurance to cover or aid in hospita1 costs; fewer have surgica1 plans or payment aids. The greatest number of insured was in the income group of $5,000 and over where four-fifths were enroIled.
Sclerosis Society in its membership bulletin, Arms Forward, in which one of the questions asked was: “Do you think that patients with muItipIe scIerosis shouId be toId of their diagnosis? Why?” An overwheIming majority of patients (89 per cent) of the 327 who repIied were in favor of patients Iearning the truth about their iIIness. The chief reasons given for wanting to be informed of diagnosis were that patients could better adjust to MS; avoid worry and fear; Iearn how to retard deterioration and cooperate in therapeutic efforts and avoid the fruitless task of “shopping” for diagnosis, reIief and cure. The deatb rate due to accidents dropped to 38.7 per IOO,OOOpopulation in New York City in 1953, tbe Greater New York Safety Council reported. It was tbe lowest rate for tbe period tbat reliable statistics bave been kept bere. Basing its figures on provisional statistics from tbe Department of Health, tbe Council said 3,142 New Yorkers died as a result of accidents last year, compared witb 3,214 in 1952. Tbe Council reported a fairly steady decrease in tbe fatal accident rate. The average rate of accidental deatbs per 100,000 was fig.9 from 1933 to 39; 49.8 for 1940 to 49; 41.1 in 1950; 39.5 in 1951; 40.0 in 1932, and an estimated 38.7 last year.
A relatively large proportion of tbe people past age sixty-five are still actively at work. However, tbe occupations typical of tbis period of life are somewbat diferent from tbose at tbe main working ages. In all age groups tbe people employed in industry jar outnumber tbose in agriculture, but as tbe older ages are reached tbe proportion engaged in industry decreases while tbat in farming rises. As one would expect, tbe proportion seljemployed in both industry and agriculture is bigber at the older ages than at tbe younger. At tbe same time, many people wbo continue in employment in tbeir later years reduce tbeir activity to part-time work. Contrary to the general impression tbat age sixty-jive usually marks the end of productive life, fully three-jijtbs of tbe men at ages sixty-five to sixty-nine are still employed. The proportion is almost two-fifths at ages seventy to seventy-four, but drops to one-fifb at ages seventy-five and over. For women, tbe corresponding proportions are, understandably, much smaller. [Statistical Review -Metropolitan Lije Insurance Co.]
NationaI Science Foundation has announced the award of 657 predoctora1 graduate feIIowships in the natura1 sciences to United States citizens for the academic year 1954 to 1955. SuccessfuI feIIows were seIected from 2,865 appIicants from a11parts of the continenta1 United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. In addition, 1,355 applicants were accorded HonorabIe Mention in the seIection. Awards were approved by the NationaI Science Board upon the recommendation of AIan T. Waterman, Director of the Foundation. The awards announced incIuded onIy predoctoral candidates. Eighty NSF postdoctora1 fellowship awards were announced on April I, 1954. AI1 feIIows were seIected on the basis of ability with awards made in cases of substantiaIIy equa1 abiIity so as to resuIt in a wide geographic distribution. The Iist of feIIowship recipients incIudes 185 individuaIs who have been NSF feIIows during
THE
THE great majority of muItipIe scIerosis patients poIIed in a specia1 survey beIieve that MS patients shouId be toId their diagnosis, according to a paper, “The Attitude of the Patient Toward MuItipIe ScIerosis,” by Dr. MiIton TarIau, pubIished by the New York State Journal of Medicine, March I, 1954. Dr. Tarlau, in his paper, anaIyzes the resuIts of a ~011 sponsored by the NationaI MuItipIe
38
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QUOTES Honorary Chairman of the Board of General Foods Corporation. Corporation contributions are turned over to the NationaI Fund for Medica1 Education, pooled with contributions from physicians and distributed to the nation’s seventy-nine medica schooIs in the form of annua1 grants. Physicians contribute through the American MedicaI Education Foundation, sponsored by the American MedicaI Association. Fund grants are unrestricted, but the money, Mr. Prange said, is used primariIy to suppIement Iow facuIty salaries, recruit personne1, initiate teaching experiments and open new courses in areas of recent scientific progress. He paid tribute to those “forward-looking companies who are thus helping to preserve and strengthen one of the country’s great nationa resources.”
the current academic year. Candidates for renewal fehowships competed on an equa1 basis with new apphcants. A tota of 220 awards were made to first-year graduate students, 240 awards were made to graduate students in the intermediate years, and 197 awards to terminalyear predoctoral students. The Iargest group of feIIowships, 156, was awarded in chemistry. In other fields the numbers of awards were: physics 134, engineering sciences 91, mathematica1 sciences 60, biochemistry 36, zooIogy 34, earth sciences 31, microbioIogy 23, psychoIogy 22, biophysics 14, botany 14, agricuIture I I, medica sciences IO, astronomy 8, genetics 7, anthropoIogy 3 and genera1 biology 3. PredoctoraI appIicants were required to take examinations for scientific aptitude and achievement. These tests were administered by the Educationa Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey.
A good artisan or craftsman, wbetber carpenter, jeweler or surgeon is only as good as tbe tools witb wbicb he works. Altbougb band surgery is one of the most delicate operations, a surgeon and his assistant usually must work on a makesbijt table or board for long periods of time in tense, cramped positions. Those wbo have used the scienti&cally developed Boyes-Parker band operating table cite these advantages: (I) Eliminates tension and strain during operations. Relieves cramped positions of bands, arms and sboulders, witb maximum jreedom of movement. Space for forearms and elbows make for operating steadiness witbout tiring. (2) Pull-out instrument board makes it possible for surgeon to select instruments without looking away from focal point of operation, and speed up interchange of tools. (3) Adjustable leg allows table to be fitted to any operating table level whetber in tbe ofice or bospital. (4) Inexpensive. Pays for its total cost in the first few operations, cutting down surgeons’ and nurses’ time, as well as operation room expense. Price of band operating table includes stainless steel pan. The Boyes-Parker band operating table is manufactured by Medical Devices, Inc., Dept. 8, 0407 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles 14, California. It can be ordered direct or from medical supply bouses.
A limited supply of radioactive corticosterone (Compound B) is now available to qualiJed investigators, free of charge, tbrougb funds supplied by the Public Health Service’s National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, it was announced. Requests, in the form of a letter concisely describing tbe proposed research may be sent to the Endocrinology Study Section, Dtvrsion of Research Grants, Nationaf Institutes of Health, Betbesda 14, Md. Transfer and use of tbese materials are subject to current Atomic Energy Commission regulations.
HOSPITAL, surgical and opticaI firms in 1933 contributed $30,180 to the support of medica education through the Committee of American Industry, CharIes H. Prange, President, Austenal Laboratories, Inc., has announced. Mr. Prange, who is chairman of the CAI’s HospitaI, SurgicaI and OpticaI Committee, said that the number of contributing companies in 19~3 was seventeen. Over-a11 corporation contributions to the CAI, a division of the NationaI Fund for Medical Education, totaIed $I ,367,979 Iast year, compared to $786,962 in 1952, an increase of 74 per cent. The number of contributing companies was 994, compared to 339 in 1952, an increase of 193 per cent. Mr. Prange’s division is one of the sixty industria1 divisions of the CAI, headed by CoIby M. Chester,
THE National Vitamin Foundation invites individuaIs hoIding doctorate degrees in medicine 40
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or one of the biologica sciences, who are interested in continuing their training in the science of nutrition, to become candidates for the newIy established Russell M. WiIder FeIIowship. This post-doctorate fehowship was created by the Foundation to honor Dr. Wilder, of the Emeritus Staff of the Mayo CIinic, for his more than forty years devoted service and significant contributions to medicine and pubIic heaIth, and particuIarIy for his Ieadership in advancing our knowledge of diseases of metaboIism and nutrition. In estabIishing the feIIowship, the Foundation expresses its feeIing of deep appreciation to Dr. Wilder for his pioneering work and provides, upon his retirement, an opportunity to a qualified young scientist to equip himseIf for a career inspired by Dr. Wilder’s exampIe. The feIIowship is one more important step taken by the Foundation in its continuaIIy growing program directed to the purpose that the health and welfare of mankind may be improved through better nutrition. The FeIIowship is for three years and pays the recipient $4,300 the first year, $5,000 the second, and $5,500 the third year. It becomes effective September I, 1954. AppIication forms can be obtained from the o&es of The Nationa1 Vitamin Foundation at 15 East 58th Street, New York 22, N. Y. AppIications must be accompanied by a letter from the executive officer of the institution where the work is to be done and by a Ietter from the head of the department under which the candidate is to work, attesting to the fact that the candidate wiI1 be permitted and encouraged to carry on his work and studies in the institution and department indicated. The candidate must outIine a program of investigation which must be approved by his preceptor and must give reasonabIe assurance that he wiI1 compIete his fellowship and continue to work in the tieId of nutrition folIowing the period covered by the feIIowship. The successfu1 candidate wiI1 be chosen by The National Vitamin Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Committee.
saver, too, frequently utilizing space tbat is otberwise wasted or unusable. Individual, sturdy, nonslip bangers are easily booked on, lifted o$ or spaced as needed along the rigid steel bar mount; and it is tbeir complete jlexibility of spacing and arrangement that makes Adjusta-Rak so perfectly adaptable to almost any type of instruments. They may be made to any length-to fit exactly the available spaces-yet tbeir cost is remarkably little. Consider Adjusta-Raks for surgeries and supply rooms. THE problem
of recompression of the lungs folIowing thoracic surgery, and maintaining inAation as long as necessary, is now solved by a new automaticaIIy controIIed Thermotic Thoracic Pump. The new pump, deveIoped by Gomco SurgicaI Manufacturing Corp., over a three-year period, meets rigid requirements of chest surgeons and is caIIed the Gomco Thermotic Thoracic Pump. It accomplishes re-inhation by appiication of gentIe, steady intrapleura1 suction, or negative pressure. This lowered pressure around the outside of the lung components prevents collapse. Suction of the pump is easiIy reguIated between the safe limits of o to 25 cm. of water, to avoid hemorrhage; at the same time, volume of suction is high enough to take care of cases in which Ieakage is present. The Gomco Thermotic Thoracic Pump operates on the same principle of expansion and contraction of air under temperature variations, as used in the we11 known Gomco Thermotic Drainage Pumps, with the addition of a timing mechanism to smooth out the suction. There are no moving parts in the pump; therefore, action is siIent and there is nothing to wear out. It operates on I 15 voIts, 6o-cycle A.C. current onIy. Further information may be had by writing: Gomco Surgical Manufacturing Corporation, 852-M East Ferry St., BuffaIo II, N. Y. A chemical metbod of
key to restoring decayed teetb, a measuring temperature e$ect on lubricating grease and a survey of promising uses for industrial wastes were among tbe subjects discussed in 106 scientific papers presented at an all-day technical conference of tbe American Chemical Society’s New York Section at Hunter College on February Iztb. More tban
Easily mounted in any instrument cabinet, storage or wall cabinet-or on any wall-tbe new Adjusta-Rak (V. Mueller @ Co., Chicago, Ill.) is just tbe thing for bandy, time-saving sorting and storage of surgical instruments. It’s a great space-
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QUOTES Tbree doctors associated with tbe San Francisco Sbriners bospital for crippled children said they have employed the procedure on twelve patients, most of tbem children sufering from various forms of muscle imbalance. Two of the children underwent four operations to restore their ability to eat. Prior to surgery their mouths hung open and they bad to work their lower jaws up and down with tbeir bands to masticate hard food. The muscle transplanting technic described as opening a new era in reconstructive surgery, was developed by Drs. E. R. Schottstaedt, Loren J. Larsen, Jr. and Frederic C. Bost who have been working since 1948 to perfect it. A spokesman for the academy said tbe three investigators have demonstrated for the first time that it is possible to shijt both ends of a muscle to a new position and have it take over tbe functions of impaired tendons.
a thousand chemists and chemical engineers of the New York area convened on the college’s campus for the technical sessions. Chemical processes tbat occur in growing tissue, a plastic covering for outdoor wire and cable, and a system ,for conducting an odor clinic were also among tbe topics discussed in the technical program.
A NEW plastic filIing materia1 (pIombe) developed in Denmark for partiaI Iung coIIapse in treatment of puImonary tubercuIosis has been made avaiIabIe to the medical profession in the United States by Lakeside Laboratories, Inc. In pIombage the chest is opened, part of the lung around the Iesion is coIIapsed and the fiIIing materia1 is left permanentIy in pIace. This promotes heaIing and prevents the spread of the lesion. The method has advantages over thoracopIasty, an operation in which ribs are removed and the entire lung coIIapses. PIombage provides seIective coIIapse and avoids deformity and complications. The ribs are saved. As the bIood suppIy comes from the ribs, pIombage keeps intact the natura1 barriers against the spread of tuberculosis. CaIIed PoIystan PIombe, this new type of high-molecuIar plastic is said to offer distinctive advantages over previousIy used materials. Bone and wax materiaIs, for exampIe, had to be abandoned because they caused foreign body reactions. Other pIombes resembling “ping pong” baIIs have been too mobiIe and inappropriate in size. The new Polystan Plombe is unaffected by body fluids and causes no foreign body reaction. It can be cut and moIded into any shape required to fit into the coIIapsed area. EspeciaIIy important, it permits the bIood vesseIs and connective tissue to grow into it, fixing it in position. It does not shrink nor does it interfere with postoperative x-ray pictures. Dr. Jens Herman Bing of Copenhagen did much of the work in deveIoping the PoIystan PIombe. Extensive clinica research and pubIished reports in Europe, covering hundreds of cases, have substantiated the advantages and removed the main objections to pIombage.
ELIZABETH BLACKWELL CITATIONS, awarded annuaIIy by the New York Infirmary, were presented to nine women physicians on January 24th in recognition of their distinguished achievements. The 1954 awards were made to Dr. Dorothy H. Andersen of New York City for her work as pediatric pathoIogist; Dr. EmiIy Dunning Barringer of New York City for practice of gynecoIogy and obstetrics; Dr. MadeIaine Ray Brown of Boston for her work in neurology; Dr. Mary M. Crawford of New York City for deveIoping the MedicaI Department of the FederaI Reserve Bank of New York; Dr. Jessie Gray of Toronto for furthering the knowIedge of operative technics in abdomina1 surgery; Dr. AIice FreeIand MaxweII of Los AItos, CaIifornia for her work in the practice of obstetrics and gynecoIogy; Dr. Jane Sands Robb of Syracuse for research in the anatomy and physioIogy of the heart; Dr. HeIen B. Taussig of BaItimore for investigation and correction of congenita1 maIformations of the heart and Dr. PrisciIIa White of’Boston for her work on diabetes in chiIdhood and during pregnancy. The Citations were established in 1949, the one hundredth anniversary of her graduation from medica school. Dr. BIackweII founded the New York Infirmary, which is ceIebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The presentations were made by Mrs. Frank A. Vanderlip, President of the hospita1.
A new technic for transplanting muscles to overcome some of the paralytic efects of polio was described at tbe twenty-first annual meeting of tbe American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
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