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NOTIFICATION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN EDINBURGH.
929 Both tests unaffected ’ glucose, andOfdidthenot disturb Febling. experimented upon, byseventeen gelatin.affected fifty-eightandsubstances out of these fifteen reduced it, Fehling, of the carmine two six altered the
while solution, appearance turned it green, one merely decolourised it, and only three produced the 76 780.-0.0001j6.0.000133 0 1189 19.08 787.6.1201 Tm. j001 78.Tj7.56 0 01 ing.8149 71.780.ix 0 9.11-11 13.6.52 808..0001 Tm4p
930 viz., from 1869 to 1882, 12’18.
to 1878—was 15’31 per cent., and from 1879 All other schemes proposed, that by the
householder alone, or by him and the medical attendant, or Dr. Gdirdner proposes, by a common informer, necessarily imply the interference of the sanitary authorities, were it for nothing else than to verify the fact of the illnes. The result must be a certain amount of friction, and, unless the medical officer of health act with prudence, great annoyance to his professional brethren. I venture to think that we have been successful in Edinburgh in avoiding these evils. I am, Sir, yours truly, HENRY D. LITTLEJOHN, M.D. Edinburgh, May 22nd, 1883.
as
,
,
-
THE FACULTY OF PHYSICIANS AND
SURGEONS OF GLASGOW.
-
-
notification, and as things now are, partial isolation nominat disinfection of premises, &c., and no security as to whether a person who has been infected be entirely free from infection, is but scotching the offspring of fever and allow. ing the brood parent to escape. This seems to be a medical oilicer’s Bill aiming at authority, yet with no actual power to suppress fever, only meddlesome interference, and should be looked upon by the public with reserve. Should it get referred to committee, I think I have pointed out enough to show that a wide question is involved. I consider that any person capable of giving useful evidence should be calledpractitioners, sanitary inspectors and others, as well The principle of notification as medical officers of health. being recognised by the Legislature would be a grand stride, I believe, but not so with the risk of such an unjust and inefficient method as is contained in this measure, and one would be glad to see notification of infectious diseases in the hands of more reliable sponsors. I remain. Sir. vour obedient servant.
mere
medical
To the Editor of THE LANCET. attention has to-day been drawn to the followSIR,—My DONALD MURDOCH, M.R.C.S, statement ing respecting this Faculty in an editorial of Union-road, Rotherhithe, April 12tb, 1883. THE LANCET of Saturday last :-" It is in evidence that it (the Faculty) sells its Fellowship, even to those who have FRIENDLY SOCIETIES IN PLYMOUTH. been refused a mere licence by other corporations." I am To the Editor of THE LANCET. not aware where the record of this evidence is to be found. If the statement means, as it appears to mean, that a person SIR,—The report, in your issue of the 12th inst., of the can be admitted a Fellow of this Faculty without having a of medical men in Plymouth, which was held to con. meeting previous qualification, it is absolutely contrary to fact. No sider what should be the bearing of the profession to the person other than a university graduate, or a member or medical officers of the Friendly Societies’ Medical Alliance, licentiate of a British College of Surgeons, is qualified to be that the resolutions were "passed with only one dis, states as a matter of a as a Fellow ; fact, and, very large proposed proportion of the Fellows are university graduates in senting vote."This remark applies to the first and second re. medicine, whilst they also hold other qualifications in solutions, the adoption of which, by the meeting, I opposed. I am, Sir, yours obediently, surgery. I beg the favour of your allowing me to explain. The DUNCAN, Secretary. first resolution, which was moved by Mr. Square and Glasgow, May 22nd, 1883. seconded by Dr. Row, meant that the profession would not *** Our reference is to an instance in which a person who meet in consultation the medical officers of the Friendly had repeatedly failed to pass the minimum examination of Societies’ Medical Alliance. I urged on the meeting that other licensing bodies, at length succeeded in getting the it would be undesirable and impossible to carry out such a licence of the Faculty, and not very long afterwards was course ; that emergencies might arise in which it would be the duty of any medical man to go to the aid of an Alliance found to be a Fellow.-ED. L. officer ; further, that it was impossible to define what might be an emergency; and that the resolution was not in harmony with the best spirit of the profession. The NOTIFICATION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES. second resolution, proposed by Mr. W. Square and seconded To the Editor of THE LANCET. by Dr. Clay, meant that the medical men of the Three Towns would not meet in consultation any practitioner who SIR,—I would not trespass on your valuable space did I did meet the medical officers of the Alliance. When putto not think the matter of immediate moment to the public. the vote, I was alone in holding up my hand against it. I I write with reference to the Infectious Diseases Notification believe that the second resolution is indefensible on any Bill (England), down for second reading. This Bill makes ground of right principle or expediency. I proposed the it compulsory on the public and medical practitioners to third resolution, which was seconded by Dr. Jago, to the effect, that " it was important to seek to extend the operareport cases of infectious diseases to medical officers of tion of those existing provident institutions whose managea for offendunder of health, wilfully penalty forty shillings was under the control of investigation committees; ment ing against this enactment. It is not unlikely the Bill such committees guaranteed that the right class only could be of and hurried to time a might through, owing pressure be members of provident dispensaries, and that their medical general want of knowledge of its aim and scope. It is a officers were confined to their own honourable and legitimate new departure affecting the liberty of the subject as mitch as duties." There I several such provident inare, believe, any measure that has appeared. Notification of infectious stitntions in I learnt at the meeting these Three Towns. diseases is not, and perhaps may not for some time be, very that the Friendly Societies’ Medical Alliance charges its think it A popular, though many very necessary. highly less for medical attendance than do most of the objectionable principle, sufficient to condemn this measure, members is that the medical officer of health, often a general practi- clubs, lodges, &c. of the Three Towns; but it was stated that of the older clubs had paid, and still pay, less for tioner, is the official appointed to receive notifications. some medical attendance than do the members of the Alliance, must be it the and middle understood, (the I have not seen the rules of the Here, upper Friendly Societies’ Medical moneyed) classes are for the first time to be brought under Alliance, nor ever had any communication with its members surveillance, and it would be possible for the post of medical or officials, and am, therefore, not in a position to judge of officer of health to be open to considerable abuse ; it would the justness or soundness of its constitution. If it be not be monstrously unfair that the medical officer of health sound and just it will not bear its trials, where so many and to his own exemptions give privileges patients mightlittle with fear of being discovered, pry into the practice of well-known medical men are around ready and willing to his rivals, to their disadvantage, and that they might be give medical attendance on clubs, lodges, &c., on proved mulcted and he free, at most to have to report his own cases and honourable terms. But I felt compelled, at the medical to himself. The Bill introduced in 1882 recommended meeting, to object to the method of the first and second I am, Sir, yours faithfully, notification to " the sanitary authority," in which case the resolutions. WILLIAM H. PEARSE, 1I.D. Plymouth, May 14th, 1883. medical officer would be more amenable if offending. Why this change? It makes one suspicious. How is it that * It is quite possible, as Dr. Pearse suggests, that the whooping-cough and measles, highly fatal to children, are not resolutions passed at the above meeting will not bear the included as infectious diseases, unless it be that more work strain of great emergencies. The humanity of the profession would be created than could be attended to ? Two such vast fields of infection to be left to boards with optional powers may be safely trusted in their application. They are, never. a want of thoroughness, or of meeting the question theless, the expression of a genuine and legitimate dissatis. displays in good faith. Personally, I advocate stricter measures than faction with the spirit of certain friendly societies which
ALEXANDER
further,
while solution, appearance turned it green, one merely decolourised it, and only three produced the 76 780.-0.0001j6.0.000133 0 1189 19.08 787.6.1201 Tm. j001 78.Tj7.56 0 01 ing.8149 71.780.ix 0 9.11-11 13.6.52 808..0001 Tm4p
930 viz., from 1869 to 1882, 12’18.
to 1878—was 15’31 per cent., and from 1879 All other schemes proposed, that by the
householder alone, or by him and the medical attendant, or Dr. Gdirdner proposes, by a common informer, necessarily imply the interference of the sanitary authorities, were it for nothing else than to verify the fact of the illnes. The result must be a certain amount of friction, and, unless the medical officer of health act with prudence, great annoyance to his professional brethren. I venture to think that we have been successful in Edinburgh in avoiding these evils. I am, Sir, yours truly, HENRY D. LITTLEJOHN, M.D. Edinburgh, May 22nd, 1883.
as
,
,
-
THE FACULTY OF PHYSICIANS AND
SURGEONS OF GLASGOW.
-
-
notification, and as things now are, partial isolation nominat disinfection of premises, &c., and no security as to whether a person who has been infected be entirely free from infection, is but scotching the offspring of fever and allow. ing the brood parent to escape. This seems to be a medical oilicer’s Bill aiming at authority, yet with no actual power to suppress fever, only meddlesome interference, and should be looked upon by the public with reserve. Should it get referred to committee, I think I have pointed out enough to show that a wide question is involved. I consider that any person capable of giving useful evidence should be calledpractitioners, sanitary inspectors and others, as well The principle of notification as medical officers of health. being recognised by the Legislature would be a grand stride, I believe, but not so with the risk of such an unjust and inefficient method as is contained in this measure, and one would be glad to see notification of infectious diseases in the hands of more reliable sponsors. I remain. Sir. vour obedient servant.
mere
medical
To the Editor of THE LANCET. attention has to-day been drawn to the followSIR,—My DONALD MURDOCH, M.R.C.S, statement ing respecting this Faculty in an editorial of Union-road, Rotherhithe, April 12tb, 1883. THE LANCET of Saturday last :-" It is in evidence that it (the Faculty) sells its Fellowship, even to those who have FRIENDLY SOCIETIES IN PLYMOUTH. been refused a mere licence by other corporations." I am To the Editor of THE LANCET. not aware where the record of this evidence is to be found. If the statement means, as it appears to mean, that a person SIR,—The report, in your issue of the 12th inst., of the can be admitted a Fellow of this Faculty without having a of medical men in Plymouth, which was held to con. meeting previous qualification, it is absolutely contrary to fact. No sider what should be the bearing of the profession to the person other than a university graduate, or a member or medical officers of the Friendly Societies’ Medical Alliance, licentiate of a British College of Surgeons, is qualified to be that the resolutions were "passed with only one dis, states as a matter of a as a Fellow ; fact, and, very large proposed proportion of the Fellows are university graduates in senting vote."This remark applies to the first and second re. medicine, whilst they also hold other qualifications in solutions, the adoption of which, by the meeting, I opposed. I am, Sir, yours obediently, surgery. I beg the favour of your allowing me to explain. The DUNCAN, Secretary. first resolution, which was moved by Mr. Square and Glasgow, May 22nd, 1883. seconded by Dr. Row, meant that the profession would not *** Our reference is to an instance in which a person who meet in consultation the medical officers of the Friendly had repeatedly failed to pass the minimum examination of Societies’ Medical Alliance. I urged on the meeting that other licensing bodies, at length succeeded in getting the it would be undesirable and impossible to carry out such a licence of the Faculty, and not very long afterwards was course ; that emergencies might arise in which it would be the duty of any medical man to go to the aid of an Alliance found to be a Fellow.-ED. L. officer ; further, that it was impossible to define what might be an emergency; and that the resolution was not in harmony with the best spirit of the profession. The NOTIFICATION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES. second resolution, proposed by Mr. W. Square and seconded To the Editor of THE LANCET. by Dr. Clay, meant that the medical men of the Three Towns would not meet in consultation any practitioner who SIR,—I would not trespass on your valuable space did I did meet the medical officers of the Alliance. When putto not think the matter of immediate moment to the public. the vote, I was alone in holding up my hand against it. I I write with reference to the Infectious Diseases Notification believe that the second resolution is indefensible on any Bill (England), down for second reading. This Bill makes ground of right principle or expediency. I proposed the it compulsory on the public and medical practitioners to third resolution, which was seconded by Dr. Jago, to the effect, that " it was important to seek to extend the operareport cases of infectious diseases to medical officers of tion of those existing provident institutions whose managea for offendunder of health, wilfully penalty forty shillings was under the control of investigation committees; ment ing against this enactment. It is not unlikely the Bill such committees guaranteed that the right class only could be of and hurried to time a might through, owing pressure be members of provident dispensaries, and that their medical general want of knowledge of its aim and scope. It is a officers were confined to their own honourable and legitimate new departure affecting the liberty of the subject as mitch as duties." There I several such provident inare, believe, any measure that has appeared. Notification of infectious stitntions in I learnt at the meeting these Three Towns. diseases is not, and perhaps may not for some time be, very that the Friendly Societies’ Medical Alliance charges its think it A popular, though many very necessary. highly less for medical attendance than do most of the objectionable principle, sufficient to condemn this measure, members is that the medical officer of health, often a general practi- clubs, lodges, &c. of the Three Towns; but it was stated that of the older clubs had paid, and still pay, less for tioner, is the official appointed to receive notifications. some medical attendance than do the members of the Alliance, must be it the and middle understood, (the I have not seen the rules of the Here, upper Friendly Societies’ Medical moneyed) classes are for the first time to be brought under Alliance, nor ever had any communication with its members surveillance, and it would be possible for the post of medical or officials, and am, therefore, not in a position to judge of officer of health to be open to considerable abuse ; it would the justness or soundness of its constitution. If it be not be monstrously unfair that the medical officer of health sound and just it will not bear its trials, where so many and to his own exemptions give privileges patients mightlittle with fear of being discovered, pry into the practice of well-known medical men are around ready and willing to his rivals, to their disadvantage, and that they might be give medical attendance on clubs, lodges, &c., on proved mulcted and he free, at most to have to report his own cases and honourable terms. But I felt compelled, at the medical to himself. The Bill introduced in 1882 recommended meeting, to object to the method of the first and second I am, Sir, yours faithfully, notification to " the sanitary authority," in which case the resolutions. WILLIAM H. PEARSE, 1I.D. Plymouth, May 14th, 1883. medical officer would be more amenable if offending. Why this change? It makes one suspicious. How is it that * It is quite possible, as Dr. Pearse suggests, that the whooping-cough and measles, highly fatal to children, are not resolutions passed at the above meeting will not bear the included as infectious diseases, unless it be that more work strain of great emergencies. The humanity of the profession would be created than could be attended to ? Two such vast fields of infection to be left to boards with optional powers may be safely trusted in their application. They are, never. a want of thoroughness, or of meeting the question theless, the expression of a genuine and legitimate dissatis. displays in good faith. Personally, I advocate stricter measures than faction with the spirit of certain friendly societies which
ALEXANDER
further,