- Email: [email protected]
ON THE ANCESTRY, COLLATERALS, AND DESCENDANTS, OF EPILEPTICS.
1042
healthy. They were all
tested and were under the care off Mr. Allnutt and Mr. Tennant, veterinary surgeons, off Windsor. The tests were carried out on Sept. 16th and 17th,, 1.897, and the temperatures of the cows were taken oni Sept. 14th by Mr. Tennant when with the exception off one cow in which the temperature was 104 °F. all the The test was comcows had temperatures under 103°. menced on Sept. 15th, the temperature of each cow being taken just before injection and at the third, sixth,, ninth, twelfth, and fifteenth hour afterwards. At leastb 32 cows appeared to be tuberculous, their temperature rising to 104° or more, five cows appeared to be healthy, and three were doubtful. The whole herd was killed and the carcasses were examined at the Royal Veterinary College. Of 34 animals whose temperature had risen above 104° 33 were found to be tuberculous. The remaining animal was not tuberculous but had a diseased uterus. The rise ini this case was sudden and did not occur until after the twelfth hour. Of four cows which did not react three were: found to be free from tubercle and the fourth had one small caseous gland in which tubercle bacilli were found. The two remaining cows which were classed as " doubtful" were both found to be tuberculous. Professor J. McFadyean, from whose paper in the Journal of Comparative Pathology and Therapeuties we take these details, points out that the herd experimented upon might reasonably have been supposed to be free from tuberculosis as the cows were living under the very best conditions. There is only one way of keeping housed cattle free from tuberculosis, says Professor McFadyean, and that is to see that no tuberculous animal is admitted among them. This plan, we are glad to see, has been adopted in the formation of the new dairy herd at Windsor, all animals purchased for it being tested and admitted only when they do not react. It will be seen that a rise after the injection of tuberculin is not proof positive of the existence of tuberculosis, since one cow which reacted had no tubercle but suffered from a diseased uterus. But in a very large proportion of cases a rise was practically patho-
,
.
.
; ,
gnomonic.
had narrowly escaped being committed for manslaughter. He disallowed her expenses. He said that should she ever come before him again she might not get off so .easily. To our minds when an absolutely ignorant quack talks about rectifying displacements and removing obstructions and when, moreover, a woman in whom she claims to have put a displacement right dies from peritonitis, the case assumes a very serious aspect. Madame"Comber may have done and very likely did do nothing, but she said that she did and that is quite enough to condemn her.
ON
THE ANCESTRY, COLLATERALS, AND DESCENDANTS, OF EPILEPTICS.
study of the hereditary antecedents of nervous diseases has occupied much attention during the past decade and this branch of investigation combined with sociological study has done much to elucidate our knowledge concerning the origins and modes of transmission of many nervous and mental disorders. The most important work in this direc tion relates to the neuroses and psychoses connected with alcoholism, epilepsy, and general paralysis of the insane and has emanated largely from the French school. Dr. Gaston Bechet, in the Arehi2es de NeuroZogie of March, 1899, gives us a careful study of the antecedents, collaterals, &c., of epilepsy, basing his work on the minute study of 40 families, epileptic members of which had come under observation at the Ville-Evrard Asylum, France. The facts are arranged among various headings as follows : 1. Longevity.-Among the 135 grandparents of 40 epileptics of whom a definite and trustworthy history could be obtained 130 had died at the average age of 69 and five were still alive at an advanced age. The respective ages and numbers of those deceased were distributed as follows :THE
-
ANOTHER VICTIM TO QUACKERY. into the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Of the 80 parents (of the 40 epileptics observed) 37 were West, the wife of a furniture dealer at Southend, was con- alive and 42 were dead, while one was untraced. Of those cluded on April 3rd before Mr. Edgar Lewis, the coroner for deceased 25 male parents died at the average age of South Essex. The deceased had been attended by a " lady 55 years; and 17 female parents at an average age of doctor"calling herself " MadameComber. The husband in 45 years. Of those living 14 males averaged 61 years Comparing these the course of his evidence stated that "Madame"Comber and 23 females averaged 59 years. numbers with those to normal families studied had first attended his wife about ten weeks previously. His relating Ball and wife had told him that Madame"had made a most by Regis (in l’Encéphale, 1883) it is shown I that while the miraculous cure. average age at death of parents of normal "Madame"told him that his wife was families is 57 years, that of parents of epileptic families suffering from the displacement of an internal organ and a certain obstruction which must be removed. Afterwards is 50 years-a decidedly diminished longevity. 2. Ante. "Madame"Comber said that she had put the displace- cedents and collaterals.-The 40 epileptic patients had ment right. She told him that she was certified and 305 members as the sum total of their parents, had surpassed many medical men. "Madame"Comber uncles, and aunts, while of collaterals (brothers and evidence and said that her was a carpenter husband sisters) they had in all 205, which added to the 40 patients gave the Islington Workhouse. now in In answer to a gives 245 children for 40 families, or an average of 6’11 question put by the coroner, "How do you describe your- children per family, a number which is pointed out to be sell ? she replied : "Well, as a chemist or a nurse and decidedly above the average of ordinary families in France. do anything that is handy." As far as she knew she was on "Epileptics belong to families of more than average the register as a chemist. She had heard of peritonitis but fecundity"is Dr. Bechet’s conclusion. 3. Descendants: did not know what it meant. She could not diagnose any On the other hand epileptics themselves beget but few disease. In her opinion immediate danger meant when a children. Thus, of the 40 patients 26 were married-14 person was "struck for death." Dr. Avery Clough Waters being celibate-and had issue. The latter, however, com,! said that the deceased died with symptoms pointing to prise ] only 30 children, or an average of 1’16 per family, a acute peritonitis. The treatment had been inadvisable considerably smaller percentage than that of corresponding but he could not say that it had accelerated death. normal families, which is given as 2’73 by Ball and Regis. A verdict of"Death from natural causes"was returned Dr. Bechet concludes that " the reproductive power of epilepand the coroner was requested to censure "Madame"" 1tics is small ; it is essentially less than that of ordinary (nonComber. This he accordingly did, telling her that sheepileptic) families; in short, epileptics tend towards sterility : THE
adjourned inquiry
1043
Vitality.-Although the collaterals (brothers and sisters) substances in solution belonging to the proteids, coagulating epileptics show a larger number per family than the at 41°, 51°, 56°, 59°, 62°, and 68°G. It also contains globulin, average, yet their vitality is lower and a larger number of mucin-like bodies, proteoses, peptone, nucleo-albumin, a deaths occur among them than in ordinary families. Thus carbohydrate, a peculiar crystallisable substance conof the 245 collaterals of 40 epileptics 140 were alive and 105 taining much phosphorus, tyrosin, leucin, glutaminic acid, were dead. Among the 105 deaths were three miscarriages, nitrogenous bases, xanthin-a substance which converts 75 deaths in the first decade of life, 16 in the second decade, sulphur into sulphuretted hydrogen and iodine into ioduretted five in the third, and six in the decades above the third. hydrogen-glycerine, calcium and magnesium phosphates, This mortality, compared with that of normal families, peculiar volatile substances, and several others. There are shows an increased ratio of one-third above the normal for also some ferments, especially invertin and zymase. When all ages up to 20-i.e., for every three deaths in ordinary the juice was heated to from 40° to 41° C. it lost its fermentafamilies there are four deaths in epileptic families. 5. tive power and Dr. Wr6blewski considers it to be Morbidity.-Among the parentage (including uncles and not improbable that an albumin is present which aunts) of epileptics Dr. Bechet finds a predominance is identical with the zymase. The statements of of pulmonary affections and particularly of phthisis, Dr. Wr6blewski support those already made by Frau Marie while neuroses and insanity are remarkably rare among von Manassein and von Buchner that sugar can ferthem. The children of epileptics, on the other hand, ment without yeast cells and lead to the conviction suffer abundantly and frequently from convulsions and that alcoholic fermentation is effected by the agency of meningitis. The general conclusions drawn are as follows: a chemical substance or at least by chemical agents. (a) Duration of life or longevity is sensibly less among the Buchner has named this substance zymase and associates antecedents of epileptics than that which normal families it with the enzymes. Dr. Wr6blewski regards in like present. (b) Epileptics belong generally to large families; manner fermentation as a chemical process and as perthey have many brothers and sisters, but, on the other formed by chemical agents. The zymase which splits up hand, they are not themselves able to beget large families ; sugar differs from the enzymes both in its reaction and in epileptics tend to sterility. (c) Epileptic families have a its properties. It is inoperative at 40° C. and has very lower vitality than normal families. (d) The morbidity in feeble osmotic power. It must be placed amongst Ostwald’s the ancestry and issue of epileptics takes a special form, catalytically acting bodies upon the precise behaviour of pulmonary diseases, and especially phthisis, being common which we need much more light. in the parentage, while cerebral affections, and meningitis in particular, are commonly found among the children of THE ROYAL BERKSHIRE HOSPITAL. - epileptics ; insanity proper is rare in epileptic families. 4. of
FERMENTATION WITHOUT YEAST CELLS.
A SPECIAL court of the governors of this institution was held on April 4th to consider the report of the special committee, to which we alluded in our issue of April 1st. The proposed new rule concerning the annual re-election of the medical staff was carried with some important alterations. First, the annual re-election is to apply only to the acting medical staff; and, secondly, if any member be not re-elected the decision must be confirmed " at the next court or at a special court to be convened for the purpose." Thirdly, this new rule is only to apply to elections after April 4th, 1899. We think that these
HITHERTO it has been generally admitted that when the yeast cells are introduced into a solution of sugar they begin to grow and to multiply by gemmation, new cells budding off from the old ones with wonderful rapidity. in the act of growth the sugar is broken up into alcohol and carbon dioxide though the presence of small quantities annual of succinic acid and some other substances indicates that the decomposition which occurs is more complex than at first sight appears. Some important researches have alterations are much for the better. The making it been recently made by Dr. Wróblewski of Cracow which for the non-election of any member of the staff demonstrate that the cells contain a ferment or enzyme and necessary to be confirmed by a future court will give the member in that the splitting up of the sugar molecule is not dependent question an opportunity of defending his position should he upon the growth of the cells. Dr. Wróblewski triturated so desire. Moreover, it will be seen that, as we urged in some yeast so that the cells were completely broken our previous comments on the subject, the new rule is not down and then subjected the mass to a pressure of to be retrospective. Mr. 0. C. Maurice tendered his resig300 atmospheres. The fluid thus obtained possessed a very nation, which was accepted with great regret, but we are feeble fermenting power. Quite fresh ground yeast was to see that he was unanimously elected as consulting pressed dry with a pressure of from 50 to 75 atmospheres; glad surgeon. Mr. Maurice has been connected with the Royal a kilogramme of this was triturated with 750 grammes of Berkshire Hospital for nearly forty years and, to quote the sea sand and 75 grammes of flint powder till the mass was words of Major Thoyts, a governor of the hospital, "everytough and doughy. A pressure of 300 atmospheres was then one knew how much the institution was indebted to him." applied to it and (after filtration) a clear fluid was obtained was decided that in future the post of physician to the from it. This juice, mixed with an equal volume of a 60 per It should be held only by a graduate in medicine of - cent, solution of cane sugar, started active fermentation in hospital a university of Great Britain or Ireland not practising from 10 to 20 minutes. Microscopical examination showed surgery. very few isolated yeast cells, so few, indeed, that it was that the could be active hardly possible they agents, espeTHE DESTRUCTION OF REFUSE. cially in so concentrated a fluid. The fluid obtained THERE remains now absolutely no excuse for our sanitary by pressure from surface yeast possessed but little fermentative power, though it frequently contained a large authorities to "dump" down household rubbish, market number of yeast cells. Slight increase of tempera- refuse, and the like on low-lying grounds with the view of ture, as, for example, the heat of the hand, caused raising the level and to make them suitable (?) for considerable increase in the activity of the fluid building purposes. The complete destruction of all sorts ,obtained by pressure of ground yeast, so that dis- and conditions of refuse has now been accomplished in a engagement of gas was observed to take place more manner to satisfy even the most exacting sanitarian as actively than elsewhere in that part of a long test tube well as the economical mind. The difficulties of effecwhich had been grasped by the hand. Chemical examina- tually destroying a heap of material comprising tin pots, tion of the yeast juice showed that it contained numerous cabbage stumps, spent tea-leaves, and cinder ashes -
healthy. They were all
tested and were under the care off Mr. Allnutt and Mr. Tennant, veterinary surgeons, off Windsor. The tests were carried out on Sept. 16th and 17th,, 1.897, and the temperatures of the cows were taken oni Sept. 14th by Mr. Tennant when with the exception off one cow in which the temperature was 104 °F. all the The test was comcows had temperatures under 103°. menced on Sept. 15th, the temperature of each cow being taken just before injection and at the third, sixth,, ninth, twelfth, and fifteenth hour afterwards. At leastb 32 cows appeared to be tuberculous, their temperature rising to 104° or more, five cows appeared to be healthy, and three were doubtful. The whole herd was killed and the carcasses were examined at the Royal Veterinary College. Of 34 animals whose temperature had risen above 104° 33 were found to be tuberculous. The remaining animal was not tuberculous but had a diseased uterus. The rise ini this case was sudden and did not occur until after the twelfth hour. Of four cows which did not react three were: found to be free from tubercle and the fourth had one small caseous gland in which tubercle bacilli were found. The two remaining cows which were classed as " doubtful" were both found to be tuberculous. Professor J. McFadyean, from whose paper in the Journal of Comparative Pathology and Therapeuties we take these details, points out that the herd experimented upon might reasonably have been supposed to be free from tuberculosis as the cows were living under the very best conditions. There is only one way of keeping housed cattle free from tuberculosis, says Professor McFadyean, and that is to see that no tuberculous animal is admitted among them. This plan, we are glad to see, has been adopted in the formation of the new dairy herd at Windsor, all animals purchased for it being tested and admitted only when they do not react. It will be seen that a rise after the injection of tuberculin is not proof positive of the existence of tuberculosis, since one cow which reacted had no tubercle but suffered from a diseased uterus. But in a very large proportion of cases a rise was practically patho-
,
.
.
; ,
gnomonic.
had narrowly escaped being committed for manslaughter. He disallowed her expenses. He said that should she ever come before him again she might not get off so .easily. To our minds when an absolutely ignorant quack talks about rectifying displacements and removing obstructions and when, moreover, a woman in whom she claims to have put a displacement right dies from peritonitis, the case assumes a very serious aspect. Madame"Comber may have done and very likely did do nothing, but she said that she did and that is quite enough to condemn her.
ON
THE ANCESTRY, COLLATERALS, AND DESCENDANTS, OF EPILEPTICS.
study of the hereditary antecedents of nervous diseases has occupied much attention during the past decade and this branch of investigation combined with sociological study has done much to elucidate our knowledge concerning the origins and modes of transmission of many nervous and mental disorders. The most important work in this direc tion relates to the neuroses and psychoses connected with alcoholism, epilepsy, and general paralysis of the insane and has emanated largely from the French school. Dr. Gaston Bechet, in the Arehi2es de NeuroZogie of March, 1899, gives us a careful study of the antecedents, collaterals, &c., of epilepsy, basing his work on the minute study of 40 families, epileptic members of which had come under observation at the Ville-Evrard Asylum, France. The facts are arranged among various headings as follows : 1. Longevity.-Among the 135 grandparents of 40 epileptics of whom a definite and trustworthy history could be obtained 130 had died at the average age of 69 and five were still alive at an advanced age. The respective ages and numbers of those deceased were distributed as follows :THE
-
ANOTHER VICTIM TO QUACKERY. into the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Of the 80 parents (of the 40 epileptics observed) 37 were West, the wife of a furniture dealer at Southend, was con- alive and 42 were dead, while one was untraced. Of those cluded on April 3rd before Mr. Edgar Lewis, the coroner for deceased 25 male parents died at the average age of South Essex. The deceased had been attended by a " lady 55 years; and 17 female parents at an average age of doctor"calling herself " MadameComber. The husband in 45 years. Of those living 14 males averaged 61 years Comparing these the course of his evidence stated that "Madame"Comber and 23 females averaged 59 years. numbers with those to normal families studied had first attended his wife about ten weeks previously. His relating Ball and wife had told him that Madame"had made a most by Regis (in l’Encéphale, 1883) it is shown I that while the miraculous cure. average age at death of parents of normal "Madame"told him that his wife was families is 57 years, that of parents of epileptic families suffering from the displacement of an internal organ and a certain obstruction which must be removed. Afterwards is 50 years-a decidedly diminished longevity. 2. Ante. "Madame"Comber said that she had put the displace- cedents and collaterals.-The 40 epileptic patients had ment right. She told him that she was certified and 305 members as the sum total of their parents, had surpassed many medical men. "Madame"Comber uncles, and aunts, while of collaterals (brothers and evidence and said that her was a carpenter husband sisters) they had in all 205, which added to the 40 patients gave the Islington Workhouse. now in In answer to a gives 245 children for 40 families, or an average of 6’11 question put by the coroner, "How do you describe your- children per family, a number which is pointed out to be sell ? she replied : "Well, as a chemist or a nurse and decidedly above the average of ordinary families in France. do anything that is handy." As far as she knew she was on "Epileptics belong to families of more than average the register as a chemist. She had heard of peritonitis but fecundity"is Dr. Bechet’s conclusion. 3. Descendants: did not know what it meant. She could not diagnose any On the other hand epileptics themselves beget but few disease. In her opinion immediate danger meant when a children. Thus, of the 40 patients 26 were married-14 person was "struck for death." Dr. Avery Clough Waters being celibate-and had issue. The latter, however, com,! said that the deceased died with symptoms pointing to prise ] only 30 children, or an average of 1’16 per family, a acute peritonitis. The treatment had been inadvisable considerably smaller percentage than that of corresponding but he could not say that it had accelerated death. normal families, which is given as 2’73 by Ball and Regis. A verdict of"Death from natural causes"was returned Dr. Bechet concludes that " the reproductive power of epilepand the coroner was requested to censure "Madame"" 1tics is small ; it is essentially less than that of ordinary (nonComber. This he accordingly did, telling her that sheepileptic) families; in short, epileptics tend towards sterility : THE
adjourned inquiry
1043
Vitality.-Although the collaterals (brothers and sisters) substances in solution belonging to the proteids, coagulating epileptics show a larger number per family than the at 41°, 51°, 56°, 59°, 62°, and 68°G. It also contains globulin, average, yet their vitality is lower and a larger number of mucin-like bodies, proteoses, peptone, nucleo-albumin, a deaths occur among them than in ordinary families. Thus carbohydrate, a peculiar crystallisable substance conof the 245 collaterals of 40 epileptics 140 were alive and 105 taining much phosphorus, tyrosin, leucin, glutaminic acid, were dead. Among the 105 deaths were three miscarriages, nitrogenous bases, xanthin-a substance which converts 75 deaths in the first decade of life, 16 in the second decade, sulphur into sulphuretted hydrogen and iodine into ioduretted five in the third, and six in the decades above the third. hydrogen-glycerine, calcium and magnesium phosphates, This mortality, compared with that of normal families, peculiar volatile substances, and several others. There are shows an increased ratio of one-third above the normal for also some ferments, especially invertin and zymase. When all ages up to 20-i.e., for every three deaths in ordinary the juice was heated to from 40° to 41° C. it lost its fermentafamilies there are four deaths in epileptic families. 5. tive power and Dr. Wr6blewski considers it to be Morbidity.-Among the parentage (including uncles and not improbable that an albumin is present which aunts) of epileptics Dr. Bechet finds a predominance is identical with the zymase. The statements of of pulmonary affections and particularly of phthisis, Dr. Wr6blewski support those already made by Frau Marie while neuroses and insanity are remarkably rare among von Manassein and von Buchner that sugar can ferthem. The children of epileptics, on the other hand, ment without yeast cells and lead to the conviction suffer abundantly and frequently from convulsions and that alcoholic fermentation is effected by the agency of meningitis. The general conclusions drawn are as follows: a chemical substance or at least by chemical agents. (a) Duration of life or longevity is sensibly less among the Buchner has named this substance zymase and associates antecedents of epileptics than that which normal families it with the enzymes. Dr. Wr6blewski regards in like present. (b) Epileptics belong generally to large families; manner fermentation as a chemical process and as perthey have many brothers and sisters, but, on the other formed by chemical agents. The zymase which splits up hand, they are not themselves able to beget large families ; sugar differs from the enzymes both in its reaction and in epileptics tend to sterility. (c) Epileptic families have a its properties. It is inoperative at 40° C. and has very lower vitality than normal families. (d) The morbidity in feeble osmotic power. It must be placed amongst Ostwald’s the ancestry and issue of epileptics takes a special form, catalytically acting bodies upon the precise behaviour of pulmonary diseases, and especially phthisis, being common which we need much more light. in the parentage, while cerebral affections, and meningitis in particular, are commonly found among the children of THE ROYAL BERKSHIRE HOSPITAL. - epileptics ; insanity proper is rare in epileptic families. 4. of
FERMENTATION WITHOUT YEAST CELLS.
A SPECIAL court of the governors of this institution was held on April 4th to consider the report of the special committee, to which we alluded in our issue of April 1st. The proposed new rule concerning the annual re-election of the medical staff was carried with some important alterations. First, the annual re-election is to apply only to the acting medical staff; and, secondly, if any member be not re-elected the decision must be confirmed " at the next court or at a special court to be convened for the purpose." Thirdly, this new rule is only to apply to elections after April 4th, 1899. We think that these
HITHERTO it has been generally admitted that when the yeast cells are introduced into a solution of sugar they begin to grow and to multiply by gemmation, new cells budding off from the old ones with wonderful rapidity. in the act of growth the sugar is broken up into alcohol and carbon dioxide though the presence of small quantities annual of succinic acid and some other substances indicates that the decomposition which occurs is more complex than at first sight appears. Some important researches have alterations are much for the better. The making it been recently made by Dr. Wróblewski of Cracow which for the non-election of any member of the staff demonstrate that the cells contain a ferment or enzyme and necessary to be confirmed by a future court will give the member in that the splitting up of the sugar molecule is not dependent question an opportunity of defending his position should he upon the growth of the cells. Dr. Wróblewski triturated so desire. Moreover, it will be seen that, as we urged in some yeast so that the cells were completely broken our previous comments on the subject, the new rule is not down and then subjected the mass to a pressure of to be retrospective. Mr. 0. C. Maurice tendered his resig300 atmospheres. The fluid thus obtained possessed a very nation, which was accepted with great regret, but we are feeble fermenting power. Quite fresh ground yeast was to see that he was unanimously elected as consulting pressed dry with a pressure of from 50 to 75 atmospheres; glad surgeon. Mr. Maurice has been connected with the Royal a kilogramme of this was triturated with 750 grammes of Berkshire Hospital for nearly forty years and, to quote the sea sand and 75 grammes of flint powder till the mass was words of Major Thoyts, a governor of the hospital, "everytough and doughy. A pressure of 300 atmospheres was then one knew how much the institution was indebted to him." applied to it and (after filtration) a clear fluid was obtained was decided that in future the post of physician to the from it. This juice, mixed with an equal volume of a 60 per It should be held only by a graduate in medicine of - cent, solution of cane sugar, started active fermentation in hospital a university of Great Britain or Ireland not practising from 10 to 20 minutes. Microscopical examination showed surgery. very few isolated yeast cells, so few, indeed, that it was that the could be active hardly possible they agents, espeTHE DESTRUCTION OF REFUSE. cially in so concentrated a fluid. The fluid obtained THERE remains now absolutely no excuse for our sanitary by pressure from surface yeast possessed but little fermentative power, though it frequently contained a large authorities to "dump" down household rubbish, market number of yeast cells. Slight increase of tempera- refuse, and the like on low-lying grounds with the view of ture, as, for example, the heat of the hand, caused raising the level and to make them suitable (?) for considerable increase in the activity of the fluid building purposes. The complete destruction of all sorts ,obtained by pressure of ground yeast, so that dis- and conditions of refuse has now been accomplished in a engagement of gas was observed to take place more manner to satisfy even the most exacting sanitarian as actively than elsewhere in that part of a long test tube well as the economical mind. The difficulties of effecwhich had been grasped by the hand. Chemical examina- tually destroying a heap of material comprising tin pots, tion of the yeast juice showed that it contained numerous cabbage stumps, spent tea-leaves, and cinder ashes -