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OPIUM SMOKING IN THE FAR EAST.
997
Ingebrigtsen do not, however, jump to the sion appointed by the League to visit the Far East conclusion from these figures that a considerable and to report on the steps which had been, or should proportion of the cases of pleurisy were not tubercu- be, taken to fulfil the treaty obligations of 1912 and" lous. They confine themselves to the remark that 1925 to restrict and suppress the use of prepared "it would, therefore, seem that the tuberculous opium for smoking. The obstacle presented to clinical material was considerably more exposed than such achievement by the extent of the illicit smuggling the pleurisy material." Of the 313 persons traced of opium was also to engage the consideration of the in 1931, as many as 200 were found to be well. In commission. Dissatisfaction was expressed at the the interval 13 had died of non-tuberculous diseases, failure to fix a time within which the prohibition and 100 had developed tuberculosis which in 40 cases of import and export of prepared opium, as prescribed had already proved fatal. In nearly every case by the Hague Convention, should be effected ; nor tuberculosis developed within three years of the indeed does it appear that a term has been set from attack of pleurisy, and it would, therefore, seem which the period of 15 years’ grace, conceded by the that after this interval patients who suffered from Geneva Protocol of 1925, was to commence. The idiopathic pleurisy have not much to fear in the matter delegates of Italy and China denounced the conference of pulmonary tuberculosis. This disease broke out and its recommendations as tending to encourage a little more frequently among the patients whose rather than to restrict the sale of opium for smoking. pleurisy had been associated with fever lasting The American delegate urged prohibition of commerce more than a month than among those whose febrile in prepared opium, and distrusted the proposal for Government monopoly in the drug. He was period had been shorter. twitted by the British representative, who remarked that " prohibition " had not been altogether satisTHE ROYAL ACADEMY. in the States. The export of Indian opium THE annual display at Burlington House has factory for smoking, though undergoing an annual reduction received this year but a half-hearted welcome from of 10 led to criticism that this was per cent., expert judges, who find in the exhibition, despite much inconsistent withagain the principles of our dangerous. competent work, a tendency to retrogression-to an drugs legislation. Whereas heavy fines and imprisonover-reliance upon accepted methods and a distrust ment are meted out to those found in possession of of modern ideals. Such criticism cannot be passed for in this sales considerable country, smoking fairly upon a distinctly large number of the landscapes. opium of prepared opium are still a source of profit to the There are scattered up and down the walls many Indian Government. Doubtless, smuggling from China pictures where close observation has resulted in and elsewhere continues to make the execution of broad effects, and where the display of technical a more stringent policy difficult, if not impossible, accomplishment has not been made at the expense and the League’s Far East Commission was probably of a beautiful whole. And these canvasses have right in saying " the radical method of dealing with gained by the more moderate size generally adopted. illicit traffic in opium is by controlling effectively But the portraits in many cases merit the judgment. the cultivation of the poppy, allowing only such The fault here, when it has occurred, must be shared quantities to be produced, under international control, by the public, especially in the case of presentation as for the world’s medical and scientific are pictures. For the representatives of those who have needs."required commissioned the pictures usually desire, and are sometimes able to insist, that the rendering of the SOCIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF OBSTETRICS. subject should follow their leading, which has to be THE increasing interest being shown by obstetritaken as the view of the donors. All portraits painted on commission, to meet the pleasure of a heterogeneous cians and gynaecologists in the sociological aspects group of subscribers, must run the risk of compromise, of their specialty is reflected in the subjects discussed Sir at recent meetings of the North of England Obstetrical and it is unfair not to recognise this fact. Arthur Cope’s successful portrait of Dr. Alfred Cox and Gynecological Society and the Edinburgh At a meeting of the former has been painted in circumstances that safeguarded Obstetrical Society. him from the risk, for the members of the selection society held in Liverpool on April 1st, Mr. committee were intimately familiar with Dr. Cox in Leyland Robinson, speaking on Insanity in Pregnancy, every phase of his activities, and at any point were described his attempt to throw light on the problem able to judge how far the picture represented the by drawing up a questionaire from the obstetric man and his works. The other important canvass standpoint and submitting it to a number of mental in the exhibition, having a medical man for its subject, experts. In reply to the question whether childis the presentation portrait by Mr. George Harcourt bearing is an important factor in the aetiology of of Colonel Thomas Sinclair, M.P. for Belfast, and insanity, most of the alienists consulted failed to emeritus professor of surgery in the Queen’s Univer- agree with the obstetrical view that pregnancy sity, having held the chair for nearly forty years. might exert a selective influence upon the mind of This is not such a challenging picture as Dr. Cox’s the pregnant woman. They attributed physical or portrait, because Dr. Cox is depicted in the robes of mental stress rather to abnormalities of parturition, an LL.D., whereas Prof. Sinclair is in morning dress ; such as sepsis or toxaemia, with consequent exhaustion, but it is a thoroughly competent and sympathetic than to the state of pregnancy itself. The following possible indications for the induction of abortion depiction. were given : (1) The onset of mania with great OPIUM SMOKING IN THE FAR EAST. violence during pregnancy, since this might lead to THE recommendations of the Bangkok conference1 dangerous exhaustion and it might be impossible to came under the consideration of the Opium Advisory control the muscular movements. (2) The appearance Committee of the League of Nations at Geneva on of mental symptoms in a pregnant woman who had April 22nd. It will be remembered that the con- developed insanity during a previous pregnancy. ference was concerned with the findings of a commis- (3) Mental disturbance founded on the conviction that death would ensue during labour, especially if associated 1 See THE LANCET, 1931, ii., 1143 ; Feb. 6th, 1932, p. 299 ; with attempts at suicide or homicide. (4) Pregnancy March 12th, p. 581.
Dr.
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Ingebrigtsen do not, however, jump to the sion appointed by the League to visit the Far East conclusion from these figures that a considerable and to report on the steps which had been, or should proportion of the cases of pleurisy were not tubercu- be, taken to fulfil the treaty obligations of 1912 and" lous. They confine themselves to the remark that 1925 to restrict and suppress the use of prepared "it would, therefore, seem that the tuberculous opium for smoking. The obstacle presented to clinical material was considerably more exposed than such achievement by the extent of the illicit smuggling the pleurisy material." Of the 313 persons traced of opium was also to engage the consideration of the in 1931, as many as 200 were found to be well. In commission. Dissatisfaction was expressed at the the interval 13 had died of non-tuberculous diseases, failure to fix a time within which the prohibition and 100 had developed tuberculosis which in 40 cases of import and export of prepared opium, as prescribed had already proved fatal. In nearly every case by the Hague Convention, should be effected ; nor tuberculosis developed within three years of the indeed does it appear that a term has been set from attack of pleurisy, and it would, therefore, seem which the period of 15 years’ grace, conceded by the that after this interval patients who suffered from Geneva Protocol of 1925, was to commence. The idiopathic pleurisy have not much to fear in the matter delegates of Italy and China denounced the conference of pulmonary tuberculosis. This disease broke out and its recommendations as tending to encourage a little more frequently among the patients whose rather than to restrict the sale of opium for smoking. pleurisy had been associated with fever lasting The American delegate urged prohibition of commerce more than a month than among those whose febrile in prepared opium, and distrusted the proposal for Government monopoly in the drug. He was period had been shorter. twitted by the British representative, who remarked that " prohibition " had not been altogether satisTHE ROYAL ACADEMY. in the States. The export of Indian opium THE annual display at Burlington House has factory for smoking, though undergoing an annual reduction received this year but a half-hearted welcome from of 10 led to criticism that this was per cent., expert judges, who find in the exhibition, despite much inconsistent withagain the principles of our dangerous. competent work, a tendency to retrogression-to an drugs legislation. Whereas heavy fines and imprisonover-reliance upon accepted methods and a distrust ment are meted out to those found in possession of of modern ideals. Such criticism cannot be passed for in this sales considerable country, smoking fairly upon a distinctly large number of the landscapes. opium of prepared opium are still a source of profit to the There are scattered up and down the walls many Indian Government. Doubtless, smuggling from China pictures where close observation has resulted in and elsewhere continues to make the execution of broad effects, and where the display of technical a more stringent policy difficult, if not impossible, accomplishment has not been made at the expense and the League’s Far East Commission was probably of a beautiful whole. And these canvasses have right in saying " the radical method of dealing with gained by the more moderate size generally adopted. illicit traffic in opium is by controlling effectively But the portraits in many cases merit the judgment. the cultivation of the poppy, allowing only such The fault here, when it has occurred, must be shared quantities to be produced, under international control, by the public, especially in the case of presentation as for the world’s medical and scientific are pictures. For the representatives of those who have needs."required commissioned the pictures usually desire, and are sometimes able to insist, that the rendering of the SOCIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF OBSTETRICS. subject should follow their leading, which has to be THE increasing interest being shown by obstetritaken as the view of the donors. All portraits painted on commission, to meet the pleasure of a heterogeneous cians and gynaecologists in the sociological aspects group of subscribers, must run the risk of compromise, of their specialty is reflected in the subjects discussed Sir at recent meetings of the North of England Obstetrical and it is unfair not to recognise this fact. Arthur Cope’s successful portrait of Dr. Alfred Cox and Gynecological Society and the Edinburgh At a meeting of the former has been painted in circumstances that safeguarded Obstetrical Society. him from the risk, for the members of the selection society held in Liverpool on April 1st, Mr. committee were intimately familiar with Dr. Cox in Leyland Robinson, speaking on Insanity in Pregnancy, every phase of his activities, and at any point were described his attempt to throw light on the problem able to judge how far the picture represented the by drawing up a questionaire from the obstetric man and his works. The other important canvass standpoint and submitting it to a number of mental in the exhibition, having a medical man for its subject, experts. In reply to the question whether childis the presentation portrait by Mr. George Harcourt bearing is an important factor in the aetiology of of Colonel Thomas Sinclair, M.P. for Belfast, and insanity, most of the alienists consulted failed to emeritus professor of surgery in the Queen’s Univer- agree with the obstetrical view that pregnancy sity, having held the chair for nearly forty years. might exert a selective influence upon the mind of This is not such a challenging picture as Dr. Cox’s the pregnant woman. They attributed physical or portrait, because Dr. Cox is depicted in the robes of mental stress rather to abnormalities of parturition, an LL.D., whereas Prof. Sinclair is in morning dress ; such as sepsis or toxaemia, with consequent exhaustion, but it is a thoroughly competent and sympathetic than to the state of pregnancy itself. The following possible indications for the induction of abortion depiction. were given : (1) The onset of mania with great OPIUM SMOKING IN THE FAR EAST. violence during pregnancy, since this might lead to THE recommendations of the Bangkok conference1 dangerous exhaustion and it might be impossible to came under the consideration of the Opium Advisory control the muscular movements. (2) The appearance Committee of the League of Nations at Geneva on of mental symptoms in a pregnant woman who had April 22nd. It will be remembered that the con- developed insanity during a previous pregnancy. ference was concerned with the findings of a commis- (3) Mental disturbance founded on the conviction that death would ensue during labour, especially if associated 1 See THE LANCET, 1931, ii., 1143 ; Feb. 6th, 1932, p. 299 ; with attempts at suicide or homicide. (4) Pregnancy March 12th, p. 581.
Dr.
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