- Email: [email protected]
SCHOOL CLOSURE FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
141 I have
no
objection
to
criticism.
severe
On the
contrary, I like it. It is beneficial to a writer. But I think-that your reviewer is hardly entitled to condemn my volume wholesale and accuse me repeatedly of producing " statistical fallacies," a polite way of saying something grossly impolite. I would, therefore, ask
Irecall that at the time when
of
King George’s coronation,
week’s holiday was granted at most public schools, our school was in the midst of an epidemic of measles. We advised parents that travel was a risk to boys who had not had measles, and we expressed willingness to keep unprotected boys, of whom a few your reviewer either to substantiate his accusation or stayed. Although every boy who had not had measles to withdraw it. He owes an explanation rather to was carefully examined before leaving, at least threeyour readers than to me, and I trust that in the developed the disease on their long journey home. interests of fair play you will print my letter and give One of these nearly died and was never fit for school again. In the influenza outbreak of 1918 all parentsyour reviewer space for a reply. were urged not to take their boys home until after the I am., Sir, yours very truly, epidemic was over. Only on special request, and with J. ELLIS BARKER. July 12th. 1924. a signed statement that all risks were accepted, wa& * *Cancer is a disease which has no specific any boy allowed to leave, and only a few went. One symptoms and no obvious signs, except when a who lived in Edinburgh developed influenza on the tumour happens to be on the surface of the body. journey and died of pneumonia. This was the only It can be diagnosed with certainty only by death in connexion with the school. 410 cases were scopic examination either after operation or after nursed here, all of which recovered and were able to death. It increases rapidly with increasing age, and go home at Christmas. Every house was converted rarely affects young people. In order to make a into a hospital ; directly a boy complained he was put statistical comparison between the incidence of cancer to bed and examined. The results of these twoin different communities it is necessary to know : epidemics would certainly have removed any doubts (1) The size of the population in the community ; I may previously have cherished. Further, in the (2) its age-constitution; (3) the facilities for medical summer of 1922, when we had 127 cases of measles, examination and readiness on the part of the com- the school kept going, and every case did well. Of munity to avail themselves of medical help ; (4) the course, a school should have sanatorium accommodafacilities for post-mortem examination, since even tion adequate to its numbers, and it is notorious that. with the best medical service available about 30 per preparatory and boarding schools are often short of cent. of cases of cancer are only recognised at the such accommodation, when there is nothing for it but post-mortem examination. In uncivilised races our to send the unfortunate children home. Paragraph knowledge of (1) and (2) is nil, facilities for (4) are nil, XXIII. of the Code of Rules drawn up by the Society of and facilities for (3) are much less than in a civilised Medical Officers of Schools is clear, and I agree with it. community. Even between different civilised com- As for the elementary schools, the unfortunate medical munities a useful comparison of cancer statistics is officer is pretty well bound to close the school when impossible unless facilities for (3) and (4) are about attendances drop, to save financial loss through equal. As an example of the author’s arguments we stoppage of grants. You will have done good if you wake up public might refer to p. 27, where, in order to prove that " cancer is increasing in the most startling manner," opinion against a practice which results in the school he compares the death-rate from cancer in England authorities taking fees and doing little or nothing in in 1838-42 with that in 1921, and points out that it return except avail themselves of the opportunity toIn 1838-42 Virchow had shut down on the outbreak of infectious disease. has increased sevenfold. not lived and pathology as a science did not exist. There is the risk of spreading the particular infection at home. -ED. L. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, MEDICAL OFFICER TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL. July 15th, 1924. CENTENARY OF UNIVERSITY a
micro-
COLLEGE,
LONDON. A CHEMICAL ENCYCLOPÆDIA. To the Editor of THE LANCET. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—The hundredth anniversary of the foundation of University College, London, will be celebrated in SIR,—I feel bound to make a protest against the 1926. Materials (records, reminiscences, pictures, scandalous way in which my Chemical Encyclopaedia. photographs, &c.) are being collected with a view to (third edition) has been dealt with by your reviewer the production of a history of the College as a part of in THE LANCET of July 5th, and would call your the centenary celebrations. The volume will include attention to the reviews given in the Chemical Trade Journal of May 9th and the Pharmaceutical Journal a chapter on the contribution of the College to medical education and research. Members and friends of May 17th, both of which are enclosed herewith, of the College are invited to send such materials as and which will show you that the book covers practically the whole areas of chemical science, materials, they can contribute to my care for the use of historian, who will shortly be appointed. All docu- theory, terms, and its application to chemical ments will be carefully marked with the owner’s names industries and chemical engineering. No attempt has and will, in due course, be returned unless the owners ever been made before to produce an encyclopaedia desire to present them for the College archives. covering so much ground and (according to the general Communications and parcels (marked " Centenary consensus of expressed opinions) the task has not been unsuccessfully accomplished ; yet your reviewer should be sent to me at the College. dismisses such laboriously achieved work with a I am, Sir, yours faithfully, somewhat contemptuous reference of eight lines. GREGORY
the
FOSTER,
Fellow and Provost.
University College, London, July, 1924.
SCHOOL CLOSURE FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
In conclusion, I would refer you to THE LANCET review of the second edition (which was a work of a much smaller and less comprehensive character) given in your issue of Feb. 18th, 1922, and I hope you will see some way of doing more justice to me in the matter.. I am. Sir. vours faithfullv. C. T. KINGZETT. Weybridge, July 7th, 1924.
To the Editor of THE LANCET. * * The works of direct professional interest are SIR,—The leading article in your issue of May 3rd now very numerous and our space is chiefly employed hits off precisely the views accepted at our public in the attempt to notice them fully and promptly. school. Our practice is to let the parents know, while There is nothing contemptuous whatever in a brief we advise them to allow the boys to remain. Should review, at least in intention, especially where the work. they remove them, they do so at their own risk. in question is in its third edition.-ED. L.
no
objection
to
criticism.
severe
On the
contrary, I like it. It is beneficial to a writer. But I think-that your reviewer is hardly entitled to condemn my volume wholesale and accuse me repeatedly of producing " statistical fallacies," a polite way of saying something grossly impolite. I would, therefore, ask
Irecall that at the time when
of
King George’s coronation,
week’s holiday was granted at most public schools, our school was in the midst of an epidemic of measles. We advised parents that travel was a risk to boys who had not had measles, and we expressed willingness to keep unprotected boys, of whom a few your reviewer either to substantiate his accusation or stayed. Although every boy who had not had measles to withdraw it. He owes an explanation rather to was carefully examined before leaving, at least threeyour readers than to me, and I trust that in the developed the disease on their long journey home. interests of fair play you will print my letter and give One of these nearly died and was never fit for school again. In the influenza outbreak of 1918 all parentsyour reviewer space for a reply. were urged not to take their boys home until after the I am., Sir, yours very truly, epidemic was over. Only on special request, and with J. ELLIS BARKER. July 12th. 1924. a signed statement that all risks were accepted, wa& * *Cancer is a disease which has no specific any boy allowed to leave, and only a few went. One symptoms and no obvious signs, except when a who lived in Edinburgh developed influenza on the tumour happens to be on the surface of the body. journey and died of pneumonia. This was the only It can be diagnosed with certainty only by death in connexion with the school. 410 cases were scopic examination either after operation or after nursed here, all of which recovered and were able to death. It increases rapidly with increasing age, and go home at Christmas. Every house was converted rarely affects young people. In order to make a into a hospital ; directly a boy complained he was put statistical comparison between the incidence of cancer to bed and examined. The results of these twoin different communities it is necessary to know : epidemics would certainly have removed any doubts (1) The size of the population in the community ; I may previously have cherished. Further, in the (2) its age-constitution; (3) the facilities for medical summer of 1922, when we had 127 cases of measles, examination and readiness on the part of the com- the school kept going, and every case did well. Of munity to avail themselves of medical help ; (4) the course, a school should have sanatorium accommodafacilities for post-mortem examination, since even tion adequate to its numbers, and it is notorious that. with the best medical service available about 30 per preparatory and boarding schools are often short of cent. of cases of cancer are only recognised at the such accommodation, when there is nothing for it but post-mortem examination. In uncivilised races our to send the unfortunate children home. Paragraph knowledge of (1) and (2) is nil, facilities for (4) are nil, XXIII. of the Code of Rules drawn up by the Society of and facilities for (3) are much less than in a civilised Medical Officers of Schools is clear, and I agree with it. community. Even between different civilised com- As for the elementary schools, the unfortunate medical munities a useful comparison of cancer statistics is officer is pretty well bound to close the school when impossible unless facilities for (3) and (4) are about attendances drop, to save financial loss through equal. As an example of the author’s arguments we stoppage of grants. You will have done good if you wake up public might refer to p. 27, where, in order to prove that " cancer is increasing in the most startling manner," opinion against a practice which results in the school he compares the death-rate from cancer in England authorities taking fees and doing little or nothing in in 1838-42 with that in 1921, and points out that it return except avail themselves of the opportunity toIn 1838-42 Virchow had shut down on the outbreak of infectious disease. has increased sevenfold. not lived and pathology as a science did not exist. There is the risk of spreading the particular infection at home. -ED. L. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, MEDICAL OFFICER TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL. July 15th, 1924. CENTENARY OF UNIVERSITY a
micro-
COLLEGE,
LONDON. A CHEMICAL ENCYCLOPÆDIA. To the Editor of THE LANCET. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—The hundredth anniversary of the foundation of University College, London, will be celebrated in SIR,—I feel bound to make a protest against the 1926. Materials (records, reminiscences, pictures, scandalous way in which my Chemical Encyclopaedia. photographs, &c.) are being collected with a view to (third edition) has been dealt with by your reviewer the production of a history of the College as a part of in THE LANCET of July 5th, and would call your the centenary celebrations. The volume will include attention to the reviews given in the Chemical Trade Journal of May 9th and the Pharmaceutical Journal a chapter on the contribution of the College to medical education and research. Members and friends of May 17th, both of which are enclosed herewith, of the College are invited to send such materials as and which will show you that the book covers practically the whole areas of chemical science, materials, they can contribute to my care for the use of historian, who will shortly be appointed. All docu- theory, terms, and its application to chemical ments will be carefully marked with the owner’s names industries and chemical engineering. No attempt has and will, in due course, be returned unless the owners ever been made before to produce an encyclopaedia desire to present them for the College archives. covering so much ground and (according to the general Communications and parcels (marked " Centenary consensus of expressed opinions) the task has not been unsuccessfully accomplished ; yet your reviewer should be sent to me at the College. dismisses such laboriously achieved work with a I am, Sir, yours faithfully, somewhat contemptuous reference of eight lines. GREGORY
the
FOSTER,
Fellow and Provost.
University College, London, July, 1924.
SCHOOL CLOSURE FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
In conclusion, I would refer you to THE LANCET review of the second edition (which was a work of a much smaller and less comprehensive character) given in your issue of Feb. 18th, 1922, and I hope you will see some way of doing more justice to me in the matter.. I am. Sir. vours faithfullv. C. T. KINGZETT. Weybridge, July 7th, 1924.
To the Editor of THE LANCET. * * The works of direct professional interest are SIR,—The leading article in your issue of May 3rd now very numerous and our space is chiefly employed hits off precisely the views accepted at our public in the attempt to notice them fully and promptly. school. Our practice is to let the parents know, while There is nothing contemptuous whatever in a brief we advise them to allow the boys to remain. Should review, at least in intention, especially where the work. they remove them, they do so at their own risk. in question is in its third edition.-ED. L.