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SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.
104 retained urea exerted its diuretic action with the result that marked polyuria occurred. There is a distinction between an azotaemic form showing little cedema, with the output of diastase and urea diminished, while that of the chlorides is normal, and a hydrsemic form with cedema, normal output of diastase and urea, but that of chlorides much reduced. In the former type MACLEAN advises a low protein diet until nitrogenous retention disIn the latter he only restricts protein appears. diet in the acute stages, but cuts off salt. He agrees with most other observers that stimulating diuretics are valueless ; nor has he much to say about the benefit of any other drugs. Venesection for convulsions, hot-air baths and purgation for oedema, and gradual exercises in convalescence, all meet with his approval. The immediate mortality throughout was low-probably about 2 per cent. Dr. S. C. DYKE found complete recovery in 60 per cent., while in 40 per cent. the re-establishment of renal function was incomplete. So far this report summarises in convenient form observations which in the main have already But in addition four tests for been published. renal efficiency are described. Three of these had been previously employed-the estimation of the urea in blood by Van Slyke’s method, the estimation of urinary chlorides, and the estimation of urinary diastase introduced by WOLGEMUTH which was applied to the earlier cases in this epidemic by MACKENZIE WALLIS with marked success in determining prognosis. But the remaining one is new and simple, and may prove of value in ordinary nephritis. Fifteen grammes of urea are dissolved in 100 c.cm. of water, and the mixture navoured with a few drops of tincture of orange. The patient empties his bladder and then drinks the solution. He empties it again one and two hours later, and the percentage of urea in these specimens is estimated by the hypobromite method. A concentration of 2 per cent. or more in the first specimen may be taken as evidence of an efficient kidney, rendering examination of the second unA moderately efficient kidney may necessary. show a concentration of 1’5 per cent., while 1 per cent. or less means that the kidney is seriously damaged. It is claimed for this test that it has been of great value in assessing the degree of disability produced by war nephritis. The part played by Sir WALTER FLETCHER, the secretary of the Medical Research Committee, has been very valuable; his initiative and persistent interest in the subject have made this important series of observations possible. MONYHULL
COLONY
FOR
EPILEPTICS
AND
THE
the war an important section of the lst Southern General Hospital, which had taken over large buildings recently erected. These buildings will now revert to their proper use for epileptic and feeble-minded children, and form an addition to the older colony for adults. The committee have wisely expressed the view that great opportunities will be provided for investigation, and have decided to make arrangements for medical research. The colony will be the largest establishment of its kind in the country.
FEEBLE-MINDED.-Monyhull
was
during
Annotations. "Ne quid nimis."
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.
UNDER the stress of war, especially in the last two years, time-honoured prejudices yielded to a fuller and freer discussion of essential aims. As a result of this salutary process many’kinds of industry came
into
more
intimate touch with scientific
research, which in its turn found new objectives of great interest. Science, in fact, began to rejoice in its heritage of vivifying and explaining the common things of life. Of the institutions in this country
which contributed to this desirable result none earned a higher place than the Imperial College of Science and Technology at South Kensington. Enjoined by its Charter to train students in science, with special relation to the needs of industry, this college, on the recommendation of the Haldane Commission on University Education in London, became a constituent unit of London University in the faculty of science. In the final report of the Commission it was stated, in contrast with other foundations, that the Imperial College was so well equipped and so efficiently staffed that no further provision was held necessary in order to qualify it for inclusion as a constituent college of the University. At the same time the Royal Commission expressed a difficulty in regard to a faculty of ’, technology. " It would be the report ’, runs, " if the teaching unfortunate," of pure science were ’ altogether removed from the college. It would be detrimental to the students by narrowing the range of intellectual interests represented among them, and equally detrimental to the technological teachers whose work is based upon the principles of pure science and who find in the investigations of the pure scientist the support and suggestions which lead to fresh applications of a practical kind." The hope was expressed in the report that the Committee for Technology should not organise their departments in a way detrimental to the faculty of science as a whole. The misgivings of the Commission do not seem, however, to have been realised quite in the way expected, for in a letter to the Times of Dec. 31st, over the signatures of 22 members of the professorial staff of the Imperial College, it is asserted that the college has, from its foundation, endeavoured to carry out the injunction to train students in science with special relation to the needs of industry, not by sacrificing the methods of science but by adapting them to specialised needs. The signatories, who number among them 13 Fellows of the Royal Society, claim that there is room both for the more academic and the more utilitarian aspects of science, and admit no fundamental deviation in principle involved in training with industrial needs in view. The brief period of association with the University of London has been felt by the college staff, not as a stimulus to scientific work, but as a drag upon the best prospects of development, and this feeling took the form of a deputation to Mr. Balfour and Mr. H. A. L. Fisher on Dec. 15th, when the case for the granting of its own degrees by the Imperial College was ably set forth by Professor W. W. Watts and others. The force and cogency of their arguments cannot be resisted, and upon them they build a plea that their specialised and independent curricula should lead to degrees
105
granted on their own responsibility alone. The final science examinations of the University of London are different in plan and in character, with the result that second-rate students of the Imperial College may obtain first-rate degrees and vice The needs of industry are so pressing, versa. and its scientific development is changing so rapidly from year to year, and almost from month to month, that flexibility must be regarded as an essential part of any union of science and industry. Professor M. J. M. Hill, in a reply to the joint letter published in the Times of Jan. 3rd, states that public opinion is not yet ripe for dispensing with external examiners in science degrees, or, as another writer has put it, " branding your own herrings." Professor Hill suggests a modification of the statute allowing the z, examiners for the degree to consist of the student’s teacher and an external examiner, plus a referee to act only in the event of a difference of opinion arising between the other two. It is doubtful whether such a liberal concession as this will now content the professorial staff of the Imperial College. They have a vision of science in relation to industry not less noble than the academic science of the last generation, and we have little doubt that they will attain their object. If they do so it may set the precedent for the disruption of the University, as Professor W. H. Bragg and Professor E. H. Starling plead for a similar release of University College and King’s College from what they have in practice found to be a deterrent influence. Dr. H. E. Armstrong, in another contribution to this correspondence, would grant autonomy to each college, encouraging each to assume special features : the Imperial College as a centre for physical science and engineering, University College as a centre for biological science, King’s College As this would mean that as a centre for arts. certain faculties might be unrepresented in a particular University strong resistance can be
classes
of
Poles.
population hygiene houses
were
many of the Jewish
Among was
poor and
of
a
low standard ; their
insanitary; the inhabitants
dirty ; typhoid and other infections were prevalent, with the exception of small-pox, which had a strikingly small incidence. Among other classes of Poles who were cleaner, more hygienic, and better circumstanced in sanitation generally, small-pox had a very heavy incidence. On a were
review of all the factors and circumstances which could bear on this remarkable difference in the incidence of small-pox, there was to be found only one explanation which could account for the phenomena-namely, the fact that the Jewish population was well vaccinated, the others were not. It was evidently a case of survival of the fittest, and the Jews, knowing how to look after themselves, survived. As regards the incidence of infectious disease among the soldiers, the same events which occurred among British troops are related by Dr. Sobernheim to have occurred among the German troops-that is to say, it was recognised that individual hygiene was impossible; men could not possibly escape infection as they could in civil life, nor could cases of small-pox be isolated as they occurred. Therefore the only available expedient was to immunise the individual in order to make him efficient. This was done by revaccination on the soldiers joining up, and also, where necessary, in the camp and field. Vaccination of the civil population was less efficient. The result was seen in 1915, for instance. In that year small-pox attained such proportions in Austria that the deaths from it were 23,500 (giving a case-inciBut the disease dence of at least 100,000). did not spread in Germany. There was hardly Dr. more small-pox there than in peace-time. Sobernheim’s paper also refers to the usual objections to vaccinations ; he appreciates the protection enjoyed by Switzerland owing to the efficiency of vaccination in Germany; nevertheless he has anticipated. important recommendations for Switzerland, which are well worth the notice of legislators here. Notes VACCINATION AND THE WAR. are added about the method of spread of infection, IN the Swiss medical journal OO1’ret;pondenz-Blatt and about recent research into the nature of smallof Dec. 4th, 1919, Professor G. Sobernheim, of pox infection. Altogether a notable epidemiological Bern, contributes some observations on the contribution, if only for its appreciation of a fact behaviour of small-pox and vaccination among imperfectly understood on this side of the Channel the Central Powers during the war, with special -namely, how much the work of army medical reference to precautions which may be requisite officers protected the civil population at home. to keep small-pox out of Switzerland. Vaccination was again on its trial, the occasion was unique, and there was an experiment on the grandest REFORM IN THE LAW OF DEATH CERTIFICATION. scale. Once again the protective value of vaccinaRECENTLY in the House of Commons Mr. John tion was proved beyond all shadow of doubt. It Davison asked the Minister of Health whether, is chiefly as a source of illustrations of this thesis in connexion with his consideration of intended that Professor Sobernheim’s ten pages of observa- reforms in the present law of death certification, tions are of value. The German military machine he would take note of the desirability of providing had suffered from small-pox in 1870-71. Accord- that no medical practitioner should certify a death ingly universal compulsory vaccination was without having first inspected the body, and that installed in 1874 as a military measure. The all deaths occurring suddenly after operations or time and the the vaccination or inoculation or drug injections should of wisdom testing arrived, vaccination policy was abundantly vindicated. Dr. be reported to the coroner by the medical practiSobernheim makes the interesting observation, for tioner in attendance. To this question Dr. Addison instance, that small-pox among the civil popula- replied that the points referred to should be contion in Berlin was a disease of older persons, in sidered. Doubtless, Mr. Davison meant more than whom vaccination had partly worn out; in 1917 his question implied. We are not aware that 80 per cent. of the small-pox cases in Berlin were medical men do " certify deaths without first inover 40 years of age. The younger people, in specting the body; it is certainly not desirable that whom vaccination was recent, scarcely suffered at they should. On the other hand, that no medical all from the disease. Another striking fact was man should certify as to the cause of death of a the behaviour of small-pox among the various person under his care, whose death is reported to
COLONY
FOR
EPILEPTICS
AND
THE
the war an important section of the lst Southern General Hospital, which had taken over large buildings recently erected. These buildings will now revert to their proper use for epileptic and feeble-minded children, and form an addition to the older colony for adults. The committee have wisely expressed the view that great opportunities will be provided for investigation, and have decided to make arrangements for medical research. The colony will be the largest establishment of its kind in the country.
FEEBLE-MINDED.-Monyhull
was
during
Annotations. "Ne quid nimis."
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.
UNDER the stress of war, especially in the last two years, time-honoured prejudices yielded to a fuller and freer discussion of essential aims. As a result of this salutary process many’kinds of industry came
into
more
intimate touch with scientific
research, which in its turn found new objectives of great interest. Science, in fact, began to rejoice in its heritage of vivifying and explaining the common things of life. Of the institutions in this country
which contributed to this desirable result none earned a higher place than the Imperial College of Science and Technology at South Kensington. Enjoined by its Charter to train students in science, with special relation to the needs of industry, this college, on the recommendation of the Haldane Commission on University Education in London, became a constituent unit of London University in the faculty of science. In the final report of the Commission it was stated, in contrast with other foundations, that the Imperial College was so well equipped and so efficiently staffed that no further provision was held necessary in order to qualify it for inclusion as a constituent college of the University. At the same time the Royal Commission expressed a difficulty in regard to a faculty of ’, technology. " It would be the report ’, runs, " if the teaching unfortunate," of pure science were ’ altogether removed from the college. It would be detrimental to the students by narrowing the range of intellectual interests represented among them, and equally detrimental to the technological teachers whose work is based upon the principles of pure science and who find in the investigations of the pure scientist the support and suggestions which lead to fresh applications of a practical kind." The hope was expressed in the report that the Committee for Technology should not organise their departments in a way detrimental to the faculty of science as a whole. The misgivings of the Commission do not seem, however, to have been realised quite in the way expected, for in a letter to the Times of Dec. 31st, over the signatures of 22 members of the professorial staff of the Imperial College, it is asserted that the college has, from its foundation, endeavoured to carry out the injunction to train students in science with special relation to the needs of industry, not by sacrificing the methods of science but by adapting them to specialised needs. The signatories, who number among them 13 Fellows of the Royal Society, claim that there is room both for the more academic and the more utilitarian aspects of science, and admit no fundamental deviation in principle involved in training with industrial needs in view. The brief period of association with the University of London has been felt by the college staff, not as a stimulus to scientific work, but as a drag upon the best prospects of development, and this feeling took the form of a deputation to Mr. Balfour and Mr. H. A. L. Fisher on Dec. 15th, when the case for the granting of its own degrees by the Imperial College was ably set forth by Professor W. W. Watts and others. The force and cogency of their arguments cannot be resisted, and upon them they build a plea that their specialised and independent curricula should lead to degrees
105
granted on their own responsibility alone. The final science examinations of the University of London are different in plan and in character, with the result that second-rate students of the Imperial College may obtain first-rate degrees and vice The needs of industry are so pressing, versa. and its scientific development is changing so rapidly from year to year, and almost from month to month, that flexibility must be regarded as an essential part of any union of science and industry. Professor M. J. M. Hill, in a reply to the joint letter published in the Times of Jan. 3rd, states that public opinion is not yet ripe for dispensing with external examiners in science degrees, or, as another writer has put it, " branding your own herrings." Professor Hill suggests a modification of the statute allowing the z, examiners for the degree to consist of the student’s teacher and an external examiner, plus a referee to act only in the event of a difference of opinion arising between the other two. It is doubtful whether such a liberal concession as this will now content the professorial staff of the Imperial College. They have a vision of science in relation to industry not less noble than the academic science of the last generation, and we have little doubt that they will attain their object. If they do so it may set the precedent for the disruption of the University, as Professor W. H. Bragg and Professor E. H. Starling plead for a similar release of University College and King’s College from what they have in practice found to be a deterrent influence. Dr. H. E. Armstrong, in another contribution to this correspondence, would grant autonomy to each college, encouraging each to assume special features : the Imperial College as a centre for physical science and engineering, University College as a centre for biological science, King’s College As this would mean that as a centre for arts. certain faculties might be unrepresented in a particular University strong resistance can be
classes
of
Poles.
population hygiene houses
were
many of the Jewish
Among was
poor and
of
a
low standard ; their
insanitary; the inhabitants
dirty ; typhoid and other infections were prevalent, with the exception of small-pox, which had a strikingly small incidence. Among other classes of Poles who were cleaner, more hygienic, and better circumstanced in sanitation generally, small-pox had a very heavy incidence. On a were
review of all the factors and circumstances which could bear on this remarkable difference in the incidence of small-pox, there was to be found only one explanation which could account for the phenomena-namely, the fact that the Jewish population was well vaccinated, the others were not. It was evidently a case of survival of the fittest, and the Jews, knowing how to look after themselves, survived. As regards the incidence of infectious disease among the soldiers, the same events which occurred among British troops are related by Dr. Sobernheim to have occurred among the German troops-that is to say, it was recognised that individual hygiene was impossible; men could not possibly escape infection as they could in civil life, nor could cases of small-pox be isolated as they occurred. Therefore the only available expedient was to immunise the individual in order to make him efficient. This was done by revaccination on the soldiers joining up, and also, where necessary, in the camp and field. Vaccination of the civil population was less efficient. The result was seen in 1915, for instance. In that year small-pox attained such proportions in Austria that the deaths from it were 23,500 (giving a case-inciBut the disease dence of at least 100,000). did not spread in Germany. There was hardly Dr. more small-pox there than in peace-time. Sobernheim’s paper also refers to the usual objections to vaccinations ; he appreciates the protection enjoyed by Switzerland owing to the efficiency of vaccination in Germany; nevertheless he has anticipated. important recommendations for Switzerland, which are well worth the notice of legislators here. Notes VACCINATION AND THE WAR. are added about the method of spread of infection, IN the Swiss medical journal OO1’ret;pondenz-Blatt and about recent research into the nature of smallof Dec. 4th, 1919, Professor G. Sobernheim, of pox infection. Altogether a notable epidemiological Bern, contributes some observations on the contribution, if only for its appreciation of a fact behaviour of small-pox and vaccination among imperfectly understood on this side of the Channel the Central Powers during the war, with special -namely, how much the work of army medical reference to precautions which may be requisite officers protected the civil population at home. to keep small-pox out of Switzerland. Vaccination was again on its trial, the occasion was unique, and there was an experiment on the grandest REFORM IN THE LAW OF DEATH CERTIFICATION. scale. Once again the protective value of vaccinaRECENTLY in the House of Commons Mr. John tion was proved beyond all shadow of doubt. It Davison asked the Minister of Health whether, is chiefly as a source of illustrations of this thesis in connexion with his consideration of intended that Professor Sobernheim’s ten pages of observa- reforms in the present law of death certification, tions are of value. The German military machine he would take note of the desirability of providing had suffered from small-pox in 1870-71. Accord- that no medical practitioner should certify a death ingly universal compulsory vaccination was without having first inspected the body, and that installed in 1874 as a military measure. The all deaths occurring suddenly after operations or time and the the vaccination or inoculation or drug injections should of wisdom testing arrived, vaccination policy was abundantly vindicated. Dr. be reported to the coroner by the medical practiSobernheim makes the interesting observation, for tioner in attendance. To this question Dr. Addison instance, that small-pox among the civil popula- replied that the points referred to should be contion in Berlin was a disease of older persons, in sidered. Doubtless, Mr. Davison meant more than whom vaccination had partly worn out; in 1917 his question implied. We are not aware that 80 per cent. of the small-pox cases in Berlin were medical men do " certify deaths without first inover 40 years of age. The younger people, in specting the body; it is certainly not desirable that whom vaccination was recent, scarcely suffered at they should. On the other hand, that no medical all from the disease. Another striking fact was man should certify as to the cause of death of a the behaviour of small-pox among the various person under his care, whose death is reported to