- Email: [email protected]
SEVENTEENTH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF MEDICINE (LONDON, 1913).
320
METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL SUNDAY FUND.
of some of the firms in question, he said that one firm submitted that its products were more nutritious than any other preparation of the kind ; again, a statement advertised very generally was to the effect that the starch present in the foods ’had been altered, so that it could be digested and assimilated
METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL SUNDAY FUND.
Mansion trihntinti THE
following
are
House up to
among the amounts received at the July 22nd (total available for dis-
.F.df) 700)
pensing, using flllid drachm of sodium nitrite solution with 7½ fluid drachms of alcohol acidified with lactic acid. The proposal was made in view of the forthcoming PharmaDott also read short notes on Strychnine and Arsenates of Strychnine. In a note on Solution of Sodium Ethylate Mr. H. FINNEMORE, B.Sc , said it usually happened when this solution was required for use theI I stock" was dark in colour_; ;although its medicinal properties are not affected by this colouration, the user is apt to assume that deterioration has accompanied the change. A sample of solution of sodium ’methylate showed no trace of discolouration after two years. Mr. Finnemore also (with Mr. G. E. TOWN) contributed a mote on Bartsia Odontites. A communication on Padophyllum Emodi was contributed ’by Mr. J. C. UMNEY, F.C S., who referred to the second ’report of the Indigenous Drugs Committee of India, which -dealt with Podophyllum emodi amongst other drugs. Some medical opinions recorded in that committee’s report indicated that the purgative action of P. emodi resin was better -than that of podophyllum resin (B.P.), as the drug did not
copoeia. Mr. Hypophosphite
SEVENTEENTH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF MEDICINE
(LONDON, 1913). MEETING
I ’
OF
ORGANISING COMMITTEE.
A MEETING of the Organising Committee was held on Friday, July 14th, at the Royal College of Physicians of London, Sir THOMAS BARLOW, the President, being in the
chair.
There were present, among others, Sir Dyce Duckworth, Dr. F. W. Pavy, Sir William Bennett, Sir William Allchin, Sir William Osler, Dr. Norman Moore, Professor G. Sims Woodhead, Sir David Ferrier, Sir Malcolm Morris, Sir R Havelock Charles, Sir David Bruce, Dr. Squire Sprigge, Mr. G. H. Makins, Dr. W. P. Herringham, Dr. A. E. Garrod, Mr. C. T. Dent, Dr. T. D. Acland, Dr. Herbert Saencer, Sir A. Pearce Gould, Sir Watson Cheyne, Sir Shirley Murphy, Dr. Frederick Taylor, and Dr. Dudley Buxton. The minutes of the last meeting, -as published in THE LANCET and British Medical Journal of April 8th, 1911, were confirmed. Letters of regret were read from 20 members of the committee who were unable to attend. The report of the Executive Committee was adopted as follows :That the printing of the Transactions of the Congress be entrusted DEATH FROM SALVARSAN.-At the Hacknev to (1) the Oxford Press; (2) that the Royal Albert Hall be engaged for the - ’coroner’s court on July 19th Dr. W. Wynn Westcott week of the Congress, to serve as post office. bureau, and site for the ,held an inquest with reference to the death of a man, aged exhibition of medical appliances; and (3) that the arrangements to be out the exhibition of medical appliances, in accordmade for - 47 years, who died from the effects of taking salvarsan, ance withcarrying the resolution of the Organising Committee, be left in the or "606." Dr. George Dorner, medical officer of the hands of the Finance Committee, with power to act and report to the German Hospital, said the deceased suffered from loco- Executive Committee. motor ataxy. His condition was serious. The HONORARY GENERAL SECRETARY (Dr. W. P. He was treated with salvarsan and received an injection of 0-6 gramme, Herringham) reported that the regulations proposed at the - =about 7 grains being the dose. After the treatment he last meeting of the Organising Committee had been laid ’became worse and died. Tne jury returned a verdict that before the Permanent Commission, and had been, with ’.the man died as a result of the injection of salvarsan slight modifications, adopted. The question arose as to the rules which should be .properly used.
,
CENTRAL MIDWIVES BOARD.-VITAL STATISTIOS. followed in sending official invitations. The matter was left in the hands of the officers for report to the Organising Committee. The PRESIDENT then moved :1. That it is desirable that the staffs of sections should include members from the colonies.
This
was
unanimously apprcved.
2. That the secretary should be instructed to communicate with (a) the President and Secretary of the Canadian National Committee for International Medical Congresses; (b) the President of the Australasian Medical Congress ; and (c) the officers of the South African branch of the British Medical Association, asking them to nominate such of their members as they may think fitted by their scientific eminence to serve on the staff of such sections.
This resolution was unanimously approved. The PRESIDENT then submitted the list of the officers of Congress and of the staff of such sections as were already completed. This was ratified by the committee. Further names will be added in accordance with the resolutions above. The committee then adjourned.
CENTRAL MIDWIVES BOARD. A MEETING of the Central Midwives Board was held at Caxton House, Westminster, on July 20th, with ir FRANClg CHAMPNEYS in the chair. Dr. G. E. HERMAN moved :— That it is expedient to act upon the following resolution: "A midwife will be deemed to have discharged the duty imposed upon her by Rule E, 20 (5) if, after having filled up the form of sending for medical help and handed it to the parent or friend, she adBises the parents either to: (a) ask a registered medical practitioner to come to the child ; (b) send the child to a registered medical practitioner ; or (c) send the child to a hospital, according to the circumstances of each case." The rule referred to provides that medical help must be sent for" in the case of the child, when there is any abnormality or complication, such as injuries received during birth, any malformation or deformity in a child that seems likely to live, dangerous feebleness, ii2f[ammation of, or discharge from, the eyes, however slight, serious skin eruptions, inflammation about the navel." The CHAIRMAN said that at a recent penal meeting of the Board he was afked if the midwife was complying with the rules if she sent a child to the doctor. His answer was that she was not, but thinking it over he came to the conclusion that the midwife was complying with the rules. In Liverpool, for instance, there was a good eye hospital, and in the case of ophthalmia neonatorum he thought a midwife would be doing right in sending the child to such a hospital. The midwife must, however, not fail to notify the local supervising authority, and to fill up the form for summoning medical help. He desired the Board to note that his remarks must be taken as information for the Board, and not in support of the resolution proposed by Dr. Herman. Mr. PARKER YourlG said that the midwife might get into difficulties if she sent a child to the doctor instead of having the child first seen by a doctor and then acting on the advice
given. After the CHAIRMAN had pointed out that in the circumstances the child’s interests were safeguarded, Dr. HERMAN agreed to withdraw his motion. A letter was considered from Dr. Comyns Berkeley,
obstetlic physician, Middlesex Hospital, on behalf of the board of the hospital with regard to a complaint made by a certified midwife of the inadequacy of the training given at the hospital. The further consideration of the matter was adjourned in order to afford an opportunity to members of the Board to visit the Middlesex Hospital and observe the methods of training adopted at that institution. A letter was comidered from the clerk of the Notts county
weekly
council as to the difficulty experienced in securing the conviction of uncertified women for practising contrary to the provisions of Section 1 (2) of the Midwives Act, 1902. The Board decided it be suggested to the local supervising authority : (a) That an opportunity be taken of appealing to the High Court from any decision of a Petty Sessional Court holding as a matter of law that, in the absence of proof by the prosecntion that the uncertified woman attending a midwifery case has been engaged beforehand, the case becomes one of emergency within the meaning of Section 1 (2) of the Midwives Act, 1902 ; (b) that the local supervising authority
321
should itself report direct to the General Medical Counci]D a medical practitionerany case in which, in their opinion, has been guilty of "covering."" A letter was considered from the town clerk of Sheffield as to the Board’s procedure on the citation of midwives against, whom primd-facie cases have been found by local supervising authorities. The Board decided that the town clerk: of ShEffield be informed that the meetings of the Board areopen to representatives of the pres who have received permission to attend, and that the citation of women against. whom local supervising authoiities have found vri7nd-faei& cases of malpractice, negligence, or misconduct is a part of the Board’s proceedings ; that the responsibility of publishing any particular item of business transacted at the meeting rests with the press, and that the Board is not prepared to alter its procedure nor to argue the case further. The Board had under consideration the National InsuranceBill, so far as it affects the practice of midwives, and adopted the following memorandum embodying the views of the Board on the National Insurance Bill :— The Board and the National Insurance Bill. The followirg is the memorandum to be submitted to the Chancellor of the Exchequer by the Central Midwives. Board :The Midwives Act of 1902 was passed in the interests of the mothers. and infants of England ; this Act recognises midwives as an important body directly concerned with the safety of pregnant, parturient, and lying-in women and their infants. The results of their work during’ nearly ten years past are shown in the reduced maternal mortality as appears from the statistics of the Registrar-General. In the Insurance Bill now before Parliament the midwife is ignored. The Central Midwives Board urges that this position, which it can. hardly believe is intentional, should be so modified in the Bill that freechoice should be given to mothers whether they wish to be attended by a medical practitioner or by a midwife. It is desirable that the position of midwives under the Bill should be recognised and defined, and their duties in respect of maternity benefits distinguished from those of the medical profession. In our opinion it would be in the interests of the public health that ar representative of the Central Midwives Board, as a statutory body, should be upon the Advisory Committee (Clause 42) ; also that midwives should be represented upon Local Health Uommittees (Clause 43 (5) )It would be advantageous that any rules or regulations of a general character relating to maternity benefits should be submitted to the Central Midwives Board for consideration, this body having been constituted the authority in charge of the regulation of the practice of midwives and having a wide experience thereon.
VITAL STATISTICS. HEALTH OF ENGLISH TOWNS.
IN 77 of the largest English towns 8144 births and 375B deaths were registered dming the week ending July 22nd. The revised estimate of the population of these towns in the middle of this year is 16,157,797 persons. The annual rate of mortality in these towns, calculated on this revised estimate, which had been equal to 11’7, 12 0, and 11’8 per 10(.0 in the three preceding weeks, rose again to 12-1 in the week under notice. During the first three weeks of’ the current quarter the annual death-rate in these towns averaged 12-00 per 1000, while in London during the same period the mean annual death-rate did not exceed 11’S per 1000. The recorded annual death-rates in the 77 towns during last week ranged from 3 2 in Burton-on-Trent.. 4’55 in Devonport, 4 9 in Hornsey, and 5.1in Smethwick, to 16 8 in Weft Bromwich and in Tynemouth, 17 - 3. in Liverpool, 13-66 in Swansea, and 19.55 in DewsburyThe 3751 deaths from all causes in the 77 towns last week showed an increase of 101 upon the number in the previousweek, and included 423 which were referred to the principal epidemic diseases, against 284 and 324 in the two precedingweeks. Of these 423 deaths 236 resulted from infantilediarrhcea, 62 from measles, 52 from whooping-cough, 4&’ from diphtheria, 22 from scarlet fever, and 11 from enteric fever, but not one from small-pox. The mean annual deathrate from these epidemic diseases was equal to 1 4 per1000, against 09 and 10 in the two preceding weeks. The deaths of infants under two years of age attributed to diarrhceal diseases in the 77 towns, which had increased from 70 to 136; in the three previous weeks, further rose last week to 236, and caused the highest annual rates of 2 -7in Liverpool and’ in St. Helens, z. 9 in Dewsbury, 3’ 0 in West Bromwich and, in Bootle, and 3 6 in Birkenhead. The 62 fatal cases of measles showed a further decline from the numbers in the19 preceding weeks, and included 23 in London and its.
METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL SUNDAY FUND.
of some of the firms in question, he said that one firm submitted that its products were more nutritious than any other preparation of the kind ; again, a statement advertised very generally was to the effect that the starch present in the foods ’had been altered, so that it could be digested and assimilated
METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL SUNDAY FUND.
Mansion trihntinti THE
following
are
House up to
among the amounts received at the July 22nd (total available for dis-
.F.df) 700)
pensing, using flllid drachm of sodium nitrite solution with 7½ fluid drachms of alcohol acidified with lactic acid. The proposal was made in view of the forthcoming PharmaDott also read short notes on Strychnine and Arsenates of Strychnine. In a note on Solution of Sodium Ethylate Mr. H. FINNEMORE, B.Sc , said it usually happened when this solution was required for use theI I stock" was dark in colour_; ;although its medicinal properties are not affected by this colouration, the user is apt to assume that deterioration has accompanied the change. A sample of solution of sodium ’methylate showed no trace of discolouration after two years. Mr. Finnemore also (with Mr. G. E. TOWN) contributed a mote on Bartsia Odontites. A communication on Padophyllum Emodi was contributed ’by Mr. J. C. UMNEY, F.C S., who referred to the second ’report of the Indigenous Drugs Committee of India, which -dealt with Podophyllum emodi amongst other drugs. Some medical opinions recorded in that committee’s report indicated that the purgative action of P. emodi resin was better -than that of podophyllum resin (B.P.), as the drug did not
copoeia. Mr. Hypophosphite
SEVENTEENTH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF MEDICINE
(LONDON, 1913). MEETING
I ’
OF
ORGANISING COMMITTEE.
A MEETING of the Organising Committee was held on Friday, July 14th, at the Royal College of Physicians of London, Sir THOMAS BARLOW, the President, being in the
chair.
There were present, among others, Sir Dyce Duckworth, Dr. F. W. Pavy, Sir William Bennett, Sir William Allchin, Sir William Osler, Dr. Norman Moore, Professor G. Sims Woodhead, Sir David Ferrier, Sir Malcolm Morris, Sir R Havelock Charles, Sir David Bruce, Dr. Squire Sprigge, Mr. G. H. Makins, Dr. W. P. Herringham, Dr. A. E. Garrod, Mr. C. T. Dent, Dr. T. D. Acland, Dr. Herbert Saencer, Sir A. Pearce Gould, Sir Watson Cheyne, Sir Shirley Murphy, Dr. Frederick Taylor, and Dr. Dudley Buxton. The minutes of the last meeting, -as published in THE LANCET and British Medical Journal of April 8th, 1911, were confirmed. Letters of regret were read from 20 members of the committee who were unable to attend. The report of the Executive Committee was adopted as follows :That the printing of the Transactions of the Congress be entrusted DEATH FROM SALVARSAN.-At the Hacknev to (1) the Oxford Press; (2) that the Royal Albert Hall be engaged for the - ’coroner’s court on July 19th Dr. W. Wynn Westcott week of the Congress, to serve as post office. bureau, and site for the ,held an inquest with reference to the death of a man, aged exhibition of medical appliances; and (3) that the arrangements to be out the exhibition of medical appliances, in accordmade for - 47 years, who died from the effects of taking salvarsan, ance withcarrying the resolution of the Organising Committee, be left in the or "606." Dr. George Dorner, medical officer of the hands of the Finance Committee, with power to act and report to the German Hospital, said the deceased suffered from loco- Executive Committee. motor ataxy. His condition was serious. The HONORARY GENERAL SECRETARY (Dr. W. P. He was treated with salvarsan and received an injection of 0-6 gramme, Herringham) reported that the regulations proposed at the - =about 7 grains being the dose. After the treatment he last meeting of the Organising Committee had been laid ’became worse and died. Tne jury returned a verdict that before the Permanent Commission, and had been, with ’.the man died as a result of the injection of salvarsan slight modifications, adopted. The question arose as to the rules which should be .properly used.
,
CENTRAL MIDWIVES BOARD.-VITAL STATISTIOS. followed in sending official invitations. The matter was left in the hands of the officers for report to the Organising Committee. The PRESIDENT then moved :1. That it is desirable that the staffs of sections should include members from the colonies.
This
was
unanimously apprcved.
2. That the secretary should be instructed to communicate with (a) the President and Secretary of the Canadian National Committee for International Medical Congresses; (b) the President of the Australasian Medical Congress ; and (c) the officers of the South African branch of the British Medical Association, asking them to nominate such of their members as they may think fitted by their scientific eminence to serve on the staff of such sections.
This resolution was unanimously approved. The PRESIDENT then submitted the list of the officers of Congress and of the staff of such sections as were already completed. This was ratified by the committee. Further names will be added in accordance with the resolutions above. The committee then adjourned.
CENTRAL MIDWIVES BOARD. A MEETING of the Central Midwives Board was held at Caxton House, Westminster, on July 20th, with ir FRANClg CHAMPNEYS in the chair. Dr. G. E. HERMAN moved :— That it is expedient to act upon the following resolution: "A midwife will be deemed to have discharged the duty imposed upon her by Rule E, 20 (5) if, after having filled up the form of sending for medical help and handed it to the parent or friend, she adBises the parents either to: (a) ask a registered medical practitioner to come to the child ; (b) send the child to a registered medical practitioner ; or (c) send the child to a hospital, according to the circumstances of each case." The rule referred to provides that medical help must be sent for" in the case of the child, when there is any abnormality or complication, such as injuries received during birth, any malformation or deformity in a child that seems likely to live, dangerous feebleness, ii2f[ammation of, or discharge from, the eyes, however slight, serious skin eruptions, inflammation about the navel." The CHAIRMAN said that at a recent penal meeting of the Board he was afked if the midwife was complying with the rules if she sent a child to the doctor. His answer was that she was not, but thinking it over he came to the conclusion that the midwife was complying with the rules. In Liverpool, for instance, there was a good eye hospital, and in the case of ophthalmia neonatorum he thought a midwife would be doing right in sending the child to such a hospital. The midwife must, however, not fail to notify the local supervising authority, and to fill up the form for summoning medical help. He desired the Board to note that his remarks must be taken as information for the Board, and not in support of the resolution proposed by Dr. Herman. Mr. PARKER YourlG said that the midwife might get into difficulties if she sent a child to the doctor instead of having the child first seen by a doctor and then acting on the advice
given. After the CHAIRMAN had pointed out that in the circumstances the child’s interests were safeguarded, Dr. HERMAN agreed to withdraw his motion. A letter was considered from Dr. Comyns Berkeley,
obstetlic physician, Middlesex Hospital, on behalf of the board of the hospital with regard to a complaint made by a certified midwife of the inadequacy of the training given at the hospital. The further consideration of the matter was adjourned in order to afford an opportunity to members of the Board to visit the Middlesex Hospital and observe the methods of training adopted at that institution. A letter was comidered from the clerk of the Notts county
weekly
council as to the difficulty experienced in securing the conviction of uncertified women for practising contrary to the provisions of Section 1 (2) of the Midwives Act, 1902. The Board decided it be suggested to the local supervising authority : (a) That an opportunity be taken of appealing to the High Court from any decision of a Petty Sessional Court holding as a matter of law that, in the absence of proof by the prosecntion that the uncertified woman attending a midwifery case has been engaged beforehand, the case becomes one of emergency within the meaning of Section 1 (2) of the Midwives Act, 1902 ; (b) that the local supervising authority
321
should itself report direct to the General Medical Counci]D a medical practitionerany case in which, in their opinion, has been guilty of "covering."" A letter was considered from the town clerk of Sheffield as to the Board’s procedure on the citation of midwives against, whom primd-facie cases have been found by local supervising authorities. The Board decided that the town clerk: of ShEffield be informed that the meetings of the Board areopen to representatives of the pres who have received permission to attend, and that the citation of women against. whom local supervising authoiities have found vri7nd-faei& cases of malpractice, negligence, or misconduct is a part of the Board’s proceedings ; that the responsibility of publishing any particular item of business transacted at the meeting rests with the press, and that the Board is not prepared to alter its procedure nor to argue the case further. The Board had under consideration the National InsuranceBill, so far as it affects the practice of midwives, and adopted the following memorandum embodying the views of the Board on the National Insurance Bill :— The Board and the National Insurance Bill. The followirg is the memorandum to be submitted to the Chancellor of the Exchequer by the Central Midwives. Board :The Midwives Act of 1902 was passed in the interests of the mothers. and infants of England ; this Act recognises midwives as an important body directly concerned with the safety of pregnant, parturient, and lying-in women and their infants. The results of their work during’ nearly ten years past are shown in the reduced maternal mortality as appears from the statistics of the Registrar-General. In the Insurance Bill now before Parliament the midwife is ignored. The Central Midwives Board urges that this position, which it can. hardly believe is intentional, should be so modified in the Bill that freechoice should be given to mothers whether they wish to be attended by a medical practitioner or by a midwife. It is desirable that the position of midwives under the Bill should be recognised and defined, and their duties in respect of maternity benefits distinguished from those of the medical profession. In our opinion it would be in the interests of the public health that ar representative of the Central Midwives Board, as a statutory body, should be upon the Advisory Committee (Clause 42) ; also that midwives should be represented upon Local Health Uommittees (Clause 43 (5) )It would be advantageous that any rules or regulations of a general character relating to maternity benefits should be submitted to the Central Midwives Board for consideration, this body having been constituted the authority in charge of the regulation of the practice of midwives and having a wide experience thereon.
VITAL STATISTICS. HEALTH OF ENGLISH TOWNS.
IN 77 of the largest English towns 8144 births and 375B deaths were registered dming the week ending July 22nd. The revised estimate of the population of these towns in the middle of this year is 16,157,797 persons. The annual rate of mortality in these towns, calculated on this revised estimate, which had been equal to 11’7, 12 0, and 11’8 per 10(.0 in the three preceding weeks, rose again to 12-1 in the week under notice. During the first three weeks of’ the current quarter the annual death-rate in these towns averaged 12-00 per 1000, while in London during the same period the mean annual death-rate did not exceed 11’S per 1000. The recorded annual death-rates in the 77 towns during last week ranged from 3 2 in Burton-on-Trent.. 4’55 in Devonport, 4 9 in Hornsey, and 5.1in Smethwick, to 16 8 in Weft Bromwich and in Tynemouth, 17 - 3. in Liverpool, 13-66 in Swansea, and 19.55 in DewsburyThe 3751 deaths from all causes in the 77 towns last week showed an increase of 101 upon the number in the previousweek, and included 423 which were referred to the principal epidemic diseases, against 284 and 324 in the two precedingweeks. Of these 423 deaths 236 resulted from infantilediarrhcea, 62 from measles, 52 from whooping-cough, 4&’ from diphtheria, 22 from scarlet fever, and 11 from enteric fever, but not one from small-pox. The mean annual deathrate from these epidemic diseases was equal to 1 4 per1000, against 09 and 10 in the two preceding weeks. The deaths of infants under two years of age attributed to diarrhceal diseases in the 77 towns, which had increased from 70 to 136; in the three previous weeks, further rose last week to 236, and caused the highest annual rates of 2 -7in Liverpool and’ in St. Helens, z. 9 in Dewsbury, 3’ 0 in West Bromwich and, in Bootle, and 3 6 in Birkenhead. The 62 fatal cases of measles showed a further decline from the numbers in the19 preceding weeks, and included 23 in London and its.