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SOCIÉTÉ DE THÉRAPEUTIQUE DE PARIS.
1244
diagnosis and referred to a case in which, after the appearance of a rash resembling somewhat erythema nodosum, there were four days of complete intermission of symptoms, followed by definite cerebrospinal fever, which proved fatal.
SOCIÉTÉ
DE
THÉRAPEUTIQUE
DE PARIS.
AT a recent meeting of this Society Dr. ARTAULT DE VEVEY read a paper on The Treatment of Scabies and Pediculosis by Benzine, in which he stated that though the parasiticide properties of benzine were well known to naturalists, especially
entomologists, they were not generally recognised by the medical profession. He had frequently found that a garden syringe filled with benzine was sufficient to rid a house of ants, beetles, and cockroaches. In the case of scabies, treatment consisted in swabbing the regions affected with benzine, and applying at night an ointment composed of 10 g. of benzine with 50 g. of lanoline, and covering it with wool. The following morning the ointment was washed off with soap and a cure was effected. The body-linen and clothes were disinfected by sprinkling them with benzine, and putting them in a closed chest for a few hours. In pediculosis capitis the scalp was swabbed with benzine, and
the head covered with a paper or cloth cap for an hour. Not more than 10-15 c.cm. of benzine need be used. In the case of body-lice the axillae, groins, and flexures of the limbs should be swabbed, and the clothes and linen treated as in the case of scabies. The only danger, which could easily be avoided, was the inflammability of benzine. The applications were never painful, except over excoriations.
The Treatment of Laryngeal Tuberculosis by Rare Earths. Dr. G. RosENTHAT. in his paper stated that this treatment must be both local and general. General treatment consisted in giving an intravenous injection three times a week of 4 c.cm. of a solution of didymium sulphate, at first in a 2 per cent., and later in 4 per cent. strength, together with 5-20 c.cm. of concentrated solution of saccharose. Local treatment included (a) progressive intratracheal injections of from 2-15 and 20 c.cm. of 1 in 10 gomenol oil, supplemented by 2 eg. of didymium sulphate ; (b) local applications of the preparations already mentioned, or one of the following solutions : sulphate of didymium 0.02 g., gum arabic q. s. ad 4 c.cm., or novocaine 0.02 g., didymium sulphate 0-02 g., gum arabic q. s. ad 4 c.cm. The only contra-indication to local treatment was weakness of the patient. Great care should be taken in giving intravenous injections in febrile cases. Dr. R. HuERRE read a paper on Cedar Wood Oil as a Secbstitute for Sandalwood Oil, in which he stated that the chemical composition of cedar wood oil, which contained sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenic alcohols, showed that it was in no way inferior to sandalwood oil in its action on the mucous membranes. The Phosphorus and Calciuna Balance in Tuberculosis. Dr. R. LAUTIFR in his paper recorded cases showing that, though a nitrogenous deficit or retention was generally accompanied by a deficit or retention of calcium, this was not a universal rule. In like manner the nitrogen balance and phosphorus balance did not always go hand in hand. In order to obtain the best conditions of nutrition or repair, food or drugs containing phosphorus or calcium should not be prescribed haphazard, but should be given in such a way that there should be a slight excess of calcium.
Reviews
and
Notices of Books.
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS OF INDUSTRY. By F. WATTS. London : George Allen and Unwin, Ltd. 1921. Pp. 240. 12s. 6d. THERE is to-day a vogue for things psychological, and another for things industrial. The book now before us is concerned with both. The author starts by proclaiming the need that exists in industry for investigating the human side of work, and for scientific methods " to collect the facts, to arrange them, and to attempt to explain them." When pointing to the underlying influence exerted by the ductless glands upon the emotions he even tempts the reader to expect a physiological explanation of psychology ; thus, the effect of emotional excitement upon the adrenal glands, which leads to increase in the rate and force of the heartbeat and promotes effective muscular innervation, is claimed as a factor in industrial fatigue. Fatigue, its onset and elimination, is dealt with at some length, but the subject is treated in too abstract a manner, a not unusual failing with psychologists who write industry ; there is little appeal to facts, of which there are to-day plenty accumulating, small effort to arrange them,a but a vast deal of theoretical disquisition and priori deduction. The section devoted to vocational selection is perhaps the best in the book, although here, too, there is little evidence of real investigation. Attention is well drawn to the need in industry for economical route-ing of human ability, just as there is an economical route-ing of processes ; " economy suggests it; humanity demands it." The criticism is particularly applicable to the last half of the book. Here appeal to carefully collected data is thrown to the winds, and theoretical psychology rules supreme. Monotony, for instance, is discussed without establishing by results that any such thing really exists ; surely, processes could have been found and instanced, similar in the amount of physical exertion required, in the conditions of labour, in the wages paid, and in other pertinent factors, but differing in the variety of movement called for in the one case and the constant repetition work in the other : observations could then be quoted to establish how important this question of monotony really is, and then would be the time, if at all, to build up a superstructure claimed to be the framework of industrial unrest. We fully allow that by adopting the method pursued an interesting and readable book can be written, in producing such a book Mr. Watts has succeeded. The pity is that the reader has to disentangle ideas based on fact from those based on some general consensus of opinion. The author has allowed himself rather too many footnotes, which have well been called indications of lazy writing. References to authorities quoted are irregularly dealt with,
of
and
The Treatment of TVhoopirzg-Cough by Adrenalin. appearing now in footnotes, now (where they always Dr. L. DUMONT in his paper stated that this method, should appear) in a list at the end of the chapter ; which was introduced by an English writer in 1912 or 1913, here is another indication of slackness in preparation. had been employed by him with constant success since The index of the book is quite inadequate, and 1913. His dosage was as follows, a 1 in 1000 solution of adrenalin being employed : below 3 years, 2 drops three hardly supplements the statement of contents. We can recommend this book to those who desire times daily ; from 3 to 7 years, 3 drops every three hours ; from 7 to 15 years,4 drops ; above 15 years, 5 drops. The to acquaint themselves with the interesting thoughts doses must be taken immediately after the paroxysms, so of an interesting thinker, but we are unable to If no improvement as to prevent the drug being vomited. promise them a solid contribution to the science of occurred in three days’ time, the dose must be increased by the subjects dealt with therein. one drop daily until a real improvement took place. An attack so treated should not last longer than two to three weeks. ANNALS OF MEDICAL HISTORY.
NATIONAL
COMBATING VEXEREAL DISEASES.—The business meeting of the General Council will be held on Tuesday, June 28th, at 3 P.M., at the Morley Hall Y.W.C.A., George-street, Hanover-square, London, W. The business meeting will be followed by the annual general
meeting.
CO-eXCIL
FOR
Vol. III., Xo. 1. New York : Paul B. Hoeber. 1921. Pp. 96. S2.50. THE previous volumes were interesting, and the number now before us is no exception to the pattern. Among the papers of chief note is one by Isador H. Coriat, dealing with an ancient Eyptian medical’
diagnosis and referred to a case in which, after the appearance of a rash resembling somewhat erythema nodosum, there were four days of complete intermission of symptoms, followed by definite cerebrospinal fever, which proved fatal.
SOCIÉTÉ
DE
THÉRAPEUTIQUE
DE PARIS.
AT a recent meeting of this Society Dr. ARTAULT DE VEVEY read a paper on The Treatment of Scabies and Pediculosis by Benzine, in which he stated that though the parasiticide properties of benzine were well known to naturalists, especially
entomologists, they were not generally recognised by the medical profession. He had frequently found that a garden syringe filled with benzine was sufficient to rid a house of ants, beetles, and cockroaches. In the case of scabies, treatment consisted in swabbing the regions affected with benzine, and applying at night an ointment composed of 10 g. of benzine with 50 g. of lanoline, and covering it with wool. The following morning the ointment was washed off with soap and a cure was effected. The body-linen and clothes were disinfected by sprinkling them with benzine, and putting them in a closed chest for a few hours. In pediculosis capitis the scalp was swabbed with benzine, and
the head covered with a paper or cloth cap for an hour. Not more than 10-15 c.cm. of benzine need be used. In the case of body-lice the axillae, groins, and flexures of the limbs should be swabbed, and the clothes and linen treated as in the case of scabies. The only danger, which could easily be avoided, was the inflammability of benzine. The applications were never painful, except over excoriations.
The Treatment of Laryngeal Tuberculosis by Rare Earths. Dr. G. RosENTHAT. in his paper stated that this treatment must be both local and general. General treatment consisted in giving an intravenous injection three times a week of 4 c.cm. of a solution of didymium sulphate, at first in a 2 per cent., and later in 4 per cent. strength, together with 5-20 c.cm. of concentrated solution of saccharose. Local treatment included (a) progressive intratracheal injections of from 2-15 and 20 c.cm. of 1 in 10 gomenol oil, supplemented by 2 eg. of didymium sulphate ; (b) local applications of the preparations already mentioned, or one of the following solutions : sulphate of didymium 0.02 g., gum arabic q. s. ad 4 c.cm., or novocaine 0.02 g., didymium sulphate 0-02 g., gum arabic q. s. ad 4 c.cm. The only contra-indication to local treatment was weakness of the patient. Great care should be taken in giving intravenous injections in febrile cases. Dr. R. HuERRE read a paper on Cedar Wood Oil as a Secbstitute for Sandalwood Oil, in which he stated that the chemical composition of cedar wood oil, which contained sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenic alcohols, showed that it was in no way inferior to sandalwood oil in its action on the mucous membranes. The Phosphorus and Calciuna Balance in Tuberculosis. Dr. R. LAUTIFR in his paper recorded cases showing that, though a nitrogenous deficit or retention was generally accompanied by a deficit or retention of calcium, this was not a universal rule. In like manner the nitrogen balance and phosphorus balance did not always go hand in hand. In order to obtain the best conditions of nutrition or repair, food or drugs containing phosphorus or calcium should not be prescribed haphazard, but should be given in such a way that there should be a slight excess of calcium.
Reviews
and
Notices of Books.
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS OF INDUSTRY. By F. WATTS. London : George Allen and Unwin, Ltd. 1921. Pp. 240. 12s. 6d. THERE is to-day a vogue for things psychological, and another for things industrial. The book now before us is concerned with both. The author starts by proclaiming the need that exists in industry for investigating the human side of work, and for scientific methods " to collect the facts, to arrange them, and to attempt to explain them." When pointing to the underlying influence exerted by the ductless glands upon the emotions he even tempts the reader to expect a physiological explanation of psychology ; thus, the effect of emotional excitement upon the adrenal glands, which leads to increase in the rate and force of the heartbeat and promotes effective muscular innervation, is claimed as a factor in industrial fatigue. Fatigue, its onset and elimination, is dealt with at some length, but the subject is treated in too abstract a manner, a not unusual failing with psychologists who write industry ; there is little appeal to facts, of which there are to-day plenty accumulating, small effort to arrange them,a but a vast deal of theoretical disquisition and priori deduction. The section devoted to vocational selection is perhaps the best in the book, although here, too, there is little evidence of real investigation. Attention is well drawn to the need in industry for economical route-ing of human ability, just as there is an economical route-ing of processes ; " economy suggests it; humanity demands it." The criticism is particularly applicable to the last half of the book. Here appeal to carefully collected data is thrown to the winds, and theoretical psychology rules supreme. Monotony, for instance, is discussed without establishing by results that any such thing really exists ; surely, processes could have been found and instanced, similar in the amount of physical exertion required, in the conditions of labour, in the wages paid, and in other pertinent factors, but differing in the variety of movement called for in the one case and the constant repetition work in the other : observations could then be quoted to establish how important this question of monotony really is, and then would be the time, if at all, to build up a superstructure claimed to be the framework of industrial unrest. We fully allow that by adopting the method pursued an interesting and readable book can be written, in producing such a book Mr. Watts has succeeded. The pity is that the reader has to disentangle ideas based on fact from those based on some general consensus of opinion. The author has allowed himself rather too many footnotes, which have well been called indications of lazy writing. References to authorities quoted are irregularly dealt with,
of
and
The Treatment of TVhoopirzg-Cough by Adrenalin. appearing now in footnotes, now (where they always Dr. L. DUMONT in his paper stated that this method, should appear) in a list at the end of the chapter ; which was introduced by an English writer in 1912 or 1913, here is another indication of slackness in preparation. had been employed by him with constant success since The index of the book is quite inadequate, and 1913. His dosage was as follows, a 1 in 1000 solution of adrenalin being employed : below 3 years, 2 drops three hardly supplements the statement of contents. We can recommend this book to those who desire times daily ; from 3 to 7 years, 3 drops every three hours ; from 7 to 15 years,4 drops ; above 15 years, 5 drops. The to acquaint themselves with the interesting thoughts doses must be taken immediately after the paroxysms, so of an interesting thinker, but we are unable to If no improvement as to prevent the drug being vomited. promise them a solid contribution to the science of occurred in three days’ time, the dose must be increased by the subjects dealt with therein. one drop daily until a real improvement took place. An attack so treated should not last longer than two to three weeks. ANNALS OF MEDICAL HISTORY.
NATIONAL
COMBATING VEXEREAL DISEASES.—The business meeting of the General Council will be held on Tuesday, June 28th, at 3 P.M., at the Morley Hall Y.W.C.A., George-street, Hanover-square, London, W. The business meeting will be followed by the annual general
meeting.
CO-eXCIL
FOR
Vol. III., Xo. 1. New York : Paul B. Hoeber. 1921. Pp. 96. S2.50. THE previous volumes were interesting, and the number now before us is no exception to the pattern. Among the papers of chief note is one by Isador H. Coriat, dealing with an ancient Eyptian medical’