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STERILISATION WHILE YOU WAIT
697 and such an investigation was in fact carried out by J. A. Aeschlimann and M. Ucincrt3 in the laboratories of Messrs. Hoffmann-La Roche and Co., resulting in the production of prostigmin. The association of Mr. Stedman with the subject is, however, by no means confined to the discoveries I have outlined, for he and his co-workers, amongst whom Mrs. Stedman must in particular be mentioned, have shown that their synthetic urethanes share with physostigmine4 the property of inhibiting the action of liver-esterase. They have, moreover, demonstrated that this particular enzyme is without action on acetylcholine, and have proved that the destruction of this important substance in the body is brought about by an enzyme elaborated by the organism for this specific purpose. Because of its specificity, coupled with the fact that it hydrolyses other esters of choline, they have named this enzyme cholineesterase.J In the course of this work Mr. and Mrs. Stedman have elaborated a chemical method for the determination of choline-esterase, have measured its relative concentration in blood-sera from various species, and finally, have gone far towards effecting its
purification. HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT IN FEVER HOSPITALS
Dr. H. Henderson Patrick, president of the British Homceopathic Congress in 1933, recently suggested that he and his colleagues should undertake the treatment of patients in 40 to 50 beds in one of the Glasgow fever hospitals for a period of six months, " in order to demonstrate the advantage of homceopathic methods." He claimed that by the adoption of homoeopathy the city would save at least 131,000 per annum on the treatment of notifiable diseases alone. The health committee of the Glasgow corporation considered this proposal, but decided by a majority to recommend that no action be taken. Last week the corporation debated the proposal at length, and finally decided by 44 votes to 40 that the decision whether a test of homoeopathic methods should be made should be left to the medical officer of health. It was pointed out during the discussion that the corporation could not dictate to the medical officer the treatment that should be given in the fever hospitals. CRIMINAL LUNATICS
In Scotland criminal lunatics are at present detained in a part of Perth prison known as the Criminal Lunatic Department and State Institution for Defectives. The buildings of this department are antiquated and quite unsuitable for the modern treatment of the inmates. In order to overcome these shortcomings the Criminal Lunatics (Scotland) Bill was introduced in the House of Lords last week. Under the provisions of the Bill the Secretary of State for Scotland is authorised to order the acquisition of land, the construction and equipment of buildings, and the appointment of a resident medical superintendent and such other officers as may be considered necessary. An advisory committee, consisting of not less than three and not more than six persons, would be appointed to advise and assist in the management of the asylum. It is hoped that the Bill will become law this session, so that immediate steps may be taken for the erection of the new buildings. It is proposed that the new institution should be built near Carstairs in
Lanarkshire. CARNEGIE UNITED KINGDOM TRUST
The Earl of
United
Elgin outlined the policy of the Carnegie Kingdom Trusteés for the next five years at
3 Jour. Pharm. and Exp. Therap., 1931, xliii., 413. 4 Biochem. Jour., 1931, xxv., 1147 ; 1932, xxvi., 1214. 5 Ibid., 1932, xxvi., 2056 ; 1933, xxvii., 1055.
the twenty-first annual meeting of the trustees held in Dunfermline. The allocations include 150,000 for the development of land settlement, 70,000 for libraries, 30,000 for the encouragement of choirs and groups of instrumentalists, 1:25,000 each for social services for young people and for village halls, 20,000 for a new experiment in educational work for young people between the ages of 18 and 21 years, and E16,000 for general extension work by the National Council for Social Service. During the lifetime of the Trust 2,528,000 has been distributed throughout the United Kingdom. The progressive policy of the trustees is being worthily continued.
STERILISATION WHILE YOU WAIT
THE Wardour Films Ltd. invited members of the medical profession to a special show at the Rialto Theatre on March 13th of a film entitled " The Unborn," which, to use the words of the invitation, " shows for the first time the value of sterilisation and at the same time some of its most glaring faults as a measure for the betterment of the human race." The hero of the film is a young assistant in an American surgical clinic. Let us call him Dr. X. He becomes interested in a family circle which consists of a workless man who has taken to drink, his wife who has just given birth to a stillborn child, a lad in prison, a crippled boy sitting on a mattress on the floor, and a young nitwit playing with whisky bottles also on the floor. The only bright spot in this family is a young woman earning good wages who practically keeps the menage running. Thinking to befriend this girl Dr. X reports the family to the public health authority, which at once takes action and sends down a woman investigator, who readily obtains the wife’s consent to a wholesale sterilisation of the household, and the man’s consent reluctantly on the threat of withdrawing the promised financial assistance. In a trice every member of the household is haled away for care, treatment, or supervision, including the competent girl who is to be sterilised on account of her bad heredity, in spite of her resistance, as she is betrothed and ardently desires children of her own. But short work is made in court of her objection and the law is to take its course. There follows a thrilling scene in hospital when in succession three persons come into the operating theatre. The first with his high cheek-bones and unkempt beard excites no sympathy even when handcuffed before entering the theatre. The second is a young man with an evident grievance against society, but far from feeble-minded, who is entirely satisfied when Dr. X makes clear to him the nature and purpose of sterilisation, for he is interested not in procreation but in potency, and when on the table confides to one of the assistants that the operation will give him freedom to pursue his attack on conventions. These are vasotomies done under local anaesthesia. The third subject is the unwilling girl who is to have salpingotomy under general anaesthesia. Both she and Dr. X protest at every stage, and the latter is dismissed from the theatre by his chief, which gives him the opportunity of paying a lightning visit to the girl’s mother, who is drunk enough to admit (what is to her a guilty secret) that the girl is not her own but was adopted at six months. With incredible swiftness the information is put through the judge and ultimately reaches the surgeon as he is about to make the inguinal incision. The girl springs from the table and joins her fiancé at the hospital door, where they go at once to get married. The film is remarkable for the accuracy of its surgical technique and of the technical information it gives about sterilisation. Its sociological value is diminished by the fact that compulsory sterilisation is not a practical issue in this country.
purification. HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT IN FEVER HOSPITALS
Dr. H. Henderson Patrick, president of the British Homceopathic Congress in 1933, recently suggested that he and his colleagues should undertake the treatment of patients in 40 to 50 beds in one of the Glasgow fever hospitals for a period of six months, " in order to demonstrate the advantage of homceopathic methods." He claimed that by the adoption of homoeopathy the city would save at least 131,000 per annum on the treatment of notifiable diseases alone. The health committee of the Glasgow corporation considered this proposal, but decided by a majority to recommend that no action be taken. Last week the corporation debated the proposal at length, and finally decided by 44 votes to 40 that the decision whether a test of homoeopathic methods should be made should be left to the medical officer of health. It was pointed out during the discussion that the corporation could not dictate to the medical officer the treatment that should be given in the fever hospitals. CRIMINAL LUNATICS
In Scotland criminal lunatics are at present detained in a part of Perth prison known as the Criminal Lunatic Department and State Institution for Defectives. The buildings of this department are antiquated and quite unsuitable for the modern treatment of the inmates. In order to overcome these shortcomings the Criminal Lunatics (Scotland) Bill was introduced in the House of Lords last week. Under the provisions of the Bill the Secretary of State for Scotland is authorised to order the acquisition of land, the construction and equipment of buildings, and the appointment of a resident medical superintendent and such other officers as may be considered necessary. An advisory committee, consisting of not less than three and not more than six persons, would be appointed to advise and assist in the management of the asylum. It is hoped that the Bill will become law this session, so that immediate steps may be taken for the erection of the new buildings. It is proposed that the new institution should be built near Carstairs in
Lanarkshire. CARNEGIE UNITED KINGDOM TRUST
The Earl of
United
Elgin outlined the policy of the Carnegie Kingdom Trusteés for the next five years at
3 Jour. Pharm. and Exp. Therap., 1931, xliii., 413. 4 Biochem. Jour., 1931, xxv., 1147 ; 1932, xxvi., 1214. 5 Ibid., 1932, xxvi., 2056 ; 1933, xxvii., 1055.
the twenty-first annual meeting of the trustees held in Dunfermline. The allocations include 150,000 for the development of land settlement, 70,000 for libraries, 30,000 for the encouragement of choirs and groups of instrumentalists, 1:25,000 each for social services for young people and for village halls, 20,000 for a new experiment in educational work for young people between the ages of 18 and 21 years, and E16,000 for general extension work by the National Council for Social Service. During the lifetime of the Trust 2,528,000 has been distributed throughout the United Kingdom. The progressive policy of the trustees is being worthily continued.
STERILISATION WHILE YOU WAIT
THE Wardour Films Ltd. invited members of the medical profession to a special show at the Rialto Theatre on March 13th of a film entitled " The Unborn," which, to use the words of the invitation, " shows for the first time the value of sterilisation and at the same time some of its most glaring faults as a measure for the betterment of the human race." The hero of the film is a young assistant in an American surgical clinic. Let us call him Dr. X. He becomes interested in a family circle which consists of a workless man who has taken to drink, his wife who has just given birth to a stillborn child, a lad in prison, a crippled boy sitting on a mattress on the floor, and a young nitwit playing with whisky bottles also on the floor. The only bright spot in this family is a young woman earning good wages who practically keeps the menage running. Thinking to befriend this girl Dr. X reports the family to the public health authority, which at once takes action and sends down a woman investigator, who readily obtains the wife’s consent to a wholesale sterilisation of the household, and the man’s consent reluctantly on the threat of withdrawing the promised financial assistance. In a trice every member of the household is haled away for care, treatment, or supervision, including the competent girl who is to be sterilised on account of her bad heredity, in spite of her resistance, as she is betrothed and ardently desires children of her own. But short work is made in court of her objection and the law is to take its course. There follows a thrilling scene in hospital when in succession three persons come into the operating theatre. The first with his high cheek-bones and unkempt beard excites no sympathy even when handcuffed before entering the theatre. The second is a young man with an evident grievance against society, but far from feeble-minded, who is entirely satisfied when Dr. X makes clear to him the nature and purpose of sterilisation, for he is interested not in procreation but in potency, and when on the table confides to one of the assistants that the operation will give him freedom to pursue his attack on conventions. These are vasotomies done under local anaesthesia. The third subject is the unwilling girl who is to have salpingotomy under general anaesthesia. Both she and Dr. X protest at every stage, and the latter is dismissed from the theatre by his chief, which gives him the opportunity of paying a lightning visit to the girl’s mother, who is drunk enough to admit (what is to her a guilty secret) that the girl is not her own but was adopted at six months. With incredible swiftness the information is put through the judge and ultimately reaches the surgeon as he is about to make the inguinal incision. The girl springs from the table and joins her fiancé at the hospital door, where they go at once to get married. The film is remarkable for the accuracy of its surgical technique and of the technical information it gives about sterilisation. Its sociological value is diminished by the fact that compulsory sterilisation is not a practical issue in this country.