- Email: [email protected]
SUICIDES IN PUBLIC ASYLUMS FOR THE INSANE.
252 understand that the subject will be brought forward at an accomplished without incurring debt. Full particulars as early meeting of the society in October. We hope that this to the mode of application for candidates for admission as
will be done as we have cognisance of other concealed fractures of the spine of somewhat similar character. They are very important from a medico-legal aspect and are not simply clinical curiosities. The high position of the fracture and displacement of the fragments without paralysis make this case unique.
colonists and all information connected therewith are contained in a pamphlet entitled " Information for Applicants and their Friends." copies of which may be obtained from the secretary, Mr. G. Penn Gaskell, 12, Buckingham-street, Strand, London, W.C., who will also give information regarding intended gifts and bequests to the society.
-
THE WE
NEW SYDENHAM SOCIETY. to remind
THE
readers that the annual meeting (the forty-fifth) of the New Sydenham Society will be held at Swansea next week. It will take place in the board-room of the Higher Grade School on Friday, July 31st, art 9 A.M. Mr. Henry Power, the treasurer, will occupy the chair. Not only the members of the society but all who are interested in its objects are invited to attend. are
requested
our
I
THE VON PETTENKOFER MEMORIAL FUND. IT is proposed to erect to the memory of von Pettenkofer marble statue of double life-size in Munich and towards this object 89 have been collected in Great Britain. The balance of this sum, after deducting 5for the expenses of printing and postage, has been sent to the Burgermeister of Munich who, through Dr. Christopher Childs, the honorary -secretary and treasurer of the fund, desires to offer his warmest thanks to all those who have assisted in providing a contribution in Great Britain. We are pleased to know that some of our profession have so readily responded to the appeal for contributions towards this fund, but we had hoped that the total sum collected in Great Britain would have exceeded .E89. a
____
THE
EPILEPTIC COLONY AT CHALFONT ST. PETER, BUCKS.
THE tenth annual report which has just been issued by the National Society for the Employment of Epileptics refers to the administrative and medical aspects of the epileptic colony at Chalfont St. Peter, Bucks, and to the general history of the colony during the year 1902. This institution has accommodation at present for 170 inmates, but the report points out that there is urgent need for the building of additional homes or villas at the colony to meet the increasing demands of cases seeking admission. A special convalescent home has just been erected and completed to receive casualties and sick cases occurring in the colony. The general health and progress of the..colonistsduring the year have been eminently satisfactory; in fact, since the summer of 1897-a period of six years-there has been no death at the colony. The occupations and industries in which the inmates are employed include basket-making, laundry- and needle-work (for females only), carpentry, plumbing and painting, tailoring, boot-mending, and farm and garden work. The members of the honorary medical staff state in their report that 72 new patients (48 males and 24 females) were received at the colony during the year and that 36 patients (23 males and 13 females) left or were discharged as improved or partially recovered. With the extension of the colony, both in size and usefulness, the methods available for educating and employing the inmates have also increased. The present report confirms the view put forth in previous reports that the colony system as adopted at Chalfont St. Peter is of especial advantage in the training of young adult epileptics, both male and The colony as it now stands comprises 210 female.
farming land, gardens, and orchards, homes, workshops, and other buildings, representing a capital acres
of
cost of
over <840,000. By scrupulous economy in workand by the generous aid of friendly donors its work during the past few years of its existence has been
ing
I
SOILING OF FABRICS BY THE FLUID DISINFECTANTS.
USE OF
THE free use of fluid disinfectants in houses in which infectious disease exists, or is suspected to exist, is a universally established practice and there can be no doubt of its value. One unsatisfactory feature, however, in connexion with the use of disinfectants is that some of them, at any rate, are not only greatly deficient as regards their active antiseptic ingredients but they are apt when used freely, and especially the phenol preparations, to leave indelible stains on sheets, blankets, and other fabrics. This is a serious matter to the poor householder whose means are often sadly strained to meet tha expenses of a sick room. Stains on blankets and on sheets are very objectionable and present an unsightly and spoiled appearance which considerably discounts the value of the bed-clothing. not unnaturally Furthermore, stains on bed linen, &c., suggest an unpleasant association with infectious disease. It is desirable, we think, that all manufacturers of disinfectants should be compelled to make a statement as to the percentage of the active ingredient contained in their preparations and they should also ascertain that the disinfectant when properly used leaves no stains on fabrics. We have examined a number of preparations which comply with these requirements ; they are efficient germicides and do not stain. It is only a matter of careful preparation, especially in the case of the alkaline mixtures, which, however, often contain little else than inert tar compounds. We may also draw attention to the miserably weak liquor of which the sanitary authorities are in the habit of distributing samples ; they are often objectionable in appearance and offensive in odour, to say nothing of being practically worthless as germicides. Of course, it is important that a fair price should be paid for a really active fluid which could be diluted by the sanitary officers to a convenient and efficient strength. In this way the officials could not only reduce the strength to the desired limit of 3 per cent. of phenol or its homologues but they could prevent damage to clothes and It seems to us that all disinfectant preparaother articles. tions should be required by law to conform to a definite antiseptic value. -
SUICIDES IN PUBLIC ASYLUMS FOR THE INSANE.
I
IN the JcM7’MJ
of Mental Soience for July Dr. H.
A.
Benham, medical superintendent of the Fishponds Asylum, an account of his studies of suicides which had occurred during the period 1890 to 1902 in the public asylums of England and Wales. During that period 201 cases of suicide occurred, 126 being males and 75 females. 16 patients committed suicide after effecting their escape and 20 patients did so while out I I on trial." As to the means chosen for committing the suicidal act, a little over 50 per cent. of the total number adopted the method of hanging themselves, while 13 per cent. effected the act by cutting their throats. The other methods adopted were as follows in descending order of frequency-viz., drowning, strangulation, injury by railway train?, poisoning, jumping from windows, and suffocation. Of the suicides which actually occurred within the precincts of asylums the act was committed during the day in 79 per cent. of cases and by night in 21 per cent. " Taking the suicides
Bristol, gives
253 committed by night," says Dr. Benham, "the smaller number is probably accounted for by the fact that not only is a smaller number of hours in question (some of which are passed in sleep) but also that all the suicidal patients are at that time concentrated in observation dormitories." On no pretence is any suicidal patient allowed at the present day to take anything to bed. Neglect of this precaution had in the past led to many suicides, the means adopted by the would-be suicides varying from a secreted handkerchief for tying round, or stuffing into, the throat to a piece of sharpened iron or tin for cutting the throat. All suicidal patients now sleep in special wards, each of which is specially staffed." Sharp instruments, such as knives, razors, and scissors, are locked up and are never allowed to come within reach of suicidal patients, all medicines are kept locked up in cupboards in each ward, and the doses prescribed for sick patients are only given out by the charge attendant or his deputy. Nurses in special charge of suicidal patients or while present in the wards are not permitted to wear hatpins, the uniform cap being fastened with a safety-pin. Finally, the vigilance of the night attendants is tested by a system of electric clocks connected by wire with a recording apparatus which is placed in the medical super-" intendent’s office. In the dormitories the clock is "pegged" every half hour-thus guaranteeing that the attendants are awake-and a record of each "pegging" " is automatically registered in the medical superintendent’s office. The rooms of attendants are kept locked so that patients cannot obtain any articles from them. In short, the whole system of supervision and care of suicidal patients has been, says Dr. Benham, so highly perfected in asylums that suicides are now very rare events even in our largest public asylums.
There was, however, no fever. Towards evening symptoms. of prostration made their appearance, the pulse being ’very weak and the action of the heart being barely perceptible. A hypodermic injection of caffeine was given which caused a great deal of pain. Caffeine was also given by the mouth, as was also some nourishment, and a little sleep was obtained. Dr. Lapponi slept in the Vatican. A consultation with Professor Mazzoni was determined on and this took place on the next morning, Sunday, July 5th, at 8.30. The bulletin then issued was as follows :Dr. Lapponi, being anxious concerning the health of the Holy Father, held this morning a consultation with Professor Mazzoni, who confirmed the diagnosis already made by his colleague of " senile pulmonary hepatisation" and approved of the treatment instituted. The condition of the august patient is, considering his age, serious but not for the present alarming. Professor Mazzoni, it may be remembered, operated on the Pope three years ago for a suppurating cyst in the side He is surgeon to the ancient with excellent results.1 hospital for women of San Giovanni in Laterano and is a. privat-docent for gynaecology in the university. I had an interview with Professor Mazzoni in the evening. He stated that the hepatisation affected the upper and middle lobes of the right lung and that there had been symptoms of considerable cardiac weakness and some difficulty in respiration ; there was no fever, cough, or expectoraAt 9 P.M. on Sunday the following bulletin was t ion. issued :Since the morning there has been slight increase in the weakness. The objective conditions of the thorax remain unaltered. somewhat frequent. Pulse weak, but not irregular. subnormal. Mind most clear.
Respiration Temperature’
Notwithstanding his weakness the Pope remained out of bed a part of the day, dictating letters and making his final dispositions on temporal and spiritual matters. He also dictated some Latin hexameters (and requested his secretary to send them immediately to be printed, as he wished to see the proofs). The first line of these runs :for
"
Sol moritur vespri cedens sua regna rubenti." somewhat They melancholy and comprise a farewell to Sir William Selby Church, the President of the Royal all Christians. College of Physicians of London, will deliver the opening Shortly after this consultation the Viaticum, or Last lecture of the winter session at the Post-graduate College,iSacrament, was administered to the Pope sitting up in his West London Hospital, Hammersmith-road, W., early in bed in the presence of several cardinals and other members of his family and intimates. During the recitation of theOctober. Confession when the words "Iec culpa, mea oulpa, mea maxima oulpa " were reached the Pope extended his hands THE King has approved of the re-appointment of Mr.and struck his breast three times in token of deep sorrow for William Gabriel Rockwood, M. D. Madras, as an unofficialthe sins of his life. Then with astonishing mental clearness. member of the Legislative Council of the Island of Ceylon. ] he requested the cardinals present, numbering 28 or 29 in all, to approach one by one. He recognised them individually and had a parting word for each. The bulletin issued on Monday morning was as follows :THE ILLNESS AND DEATH OF THE POPE. July 6th, 9.30 A.M.-Although there has been hardly any sleep. during the night, still it has been less agitated than the preceding one, (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) the Holy Father deriving benefi.t from the administration of digitalis and camphor. The condition of the thorax remains stationary. Therebeen some fits of coughing, with a scanty mucous expectoration. THE following detailed story of the illness and death of have Sufficient nourishment has been taken. The pulse remains weak but the Pope has been sent to us by a thoroughly well-informed not intermittent. Temperature subnormal. It may be said that the condition of the august sufferer, while no better, is certainly no. correspondent. The complete accuracy of the public bulletins worse. is supported by his statements :— It was stated, but not officially, that caffeine was also On Tuesday, June 30th, the Pope complained of slight given by the mouth during the night. The nourishment confeelings of dyspepsia and as he was particularly fond of sisted of strong soup, eggs, and various stimulants. The physicking himself he determined to take a dose of castor bulletin in the evening was as follows :oil. This acted rather too strongly during the next two 8 P.M.—This evening the of general depression are days, but he went on with his usual receptions and with accentuated. Respiration moresymptoms frequent and superficial. Pulse small, his drives in the gardens of the Vatican, which he had and sometimes imperceptible.- Temperature subnormal. Intellectual begun rather earlier than usual this year. On Friday, faculties unimpaired. July 3rd, during the afternoon drive, he did not feel at After the publication of this bulletin Extreme Unction was all well and returning to his apartments went to bed where administered. he fell into a prolonged fainting fit. Dr. Lapponi, who On Tuesday, the 7th, the morning bulletin was ashas been the Pope’s private physician for many years, on follows :10 A.M.-A sleepless and ag.itated night, but nourishment was better being summoned, declared that this was due to the excessive action of the castor oil which had brought on some disturb- taken. General condition somewhat better. A change noticed in theobjective examination of the right thorax. The middle lobe, which ance of the stomach and, in fact, the Pope would not take yesterday was impervious, this morning allows some air to enter. On nourishment at a even of which the other hand, the lower part is duller, vocal and tactile fremitus is all, refusing any glass claret was his usual" pick-me-up." Some anxiety was felt during absent, and the symptom of Baccelli authorises the opinion that there is fluid in the pleura. An exploratory puncture will be made. Therethe night which was apparently passed by the Pope in a is a of the cardiac function, which has caused a delayed. state of semi-delirium until the dawn, in spite of a dose of renaldepression function, and cyanosis in the distal phalanges of the fingers and sulphonal (his usual soporific), when after taking a little toes. cordial he felt re-invigorated and calmer. The treatment relied upon was the administration of During the next day, Satuiday, the loss of appetite con- digitalis, camphor, and expectorants by the mouth, and tinued and in addition the Pope suffered from shortness 2 THE LANCET, March 11th, 1899, p. 731, breath, so that the daily receptions had to be postponed. are
’
of
will be done as we have cognisance of other concealed fractures of the spine of somewhat similar character. They are very important from a medico-legal aspect and are not simply clinical curiosities. The high position of the fracture and displacement of the fragments without paralysis make this case unique.
colonists and all information connected therewith are contained in a pamphlet entitled " Information for Applicants and their Friends." copies of which may be obtained from the secretary, Mr. G. Penn Gaskell, 12, Buckingham-street, Strand, London, W.C., who will also give information regarding intended gifts and bequests to the society.
-
THE WE
NEW SYDENHAM SOCIETY. to remind
THE
readers that the annual meeting (the forty-fifth) of the New Sydenham Society will be held at Swansea next week. It will take place in the board-room of the Higher Grade School on Friday, July 31st, art 9 A.M. Mr. Henry Power, the treasurer, will occupy the chair. Not only the members of the society but all who are interested in its objects are invited to attend. are
requested
our
I
THE VON PETTENKOFER MEMORIAL FUND. IT is proposed to erect to the memory of von Pettenkofer marble statue of double life-size in Munich and towards this object 89 have been collected in Great Britain. The balance of this sum, after deducting 5for the expenses of printing and postage, has been sent to the Burgermeister of Munich who, through Dr. Christopher Childs, the honorary -secretary and treasurer of the fund, desires to offer his warmest thanks to all those who have assisted in providing a contribution in Great Britain. We are pleased to know that some of our profession have so readily responded to the appeal for contributions towards this fund, but we had hoped that the total sum collected in Great Britain would have exceeded .E89. a
____
THE
EPILEPTIC COLONY AT CHALFONT ST. PETER, BUCKS.
THE tenth annual report which has just been issued by the National Society for the Employment of Epileptics refers to the administrative and medical aspects of the epileptic colony at Chalfont St. Peter, Bucks, and to the general history of the colony during the year 1902. This institution has accommodation at present for 170 inmates, but the report points out that there is urgent need for the building of additional homes or villas at the colony to meet the increasing demands of cases seeking admission. A special convalescent home has just been erected and completed to receive casualties and sick cases occurring in the colony. The general health and progress of the..colonistsduring the year have been eminently satisfactory; in fact, since the summer of 1897-a period of six years-there has been no death at the colony. The occupations and industries in which the inmates are employed include basket-making, laundry- and needle-work (for females only), carpentry, plumbing and painting, tailoring, boot-mending, and farm and garden work. The members of the honorary medical staff state in their report that 72 new patients (48 males and 24 females) were received at the colony during the year and that 36 patients (23 males and 13 females) left or were discharged as improved or partially recovered. With the extension of the colony, both in size and usefulness, the methods available for educating and employing the inmates have also increased. The present report confirms the view put forth in previous reports that the colony system as adopted at Chalfont St. Peter is of especial advantage in the training of young adult epileptics, both male and The colony as it now stands comprises 210 female.
farming land, gardens, and orchards, homes, workshops, and other buildings, representing a capital acres
of
cost of
over <840,000. By scrupulous economy in workand by the generous aid of friendly donors its work during the past few years of its existence has been
ing
I
SOILING OF FABRICS BY THE FLUID DISINFECTANTS.
USE OF
THE free use of fluid disinfectants in houses in which infectious disease exists, or is suspected to exist, is a universally established practice and there can be no doubt of its value. One unsatisfactory feature, however, in connexion with the use of disinfectants is that some of them, at any rate, are not only greatly deficient as regards their active antiseptic ingredients but they are apt when used freely, and especially the phenol preparations, to leave indelible stains on sheets, blankets, and other fabrics. This is a serious matter to the poor householder whose means are often sadly strained to meet tha expenses of a sick room. Stains on blankets and on sheets are very objectionable and present an unsightly and spoiled appearance which considerably discounts the value of the bed-clothing. not unnaturally Furthermore, stains on bed linen, &c., suggest an unpleasant association with infectious disease. It is desirable, we think, that all manufacturers of disinfectants should be compelled to make a statement as to the percentage of the active ingredient contained in their preparations and they should also ascertain that the disinfectant when properly used leaves no stains on fabrics. We have examined a number of preparations which comply with these requirements ; they are efficient germicides and do not stain. It is only a matter of careful preparation, especially in the case of the alkaline mixtures, which, however, often contain little else than inert tar compounds. We may also draw attention to the miserably weak liquor of which the sanitary authorities are in the habit of distributing samples ; they are often objectionable in appearance and offensive in odour, to say nothing of being practically worthless as germicides. Of course, it is important that a fair price should be paid for a really active fluid which could be diluted by the sanitary officers to a convenient and efficient strength. In this way the officials could not only reduce the strength to the desired limit of 3 per cent. of phenol or its homologues but they could prevent damage to clothes and It seems to us that all disinfectant preparaother articles. tions should be required by law to conform to a definite antiseptic value. -
SUICIDES IN PUBLIC ASYLUMS FOR THE INSANE.
I
IN the JcM7’MJ
of Mental Soience for July Dr. H.
A.
Benham, medical superintendent of the Fishponds Asylum, an account of his studies of suicides which had occurred during the period 1890 to 1902 in the public asylums of England and Wales. During that period 201 cases of suicide occurred, 126 being males and 75 females. 16 patients committed suicide after effecting their escape and 20 patients did so while out I I on trial." As to the means chosen for committing the suicidal act, a little over 50 per cent. of the total number adopted the method of hanging themselves, while 13 per cent. effected the act by cutting their throats. The other methods adopted were as follows in descending order of frequency-viz., drowning, strangulation, injury by railway train?, poisoning, jumping from windows, and suffocation. Of the suicides which actually occurred within the precincts of asylums the act was committed during the day in 79 per cent. of cases and by night in 21 per cent. " Taking the suicides
Bristol, gives
253 committed by night," says Dr. Benham, "the smaller number is probably accounted for by the fact that not only is a smaller number of hours in question (some of which are passed in sleep) but also that all the suicidal patients are at that time concentrated in observation dormitories." On no pretence is any suicidal patient allowed at the present day to take anything to bed. Neglect of this precaution had in the past led to many suicides, the means adopted by the would-be suicides varying from a secreted handkerchief for tying round, or stuffing into, the throat to a piece of sharpened iron or tin for cutting the throat. All suicidal patients now sleep in special wards, each of which is specially staffed." Sharp instruments, such as knives, razors, and scissors, are locked up and are never allowed to come within reach of suicidal patients, all medicines are kept locked up in cupboards in each ward, and the doses prescribed for sick patients are only given out by the charge attendant or his deputy. Nurses in special charge of suicidal patients or while present in the wards are not permitted to wear hatpins, the uniform cap being fastened with a safety-pin. Finally, the vigilance of the night attendants is tested by a system of electric clocks connected by wire with a recording apparatus which is placed in the medical super-" intendent’s office. In the dormitories the clock is "pegged" every half hour-thus guaranteeing that the attendants are awake-and a record of each "pegging" " is automatically registered in the medical superintendent’s office. The rooms of attendants are kept locked so that patients cannot obtain any articles from them. In short, the whole system of supervision and care of suicidal patients has been, says Dr. Benham, so highly perfected in asylums that suicides are now very rare events even in our largest public asylums.
There was, however, no fever. Towards evening symptoms. of prostration made their appearance, the pulse being ’very weak and the action of the heart being barely perceptible. A hypodermic injection of caffeine was given which caused a great deal of pain. Caffeine was also given by the mouth, as was also some nourishment, and a little sleep was obtained. Dr. Lapponi slept in the Vatican. A consultation with Professor Mazzoni was determined on and this took place on the next morning, Sunday, July 5th, at 8.30. The bulletin then issued was as follows :Dr. Lapponi, being anxious concerning the health of the Holy Father, held this morning a consultation with Professor Mazzoni, who confirmed the diagnosis already made by his colleague of " senile pulmonary hepatisation" and approved of the treatment instituted. The condition of the august patient is, considering his age, serious but not for the present alarming. Professor Mazzoni, it may be remembered, operated on the Pope three years ago for a suppurating cyst in the side He is surgeon to the ancient with excellent results.1 hospital for women of San Giovanni in Laterano and is a. privat-docent for gynaecology in the university. I had an interview with Professor Mazzoni in the evening. He stated that the hepatisation affected the upper and middle lobes of the right lung and that there had been symptoms of considerable cardiac weakness and some difficulty in respiration ; there was no fever, cough, or expectoraAt 9 P.M. on Sunday the following bulletin was t ion. issued :Since the morning there has been slight increase in the weakness. The objective conditions of the thorax remain unaltered. somewhat frequent. Pulse weak, but not irregular. subnormal. Mind most clear.
Respiration Temperature’
Notwithstanding his weakness the Pope remained out of bed a part of the day, dictating letters and making his final dispositions on temporal and spiritual matters. He also dictated some Latin hexameters (and requested his secretary to send them immediately to be printed, as he wished to see the proofs). The first line of these runs :for
"
Sol moritur vespri cedens sua regna rubenti." somewhat They melancholy and comprise a farewell to Sir William Selby Church, the President of the Royal all Christians. College of Physicians of London, will deliver the opening Shortly after this consultation the Viaticum, or Last lecture of the winter session at the Post-graduate College,iSacrament, was administered to the Pope sitting up in his West London Hospital, Hammersmith-road, W., early in bed in the presence of several cardinals and other members of his family and intimates. During the recitation of theOctober. Confession when the words "Iec culpa, mea oulpa, mea maxima oulpa " were reached the Pope extended his hands THE King has approved of the re-appointment of Mr.and struck his breast three times in token of deep sorrow for William Gabriel Rockwood, M. D. Madras, as an unofficialthe sins of his life. Then with astonishing mental clearness. member of the Legislative Council of the Island of Ceylon. ] he requested the cardinals present, numbering 28 or 29 in all, to approach one by one. He recognised them individually and had a parting word for each. The bulletin issued on Monday morning was as follows :THE ILLNESS AND DEATH OF THE POPE. July 6th, 9.30 A.M.-Although there has been hardly any sleep. during the night, still it has been less agitated than the preceding one, (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) the Holy Father deriving benefi.t from the administration of digitalis and camphor. The condition of the thorax remains stationary. Therebeen some fits of coughing, with a scanty mucous expectoration. THE following detailed story of the illness and death of have Sufficient nourishment has been taken. The pulse remains weak but the Pope has been sent to us by a thoroughly well-informed not intermittent. Temperature subnormal. It may be said that the condition of the august sufferer, while no better, is certainly no. correspondent. The complete accuracy of the public bulletins worse. is supported by his statements :— It was stated, but not officially, that caffeine was also On Tuesday, June 30th, the Pope complained of slight given by the mouth during the night. The nourishment confeelings of dyspepsia and as he was particularly fond of sisted of strong soup, eggs, and various stimulants. The physicking himself he determined to take a dose of castor bulletin in the evening was as follows :oil. This acted rather too strongly during the next two 8 P.M.—This evening the of general depression are days, but he went on with his usual receptions and with accentuated. Respiration moresymptoms frequent and superficial. Pulse small, his drives in the gardens of the Vatican, which he had and sometimes imperceptible.- Temperature subnormal. Intellectual begun rather earlier than usual this year. On Friday, faculties unimpaired. July 3rd, during the afternoon drive, he did not feel at After the publication of this bulletin Extreme Unction was all well and returning to his apartments went to bed where administered. he fell into a prolonged fainting fit. Dr. Lapponi, who On Tuesday, the 7th, the morning bulletin was ashas been the Pope’s private physician for many years, on follows :10 A.M.-A sleepless and ag.itated night, but nourishment was better being summoned, declared that this was due to the excessive action of the castor oil which had brought on some disturb- taken. General condition somewhat better. A change noticed in theobjective examination of the right thorax. The middle lobe, which ance of the stomach and, in fact, the Pope would not take yesterday was impervious, this morning allows some air to enter. On nourishment at a even of which the other hand, the lower part is duller, vocal and tactile fremitus is all, refusing any glass claret was his usual" pick-me-up." Some anxiety was felt during absent, and the symptom of Baccelli authorises the opinion that there is fluid in the pleura. An exploratory puncture will be made. Therethe night which was apparently passed by the Pope in a is a of the cardiac function, which has caused a delayed. state of semi-delirium until the dawn, in spite of a dose of renaldepression function, and cyanosis in the distal phalanges of the fingers and sulphonal (his usual soporific), when after taking a little toes. cordial he felt re-invigorated and calmer. The treatment relied upon was the administration of During the next day, Satuiday, the loss of appetite con- digitalis, camphor, and expectorants by the mouth, and tinued and in addition the Pope suffered from shortness 2 THE LANCET, March 11th, 1899, p. 731, breath, so that the daily receptions had to be postponed. are
’
of