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TABES DORSALIS IN INFANTS.
ALCOHOL AND THE TROOPS RETURNED FROM THE WAR.
tuberculin test caused an elevation of temperature to 385° C.
administered, and the patient milligrammes left side of the chest. The of the over pain complained of were, however, peculiar and led to symptoms complained the suspicion of hysteria. Hence an injection of a few drops of distilled water-supposed by the patient to be tuberculin -was given with the result that the same reactions on occasion the mere introduction of another and followed, its withdrawal without making and needle the hypodermic a caused any injection repetition of the symptoms. The case was regarded, therefore, as one of hysteria, and the temperature was attributed to hysterical fever in that it also oscillated in a characteristic and irregular way. With appropriate care and treatment the patient recovered. after five
were
ALCOHOL AND THE TROOPS RETURNED THE WAR.
FROM
DAY by day it is announced in the press that the victims of war, whether laid low by wounds or by disease, are returning from the front. Some of them are well enough to be sent to their own homes or to convalescent homes almost at once, and we wish to urge upon everyone coming into contact with these returned warriors the plain fact that knowing a man as a friend or the possession of admiration for a man who has done his duty is no reason for treating him to an overplus of alcoholic drinks. We do not say this because we have an objection to alcohol per se, but for any man, and more especially for one who has just recovered from a serious illness, to be filled with a selection of alcoholic drinks, and those, too, in many instances, not of the best quality, is conducive neither to his health nor to his chance of success in civil employment. A mixture, as is very possible, of beer, rum, and " whisky-andsoda" is calculated seriously to disturb the progress of convalescence, in addition to the fact that if a man on sick leave is treated to over-indulgence his resulting state of incapacity would not raise him in the eyes of a possible employer. The Army Temperance Association are issuing leaflets upon the same subject. We have treated the matter in a more practical way, but whether it be looked at from the practical or from the intellectual point of view we hope that the pleasure of the return home of those who have done well by their country will not be marred by their being subjected to either the pathological or the legal penalties of over-indulgence in alcoholic drinks.
TABES DORSALIS IN INFANTS. TABES dorsalis is a rare disease in infants and the recorded in literature amount to six in all-viz., three cases published by Remak, one by Strümpell, one by Mendel, and one by Bloch. Dr. L. Dydynsky gives an interesting account of a seventh caae—viz., that of a boy, eight years of age, in whom the tabes had its onset at the age of five years and gave rise to bladder troubles. The patient has since then suffered from incontinence of urine and sometimes from retention of urine. He showed Romberg’s symptom while standing, the pupils were of the characteristic Argyll-Robertson type, and Westphal’s sign (loss of knee-jerk) was pronounced. There were muscular hypotonia and feebleness but no atrophy or manifest incoördination. He had lightning pains and parsesthesia in the lower limbs, as well as patches of hyposesthesia and hypoalgesia. The personal history of the patient showed a remarkable freedom from any infectious disease and there was not any direct sign of hereditary
cases
1
Abstract from the Russian by A. Raichline in Revue
May 33th, 1900.
Neurologique,
273
The family history was as follows. The child’s father had had syphilis when a young man, aged 20 years, and was at the time of recording of the child’s present illness suffering from incipient tabes with characteristic knee symptoms and pupillary conditions. The child’s mother had had five miscarriages before the present child was born. Following him were three other children (infants) who so far appear to be well. Dr. Dydynsky insists on the fact that in all the cases observed of infantile tabes and juvenile tabes (Raymond, Homen) syphilis has been noted in the parents, especially the father. Hereditary syphilis is undoubtedly the cause of infantile tabes dorsalis just as it is also the cause of the characteristic cerebral degeneration which may bring about juvenile general paralysis (Thiry, Alzheimer). It is interesting to note that in nearly all the recorded cases of infantile tabes the symptoms began with bladder troubles and troubles of micturition, after which ocular symptoms followed. Troubles of sensibility of the skin followed next in order of time, whereas ataxia and loss of the power of balancing and walking supervened late or did not appear at all. Considering the syphilitic etiology it is a question whether the prevention of both tabes and general paralysis in juveniles might not be effected were appropriate anti-syphilitic treatment adopted in the case of every infant subject to hereditary syphilis. The question opens up one of the most important departments of preventive medicine.
syphilis.
-
DENTISTS AND THE COMPANIES
BILL.
MR. MORTON SMALE, Dean of the Dental Hospital of London, speaking at the conversazione and prize distribution in the Prince’s Room, Piccadilly, on Wednesday night, July 18th, adverted to the effect of the Companies Bill now
before Parliament on the profession of dentists. He said that almost every clause of the Dentists Act, 1878, began with the words " A person," from which it might be assumed that the intention was to restrict the practice of dentistry to individuals as apart from companies-in other words, that when a person went to consult Mr. Smith he should not be referred to Mr. Jones. This was a professional rule which had led the Royal College of Physicians of London to go so far as to say that even Fellows of the same College should not practise together. Within a few years of the passing of the Act, however, certain persons formed themselves into companies and proceeded to practise dentistry. While the question of remedying this grievance was under consideration the new Companies Bill was brought before the House of Commons and through the instrumentality of some members of the dental and medical professions two clauses were inserted with a view to prohibiting the practice of medicine, surgery, and dentistry by companies. At the moment when they thought they were secure Mr. Ritchie stated in the Grand Committee which was considering the Bill that he thought that it was necessary to drop the clauses because they were not germane to the subject matter of the Bill. Mr. Smale could not imagine that any Act which dealt with the formation of companies should not have reference to this matter, and he failed to see the potency of Mr. Ritchie’s remarks. There was no more appropriate place in which to insert clauses for stopping this disreputable practice than this Bill. Everybody in the House of Commons was agreed that the practice was a disreputable one and it was nonsense to postpone the matter indefinitely. It was a monstrous injustice that dentists after going through a five
years’ curriculum should have to be met by companies carrying on their profession. We thoroughly agree with every word that Mr. Smale said and so does the whole of the medical and dental professions. But unfortunately the clauses in question were excluded on Tuesday night last
tuberculin test caused an elevation of temperature to 385° C.
administered, and the patient milligrammes left side of the chest. The of the over pain complained of were, however, peculiar and led to symptoms complained the suspicion of hysteria. Hence an injection of a few drops of distilled water-supposed by the patient to be tuberculin -was given with the result that the same reactions on occasion the mere introduction of another and followed, its withdrawal without making and needle the hypodermic a caused any injection repetition of the symptoms. The case was regarded, therefore, as one of hysteria, and the temperature was attributed to hysterical fever in that it also oscillated in a characteristic and irregular way. With appropriate care and treatment the patient recovered. after five
were
ALCOHOL AND THE TROOPS RETURNED THE WAR.
FROM
DAY by day it is announced in the press that the victims of war, whether laid low by wounds or by disease, are returning from the front. Some of them are well enough to be sent to their own homes or to convalescent homes almost at once, and we wish to urge upon everyone coming into contact with these returned warriors the plain fact that knowing a man as a friend or the possession of admiration for a man who has done his duty is no reason for treating him to an overplus of alcoholic drinks. We do not say this because we have an objection to alcohol per se, but for any man, and more especially for one who has just recovered from a serious illness, to be filled with a selection of alcoholic drinks, and those, too, in many instances, not of the best quality, is conducive neither to his health nor to his chance of success in civil employment. A mixture, as is very possible, of beer, rum, and " whisky-andsoda" is calculated seriously to disturb the progress of convalescence, in addition to the fact that if a man on sick leave is treated to over-indulgence his resulting state of incapacity would not raise him in the eyes of a possible employer. The Army Temperance Association are issuing leaflets upon the same subject. We have treated the matter in a more practical way, but whether it be looked at from the practical or from the intellectual point of view we hope that the pleasure of the return home of those who have done well by their country will not be marred by their being subjected to either the pathological or the legal penalties of over-indulgence in alcoholic drinks.
TABES DORSALIS IN INFANTS. TABES dorsalis is a rare disease in infants and the recorded in literature amount to six in all-viz., three cases published by Remak, one by Strümpell, one by Mendel, and one by Bloch. Dr. L. Dydynsky gives an interesting account of a seventh caae—viz., that of a boy, eight years of age, in whom the tabes had its onset at the age of five years and gave rise to bladder troubles. The patient has since then suffered from incontinence of urine and sometimes from retention of urine. He showed Romberg’s symptom while standing, the pupils were of the characteristic Argyll-Robertson type, and Westphal’s sign (loss of knee-jerk) was pronounced. There were muscular hypotonia and feebleness but no atrophy or manifest incoördination. He had lightning pains and parsesthesia in the lower limbs, as well as patches of hyposesthesia and hypoalgesia. The personal history of the patient showed a remarkable freedom from any infectious disease and there was not any direct sign of hereditary
cases
1
Abstract from the Russian by A. Raichline in Revue
May 33th, 1900.
Neurologique,
273
The family history was as follows. The child’s father had had syphilis when a young man, aged 20 years, and was at the time of recording of the child’s present illness suffering from incipient tabes with characteristic knee symptoms and pupillary conditions. The child’s mother had had five miscarriages before the present child was born. Following him were three other children (infants) who so far appear to be well. Dr. Dydynsky insists on the fact that in all the cases observed of infantile tabes and juvenile tabes (Raymond, Homen) syphilis has been noted in the parents, especially the father. Hereditary syphilis is undoubtedly the cause of infantile tabes dorsalis just as it is also the cause of the characteristic cerebral degeneration which may bring about juvenile general paralysis (Thiry, Alzheimer). It is interesting to note that in nearly all the recorded cases of infantile tabes the symptoms began with bladder troubles and troubles of micturition, after which ocular symptoms followed. Troubles of sensibility of the skin followed next in order of time, whereas ataxia and loss of the power of balancing and walking supervened late or did not appear at all. Considering the syphilitic etiology it is a question whether the prevention of both tabes and general paralysis in juveniles might not be effected were appropriate anti-syphilitic treatment adopted in the case of every infant subject to hereditary syphilis. The question opens up one of the most important departments of preventive medicine.
syphilis.
-
DENTISTS AND THE COMPANIES
BILL.
MR. MORTON SMALE, Dean of the Dental Hospital of London, speaking at the conversazione and prize distribution in the Prince’s Room, Piccadilly, on Wednesday night, July 18th, adverted to the effect of the Companies Bill now
before Parliament on the profession of dentists. He said that almost every clause of the Dentists Act, 1878, began with the words " A person," from which it might be assumed that the intention was to restrict the practice of dentistry to individuals as apart from companies-in other words, that when a person went to consult Mr. Smith he should not be referred to Mr. Jones. This was a professional rule which had led the Royal College of Physicians of London to go so far as to say that even Fellows of the same College should not practise together. Within a few years of the passing of the Act, however, certain persons formed themselves into companies and proceeded to practise dentistry. While the question of remedying this grievance was under consideration the new Companies Bill was brought before the House of Commons and through the instrumentality of some members of the dental and medical professions two clauses were inserted with a view to prohibiting the practice of medicine, surgery, and dentistry by companies. At the moment when they thought they were secure Mr. Ritchie stated in the Grand Committee which was considering the Bill that he thought that it was necessary to drop the clauses because they were not germane to the subject matter of the Bill. Mr. Smale could not imagine that any Act which dealt with the formation of companies should not have reference to this matter, and he failed to see the potency of Mr. Ritchie’s remarks. There was no more appropriate place in which to insert clauses for stopping this disreputable practice than this Bill. Everybody in the House of Commons was agreed that the practice was a disreputable one and it was nonsense to postpone the matter indefinitely. It was a monstrous injustice that dentists after going through a five
years’ curriculum should have to be met by companies carrying on their profession. We thoroughly agree with every word that Mr. Smale said and so does the whole of the medical and dental professions. But unfortunately the clauses in question were excluded on Tuesday night last