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THE CALIBRE OF THE HUMAN INTESTINE.
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THE LEPROSY FUND PRIZE ESSAYS. _.
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hospital to a healthier position outside the town. Undoubtedly, As a mere commercial investment the suggested reform is when we consider- how totally devoid both Constantinople not without some value, since medical aid thus early rendered and Smyrna are of anything approaching to a drainage might go far to prevent some of those consequences of system and proper sanitation, it becomes more than ever accident which from time to time bring together passengers necessary to carry patients out into the open and away and railway companies in courts of law. from the foul emanations of undrained Eastern towns. Of course, there should be near to the port a small
DIPHTHERIA IN LONDON.
receiving hospital for emergencies, acciFATAL diphtheria in London last week again showed perhaps for the convenience of out-patients ; decline after the serious increase of the preceding week, but the majority of the cases undergoing anything like 34 deaths being registered, against 36, 35, and 50 in the three a lengthy treatment would derive great benefit from the weeks. The average was exceeded by 4 only, but previous purer air outside the town. The Turks themselves have the admissions were 74 cases to hospital, against 80, 75, and given us an example in this respect by building their vast 64 in previous weeks ; and last Saturday found 517 patients Hasseki hospital for Mahomedan women on a distant height still under treatment. Of the 34 deaths, 70 per cent. were in
ambulance dents, and
or
well away from the crowded quarters of Stamboul. Of children aged from one to five years ; and 4 belonged to course, we are fully conscious of the advantage of relieving Lambeth, 3 each to Bethnal-green and Mile-end Old Town, British shipping from unnecessary burdens ; but we imagine and 2 each to Fulham, St. Pancras, Shoreditch, Limehouse, that the improvement of the hospital accommodation in Camber well, and Greenwich. In Greater Newington, Poplar, such insanitary towns as Constantinople and Smyrna is not London there were 13 deaths registered from diphtheria, an unnecessary expenditure. Ham. in 9 West including
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THE EPILEPTIC COLONY AT CHALFONT.
THE LEPROSY FUND PRIZE ESSAYS.
of
the
committee I forTHEthe executive Employment of Epileptics
WE are glad to hear that no fewer than ten essays have been received in response to the questions on subj ects connected withi leprosy which were advertised in the columns of THE LANCET about a year ago. The number of questions proposed was ten, and they chiefly concern the prevalence of leprosy and its supposed causes in different parts of the world. Three of the subjects have elicited no reports, whilst one, the causes of the decline and extinction of leprosy in Britain, has produced three. The adjudicators are Sir Joseph Fayrer, Sir Guyer Hunter, and Mr. Hutchinson ; and we believe that their decision will be announced very shortly. It is intended that the selected essays shall be immediately published, so far as the funds at the disposal of the committee will meet the cost. The adjudicators express themselves as highly gratified at the success which has attended this attempt at obtaining information. Many, indeed almost all, of the essays are, we understand, of great merit.
National have just
6ociety issued
report. The aims of the society and the successful working of the colony that has been established at Chalfont in Buckinghamshire1 have been several times referred to in the columns of THE LANCET. The land acquired by the society is sufficiently extensive for a settlement of several hundred epileptics, but the necessary building operations absorb a large amount of capital, and we learn with much regret that the funds in the hands of the society will be almost exhausted by the cost of erection of the first permanent building for eighteen men, leaving women and children, whose requirements are equally pressing, quite unprovided for. It is to be hoped that the next report
their first
will be able to announce a generous response on the part of the public, so that the society may be able to extend its usefulness. The movement has the cordial approval of the medical profession, as expressed by its leading members and by the medical press, and the names of the members of RAILWAY ACCIDENTS AND AMBULANCE the executive committee and of the honorary medical staff ARRANGEMENTS. are sufficient guarantee that subscriptions and donations THE Chelford disaster presents the almost unique spectacle entrusted to the society will be employed wisely and of a railway accident arising from causes which did not efficiently for the relief of the unhappy class of sufferers for imply neglect or mismanagement on the part of any whose benefit it has been instituted. individual. This fact, at least, in connexion with it is satisfactory. As much cannot be said with regard to some other THE CALIBRE OF THE HUMAN INTESTINE. associated circumstances. It is certainly remarkable, and IN communicating to the bociete de Uhirurgie the results not very creditable either to the prudence or the practical of some experiments he had carried out on dogs with Murphy’s half a of for more than that we have mankind, energy anastomosis button, M. Chaput made a statementwhich of are been in a and railway system, century possession only seems to us to now feeling our way to the formation of an ambulance departopen up a field for speculation, if not for ment for service in emergencies like that above mentioned. inquiry. Basing his opinion on numerous measurements human of the intestines, the distinguished French surgeon And yet when the project is looked into there does not that the 27 millimetre button is far informed his audience appear to be any real difficulty in the way of its realisation. too for the small gut in general, and especially for the bulky Every station on every line could at no great cost of money, time, or trouble be provided with the means of coping with lower end of the ileum. Of the three sizes he prefers that the sudden and urgent necessities arising out of an accident. which is about equal to 21 millimetres in diameter ; it is the Local practitioners might be confidently relied upon to smallest and adapts itself to the situation more readily than Now the questions suggested by M. Chaput’s render aid in such a case, and railway employes everywhere the others. remarks are these: Do American citizens, as a rule, possess to be so trained of as to be service as first ought certainly aids to the injured. Such measures would avail as a tem- more voluminous intestinal tracts than their French conporary stopgap. A few ambulance waggons-equipped after geners, and, if so, how far is cookery responsible for the the manner described by us in a recent issued as already differences2 It is, of course, notorious that French cooking illustrated on the Austrian lines of rail-could be despatched is the best in the world : has this fact any bearing upon the from headquarters with the breakdown train. Thus every presumably small calibre of the French bowel? Digestion necessity might be met promptly and effectually, life and being made easy, so to speak, is it the case that a partial health might be preserved, and much suffering obviated. 1 THE LANCET, Nov. 17th, 1894. 2 Gazette Hebdomadaire des Sciences Médicales de Bordeaux, No. 47, 1 THE LANCET, Nov. 24th, 1894. Nov. 25th, 1894.
170
THE ILLNESS OF THE DUKE OF ARGYLL.
arrest of
development has been the consequence ?7 Is there also discrepancy as regards length between the p’I’Î’maJ viae of the two nationalities? Savages are endowed with magnificent mouth furniture, and dental decay is sometimes said to be a product of civilisation dependent to a great extent upon knives and forks !I Has the human race any reason to dread analogous deterioration as a corollary to elaborate cookery ?7 Finally, and by way of closure to these obiter dicta, are dainty dishes a physiological mistake ?
are greater than between this specimen and that of The femur, which was the only other part of theskeleton found (although as the site of this bone was at some distance from the cranium it may not belong to the same individual), shows that the pithecanthropus could walk erect. The femur, indeed, approximated more to the human type than the cranium. In the course of the discussion M. Duval remarked that the communication was perhaps the most important that had ever been made to the society, and thought the Netherlands Government should be asked to have casts made for presentation to the museum. He considered that THE ILLNESS OF THE DUKE OF ARGYLL. the more markedly human type of the femur than of the THE Duke of Argyll was seized by sudden illness while cranium suggested that the pithecanthropus had learnt to walk. addressing a large and most enthusiastic meeting in in human fashion before it had developed human intelligence. St. Andrew’s Hall, the largest hall in Glasgow, on Wednesday evening last. Some months ago the Duke’s promised visit NURSING IN RURAL DISTRICTS. had to be postponed on account of illness, and on Wednesday night when he stepped on to the platform his appearance was MUCH has to be endured by the poor inhabitants of country that of a man who was barely convalescent. With admirable villages and isolated cottages when sickness has made its. pluck, however, the Duke persisted in an endeavour to appearance in the humble home. Under such circumstances redeem his pledge, but unfortunately the task was beyond the neighbours generally render willing aid to those members his power. The magnificent reception given him by the of the family who have to attend upon the patients, and audience seemed to stimulate him, and his speech at amateur advice prompted by good intentions is abundantly first went well, but after speaking about a quarter of The advantages which would follow if a better an hour his face became deadly pale, and he sank forthcoming. of nursing could be introduced have long been system back unconscious into the arms of his friend Lord and about five years ago some benevolent ladies of He was at once removed to an anteroom, apparent, Kelvin. the Rural Nursing Association foundedi. position inaugurated; and attended by Professor McCall Anderson, who had been for the purpose of supplying this want. The council of the on the platform, and by Drs. S. Sloan and G. R. Mather. Jubilee Institute, recognising the usefulness of the His Grace’s condition was one of most profound syncope ; Queen’s affiliated the new association to their own society, project, the pulse had almost disappeared, and difficulty was experiand there is already a great demand for the services of their enced in keeping up warmth in the limbs. After an hour nurses, who receive their training in London and other large or two of rest he was carefully removed, in the retowns. The expense of qualifying the probationers for this cumbent posture, to the house of Lord Kelvin, at the charitable work is considerable, and the association’s need of’ College, where he now lies, surrounded by friends, and in a funds for carrying on the scheme has found expression in a part of the city where the requisite quiet and freedom from letter written from St. Katherine’s Royal Hospital, Regent’sdisturbance can be obtained. According to latest advices W., and inserted in the Times of the 5th inst. Country the Duke spent a somewhat restless night on Wednesday, park, will fully recognise the utility of this but was conscious, and in other respects is reported to be practitioners which will directly benefit the patients and movement, progressing well. The attack of syncope was of a very pro- ultimately tend to improve the quality of domestic nursing. found nature, but now that he has rallied he is free from the severe epigastric pain which he had complained of before his seizure, though some abdominal tenderness LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL. remains. His illness was no doubt partly a manifestation LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL’S condition during the last of dyspepsia of a gouty character, though it must not be few days has been generally marked by an increase of cardiac lost sight of that the Duke of Argyll is no longer a young weakness, with tendency to coma, interrupted by such occaman to whom journejs sand the excitements attendant upon sional intervals of rallying and return to consciousness as are political affray can be considered unimportant. common in the advanced general paralysis.
"PITHECANTHROPUS": THE MISSING LINK
gibbon man.
(&rgr;).
meeting of the Paris Society of Anthropology held on the 3rd inst. M. Manouvrier gave an account of the discovery by M. Eugene Dubois, surgeon in the Dutch Army at Batavia, of a cranium and femur with characters partly pithecoid, partly anthropoid. The remains were found in the lower quaternary strata in Sumatra, and M. Dubois has published a very complete monograph upon them. The cranium of "pithecanthropus " is described as being intermediate in character between the anthropoid apes and the aboriginal Australian. It exhibits an exaggeration of the Neanderthal skull, with its enormous superciliary eminences. The cranial capacity is much greater than that of the largest gorilla, but it is less than in primitive man, and does not exceed that of advanced imbecility. A molar tooth that was found near the skull more resembles in its great size that of a monkey than of The position of the occipital foramen shows that a man. this was seated upon the vertebral column more directly than in any anthropoid ape. It most approximates to the gibbon, but the differences between the human skull and that of AT the
the
stage of
AFTER the dinner of the staff of St. Thomas’s Hospital on the 12th inst. Dr. Ord expressed the sympathy of hiff colleagues with Dr. Cullingworth in the recent vexations action unsuccessfully brought against him by a patient and presented him with a cheque for the sum which they had individually and collectively subscribed as a token of their appreciation of his conduct as a physician and regard for him. as a colleague. Dr. Cullingwortb, who gracefully replied, thanked those present for the unexpected expression of their kindness to him, and assured them that the knowledge of’ their support was a great help to him during the worries of the trial. ___
AN urgent appeal for public help is about to be made on behalf of St. Thomas’s Hospital by the President, H.R.H.. the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn.
WE understand that the Duke of Cambridge, President of the German Hospital, will take the chair at the fiftieth anniversary dinner to be held in April.
THE LEPROSY FUND PRIZE ESSAYS. _.
_-
-
-
_
__
_
__
__
_
_
I
hospital to a healthier position outside the town. Undoubtedly, As a mere commercial investment the suggested reform is when we consider- how totally devoid both Constantinople not without some value, since medical aid thus early rendered and Smyrna are of anything approaching to a drainage might go far to prevent some of those consequences of system and proper sanitation, it becomes more than ever accident which from time to time bring together passengers necessary to carry patients out into the open and away and railway companies in courts of law. from the foul emanations of undrained Eastern towns. Of course, there should be near to the port a small
DIPHTHERIA IN LONDON.
receiving hospital for emergencies, acciFATAL diphtheria in London last week again showed perhaps for the convenience of out-patients ; decline after the serious increase of the preceding week, but the majority of the cases undergoing anything like 34 deaths being registered, against 36, 35, and 50 in the three a lengthy treatment would derive great benefit from the weeks. The average was exceeded by 4 only, but previous purer air outside the town. The Turks themselves have the admissions were 74 cases to hospital, against 80, 75, and given us an example in this respect by building their vast 64 in previous weeks ; and last Saturday found 517 patients Hasseki hospital for Mahomedan women on a distant height still under treatment. Of the 34 deaths, 70 per cent. were in
ambulance dents, and
or
well away from the crowded quarters of Stamboul. Of children aged from one to five years ; and 4 belonged to course, we are fully conscious of the advantage of relieving Lambeth, 3 each to Bethnal-green and Mile-end Old Town, British shipping from unnecessary burdens ; but we imagine and 2 each to Fulham, St. Pancras, Shoreditch, Limehouse, that the improvement of the hospital accommodation in Camber well, and Greenwich. In Greater Newington, Poplar, such insanitary towns as Constantinople and Smyrna is not London there were 13 deaths registered from diphtheria, an unnecessary expenditure. Ham. in 9 West including
I
-
-
THE EPILEPTIC COLONY AT CHALFONT.
THE LEPROSY FUND PRIZE ESSAYS.
of
the
committee I forTHEthe executive Employment of Epileptics
WE are glad to hear that no fewer than ten essays have been received in response to the questions on subj ects connected withi leprosy which were advertised in the columns of THE LANCET about a year ago. The number of questions proposed was ten, and they chiefly concern the prevalence of leprosy and its supposed causes in different parts of the world. Three of the subjects have elicited no reports, whilst one, the causes of the decline and extinction of leprosy in Britain, has produced three. The adjudicators are Sir Joseph Fayrer, Sir Guyer Hunter, and Mr. Hutchinson ; and we believe that their decision will be announced very shortly. It is intended that the selected essays shall be immediately published, so far as the funds at the disposal of the committee will meet the cost. The adjudicators express themselves as highly gratified at the success which has attended this attempt at obtaining information. Many, indeed almost all, of the essays are, we understand, of great merit.
National have just
6ociety issued
report. The aims of the society and the successful working of the colony that has been established at Chalfont in Buckinghamshire1 have been several times referred to in the columns of THE LANCET. The land acquired by the society is sufficiently extensive for a settlement of several hundred epileptics, but the necessary building operations absorb a large amount of capital, and we learn with much regret that the funds in the hands of the society will be almost exhausted by the cost of erection of the first permanent building for eighteen men, leaving women and children, whose requirements are equally pressing, quite unprovided for. It is to be hoped that the next report
their first
will be able to announce a generous response on the part of the public, so that the society may be able to extend its usefulness. The movement has the cordial approval of the medical profession, as expressed by its leading members and by the medical press, and the names of the members of RAILWAY ACCIDENTS AND AMBULANCE the executive committee and of the honorary medical staff ARRANGEMENTS. are sufficient guarantee that subscriptions and donations THE Chelford disaster presents the almost unique spectacle entrusted to the society will be employed wisely and of a railway accident arising from causes which did not efficiently for the relief of the unhappy class of sufferers for imply neglect or mismanagement on the part of any whose benefit it has been instituted. individual. This fact, at least, in connexion with it is satisfactory. As much cannot be said with regard to some other THE CALIBRE OF THE HUMAN INTESTINE. associated circumstances. It is certainly remarkable, and IN communicating to the bociete de Uhirurgie the results not very creditable either to the prudence or the practical of some experiments he had carried out on dogs with Murphy’s half a of for more than that we have mankind, energy anastomosis button, M. Chaput made a statementwhich of are been in a and railway system, century possession only seems to us to now feeling our way to the formation of an ambulance departopen up a field for speculation, if not for ment for service in emergencies like that above mentioned. inquiry. Basing his opinion on numerous measurements human of the intestines, the distinguished French surgeon And yet when the project is looked into there does not that the 27 millimetre button is far informed his audience appear to be any real difficulty in the way of its realisation. too for the small gut in general, and especially for the bulky Every station on every line could at no great cost of money, time, or trouble be provided with the means of coping with lower end of the ileum. Of the three sizes he prefers that the sudden and urgent necessities arising out of an accident. which is about equal to 21 millimetres in diameter ; it is the Local practitioners might be confidently relied upon to smallest and adapts itself to the situation more readily than Now the questions suggested by M. Chaput’s render aid in such a case, and railway employes everywhere the others. remarks are these: Do American citizens, as a rule, possess to be so trained of as to be service as first ought certainly aids to the injured. Such measures would avail as a tem- more voluminous intestinal tracts than their French conporary stopgap. A few ambulance waggons-equipped after geners, and, if so, how far is cookery responsible for the the manner described by us in a recent issued as already differences2 It is, of course, notorious that French cooking illustrated on the Austrian lines of rail-could be despatched is the best in the world : has this fact any bearing upon the from headquarters with the breakdown train. Thus every presumably small calibre of the French bowel? Digestion necessity might be met promptly and effectually, life and being made easy, so to speak, is it the case that a partial health might be preserved, and much suffering obviated. 1 THE LANCET, Nov. 17th, 1894. 2 Gazette Hebdomadaire des Sciences Médicales de Bordeaux, No. 47, 1 THE LANCET, Nov. 24th, 1894. Nov. 25th, 1894.
170
THE ILLNESS OF THE DUKE OF ARGYLL.
arrest of
development has been the consequence ?7 Is there also discrepancy as regards length between the p’I’Î’maJ viae of the two nationalities? Savages are endowed with magnificent mouth furniture, and dental decay is sometimes said to be a product of civilisation dependent to a great extent upon knives and forks !I Has the human race any reason to dread analogous deterioration as a corollary to elaborate cookery ?7 Finally, and by way of closure to these obiter dicta, are dainty dishes a physiological mistake ?
are greater than between this specimen and that of The femur, which was the only other part of theskeleton found (although as the site of this bone was at some distance from the cranium it may not belong to the same individual), shows that the pithecanthropus could walk erect. The femur, indeed, approximated more to the human type than the cranium. In the course of the discussion M. Duval remarked that the communication was perhaps the most important that had ever been made to the society, and thought the Netherlands Government should be asked to have casts made for presentation to the museum. He considered that THE ILLNESS OF THE DUKE OF ARGYLL. the more markedly human type of the femur than of the THE Duke of Argyll was seized by sudden illness while cranium suggested that the pithecanthropus had learnt to walk. addressing a large and most enthusiastic meeting in in human fashion before it had developed human intelligence. St. Andrew’s Hall, the largest hall in Glasgow, on Wednesday evening last. Some months ago the Duke’s promised visit NURSING IN RURAL DISTRICTS. had to be postponed on account of illness, and on Wednesday night when he stepped on to the platform his appearance was MUCH has to be endured by the poor inhabitants of country that of a man who was barely convalescent. With admirable villages and isolated cottages when sickness has made its. pluck, however, the Duke persisted in an endeavour to appearance in the humble home. Under such circumstances redeem his pledge, but unfortunately the task was beyond the neighbours generally render willing aid to those members his power. The magnificent reception given him by the of the family who have to attend upon the patients, and audience seemed to stimulate him, and his speech at amateur advice prompted by good intentions is abundantly first went well, but after speaking about a quarter of The advantages which would follow if a better an hour his face became deadly pale, and he sank forthcoming. of nursing could be introduced have long been system back unconscious into the arms of his friend Lord and about five years ago some benevolent ladies of He was at once removed to an anteroom, apparent, Kelvin. the Rural Nursing Association foundedi. position inaugurated; and attended by Professor McCall Anderson, who had been for the purpose of supplying this want. The council of the on the platform, and by Drs. S. Sloan and G. R. Mather. Jubilee Institute, recognising the usefulness of the His Grace’s condition was one of most profound syncope ; Queen’s affiliated the new association to their own society, project, the pulse had almost disappeared, and difficulty was experiand there is already a great demand for the services of their enced in keeping up warmth in the limbs. After an hour nurses, who receive their training in London and other large or two of rest he was carefully removed, in the retowns. The expense of qualifying the probationers for this cumbent posture, to the house of Lord Kelvin, at the charitable work is considerable, and the association’s need of’ College, where he now lies, surrounded by friends, and in a funds for carrying on the scheme has found expression in a part of the city where the requisite quiet and freedom from letter written from St. Katherine’s Royal Hospital, Regent’sdisturbance can be obtained. According to latest advices W., and inserted in the Times of the 5th inst. Country the Duke spent a somewhat restless night on Wednesday, park, will fully recognise the utility of this but was conscious, and in other respects is reported to be practitioners which will directly benefit the patients and movement, progressing well. The attack of syncope was of a very pro- ultimately tend to improve the quality of domestic nursing. found nature, but now that he has rallied he is free from the severe epigastric pain which he had complained of before his seizure, though some abdominal tenderness LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL. remains. His illness was no doubt partly a manifestation LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL’S condition during the last of dyspepsia of a gouty character, though it must not be few days has been generally marked by an increase of cardiac lost sight of that the Duke of Argyll is no longer a young weakness, with tendency to coma, interrupted by such occaman to whom journejs sand the excitements attendant upon sional intervals of rallying and return to consciousness as are political affray can be considered unimportant. common in the advanced general paralysis.
"PITHECANTHROPUS": THE MISSING LINK
gibbon man.
(&rgr;).
meeting of the Paris Society of Anthropology held on the 3rd inst. M. Manouvrier gave an account of the discovery by M. Eugene Dubois, surgeon in the Dutch Army at Batavia, of a cranium and femur with characters partly pithecoid, partly anthropoid. The remains were found in the lower quaternary strata in Sumatra, and M. Dubois has published a very complete monograph upon them. The cranium of "pithecanthropus " is described as being intermediate in character between the anthropoid apes and the aboriginal Australian. It exhibits an exaggeration of the Neanderthal skull, with its enormous superciliary eminences. The cranial capacity is much greater than that of the largest gorilla, but it is less than in primitive man, and does not exceed that of advanced imbecility. A molar tooth that was found near the skull more resembles in its great size that of a monkey than of The position of the occipital foramen shows that a man. this was seated upon the vertebral column more directly than in any anthropoid ape. It most approximates to the gibbon, but the differences between the human skull and that of AT the
the
stage of
AFTER the dinner of the staff of St. Thomas’s Hospital on the 12th inst. Dr. Ord expressed the sympathy of hiff colleagues with Dr. Cullingworth in the recent vexations action unsuccessfully brought against him by a patient and presented him with a cheque for the sum which they had individually and collectively subscribed as a token of their appreciation of his conduct as a physician and regard for him. as a colleague. Dr. Cullingwortb, who gracefully replied, thanked those present for the unexpected expression of their kindness to him, and assured them that the knowledge of’ their support was a great help to him during the worries of the trial. ___
AN urgent appeal for public help is about to be made on behalf of St. Thomas’s Hospital by the President, H.R.H.. the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn.
WE understand that the Duke of Cambridge, President of the German Hospital, will take the chair at the fiftieth anniversary dinner to be held in April.