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THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES ACTS.
SAFRANIN REACTION IN SPUTUM.
1631
samples received from collieries (including the Albion Colliery) military population, and liable to fresh importations of disease We almost daily, that the Ordinance of 1861 was passed. It was an unfortunate history as regards explosions." recent as to to an whether the on this ordinance that the English Contagious Diseases Act dare opinion hardly express we as of 1866 was framed. The value of the medical inspections result of was the doubtless, negligence ; explosion sincerely hope, this will form the subject of inquiry in due was clearly shown by the increase of disease which had course, although it should be remarked that the difficulties occurred during its suspension among the women previously of obtaining satisfactory evidence on this point must be very subjected to it, as well as among the soldiers, sailors, and great. But unfortunately the lesson is learnt afresh that civilians who resorted to them ; while on these inspecit is probably not, in many cases, gases which are to be tions being resumed a diminution of the disease was soon feared, but the apparently more dangerous, finely divided apparent. That the island is comparatively free from coal dust. All the more urgent and needful is it for the venereal diseases, and especially from syphilis, is shown by authorities to insist upon the substitution, for gunpowder, of the reports of the military and naval medical officers, as well the safer high explosives of the nitro-class in the shots" as that of the civil surgeon, Dr. Pisani. These and many other used for disintegrating the huge masses in coal-mines, and interesting facts will be found in two Parliamentary papers, all the more imperative that in mines of a dry and dusty No. 347, bearing date Sept. 16th, 1887, and No. 59, dated character artificial damping should be resorted to, and every March 6th, 1889, both of which may be procured for is- 3d. possible effort made, either by watering or removing, to post free. A full report of the debate in the Maltese avoid accumulations of dry dust, so that any accidental Council will be found in the last-mentioned paper when theignition of fire. damp may be limited in its effects and pre- motion for repeal of the Act was defeated by a decisive vented from developing into a sweeping explosion through majority, notwithstanding the support of the Governor and with
1
the agency of dust. Thus, at any rate, steps can be taken which, as modern investigation has taught, may lessen the force of, if they do not avert, such awful and disastrous explosions as that at the Albion Colliery, in which, according to latest accounts, probably over 300 lives were lost. We trust the Lord Mayor’s appeal on behalf of the poor distressed widows and children will meet with a very hearty and generous response. -
of all the official members. Thus the Acts have been in force in Malta for a considerable period; they were repealed for two years, restored to the statutes and have been in force ever since, now a period of thirty-three vears. The Acts in were and Ireland in England repealed practically 1883 and in What have been the results1 This can only 1885. wholly be ascertained by a searching inquiry which it would be useless to ask the Government for now but which must come sooner or later. ___
SAFRANIN REACTION IN SPUTUM. A SIMPLE test as an aid to diagnosis is suggested by It depends upon the fact that mucin is coloured yellow by safranin, whilst albumen is stained red. In the sputum of bronchitis mucin predominates, whilst in that of pneumonia there is a much larger proportion of albumen. Zenoni, therefore, prepares a cover-glass specimen of the sputum by spreading the latter out in a thin layer on the former, places it at once in absolute alcohol, and leaves it for a quarter of an hour ; by the end of that time the film becomes coagulated and fixed to the glass. The preparation is then stained in a half-saturated aqueous solution of safranin. When the cover-glass is removed it is partially dried and then placed on a white ground and examined. If it is stained a yellow colour mucus predominated in the sputum, and the case may be assumed to be one of bronchitis only, whilst if a red colour appears albumen was the chief constituent, and pneumonia was probably the condition present. This test, if proved to be trustworthy, would be a considerable aid to diagnosis in those cases in which the physical signs of pneumonia are doubtful. Especially would it be of value in the case of children if a sample of sputum could be obtained, as can usually be done with a little trouble. But further trial will be required before it can be generally
Zenoni.1
accepted.
-
A CORONER ON
UNQUALIFIED ASSISTANTS.
MR. E. HOOPER, coroner, held an inquest lately at the Britannia Inn, Tipton. The case had reference to the death of twins prematurely born. The evidence showed that they were born before the arrival of the unqualified assistant of Mr. Price of Tipton. The registrar refused to take his note as to their case. The coroner expressed his satisfaction with the action of the registrar, and declared that had he acted otherwise he woald have had the bodies exhumed. He spoke in a tone of distrust of medical C8rtificates of death which we think was scarcely justified by a single case which he referred to. He said that such laxities were making registrars more careful. Subsequently, at the same place, an inquest was held by Mr. Hooper relative to the death of John Read, fifty-eight, who had been ill thirty weeks and had received attendance at Mr. Und6rtill’s surgery. In the end, the patient dying somewhat suddenly and being seen only by an unqualified assistant to Mr. Underhill, an inquest, was held. The coroner said no inquest would have been necessary had the deceased been attended by a qualified medical man. Medical men cannot be to3 particular ir regard to all grave cases to give personal attention. Otherwise they run the risk at once of bringing themselves into trouble and the profession into discfedit.
THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES ACTS. SHORT-SIGHTED ECONOMY. THERE is one part of Her Majesty Queen Victoria’s MR. PLOWDE, one of the magistrates sitting at the dominions in which the Contagious Diseases Acts have not Marylebone Police-court, has complained of the too general been repealed, but continue to perform their useful and practice of the police in calling in a medical man to attend beneficial work. This is the island of Malta. As is well persons under arrest for drunkenness, and this, too. in the known to many readers of THE LANCET, prostitutes in this face of the recently emphasised order of the Chid Commis. island had been subject to inspection for a very long time- sioner of Police. No doubt there are ma.ny cases in which how long is not known, but it is believed to have been intro- neither the intoxication itself nor any attendant injury duced during the early years of the government of the is of sufficient gravity to necessitate skilled medical aid ; Knights, more than 300 years ago. The difficulty of finding bat this is merely the fringe of the general question. It out when and by whom medical inspection originated caused is not only for the purpose of treating illness or injary it to be stopped for a time. This was in 1859 ; but such serious that the police are advised to seck professional aid, consequences resulted, as might have been expected in so bnt for the far more important reason of obtaining a reliable small and densely populated an island, with a large naval and diagnosis. Unfortunately, now and then mistakes are 1
Centralbl. fur Innere
Medicin, No. 12,1894.
1
Her
Majesty’s printers, Messrs. Eyre and Spottiswoode.
1631
samples received from collieries (including the Albion Colliery) military population, and liable to fresh importations of disease We almost daily, that the Ordinance of 1861 was passed. It was an unfortunate history as regards explosions." recent as to to an whether the on this ordinance that the English Contagious Diseases Act dare opinion hardly express we as of 1866 was framed. The value of the medical inspections result of was the doubtless, negligence ; explosion sincerely hope, this will form the subject of inquiry in due was clearly shown by the increase of disease which had course, although it should be remarked that the difficulties occurred during its suspension among the women previously of obtaining satisfactory evidence on this point must be very subjected to it, as well as among the soldiers, sailors, and great. But unfortunately the lesson is learnt afresh that civilians who resorted to them ; while on these inspecit is probably not, in many cases, gases which are to be tions being resumed a diminution of the disease was soon feared, but the apparently more dangerous, finely divided apparent. That the island is comparatively free from coal dust. All the more urgent and needful is it for the venereal diseases, and especially from syphilis, is shown by authorities to insist upon the substitution, for gunpowder, of the reports of the military and naval medical officers, as well the safer high explosives of the nitro-class in the shots" as that of the civil surgeon, Dr. Pisani. These and many other used for disintegrating the huge masses in coal-mines, and interesting facts will be found in two Parliamentary papers, all the more imperative that in mines of a dry and dusty No. 347, bearing date Sept. 16th, 1887, and No. 59, dated character artificial damping should be resorted to, and every March 6th, 1889, both of which may be procured for is- 3d. possible effort made, either by watering or removing, to post free. A full report of the debate in the Maltese avoid accumulations of dry dust, so that any accidental Council will be found in the last-mentioned paper when theignition of fire. damp may be limited in its effects and pre- motion for repeal of the Act was defeated by a decisive vented from developing into a sweeping explosion through majority, notwithstanding the support of the Governor and with
1
the agency of dust. Thus, at any rate, steps can be taken which, as modern investigation has taught, may lessen the force of, if they do not avert, such awful and disastrous explosions as that at the Albion Colliery, in which, according to latest accounts, probably over 300 lives were lost. We trust the Lord Mayor’s appeal on behalf of the poor distressed widows and children will meet with a very hearty and generous response. -
of all the official members. Thus the Acts have been in force in Malta for a considerable period; they were repealed for two years, restored to the statutes and have been in force ever since, now a period of thirty-three vears. The Acts in were and Ireland in England repealed practically 1883 and in What have been the results1 This can only 1885. wholly be ascertained by a searching inquiry which it would be useless to ask the Government for now but which must come sooner or later. ___
SAFRANIN REACTION IN SPUTUM. A SIMPLE test as an aid to diagnosis is suggested by It depends upon the fact that mucin is coloured yellow by safranin, whilst albumen is stained red. In the sputum of bronchitis mucin predominates, whilst in that of pneumonia there is a much larger proportion of albumen. Zenoni, therefore, prepares a cover-glass specimen of the sputum by spreading the latter out in a thin layer on the former, places it at once in absolute alcohol, and leaves it for a quarter of an hour ; by the end of that time the film becomes coagulated and fixed to the glass. The preparation is then stained in a half-saturated aqueous solution of safranin. When the cover-glass is removed it is partially dried and then placed on a white ground and examined. If it is stained a yellow colour mucus predominated in the sputum, and the case may be assumed to be one of bronchitis only, whilst if a red colour appears albumen was the chief constituent, and pneumonia was probably the condition present. This test, if proved to be trustworthy, would be a considerable aid to diagnosis in those cases in which the physical signs of pneumonia are doubtful. Especially would it be of value in the case of children if a sample of sputum could be obtained, as can usually be done with a little trouble. But further trial will be required before it can be generally
Zenoni.1
accepted.
-
A CORONER ON
UNQUALIFIED ASSISTANTS.
MR. E. HOOPER, coroner, held an inquest lately at the Britannia Inn, Tipton. The case had reference to the death of twins prematurely born. The evidence showed that they were born before the arrival of the unqualified assistant of Mr. Price of Tipton. The registrar refused to take his note as to their case. The coroner expressed his satisfaction with the action of the registrar, and declared that had he acted otherwise he woald have had the bodies exhumed. He spoke in a tone of distrust of medical C8rtificates of death which we think was scarcely justified by a single case which he referred to. He said that such laxities were making registrars more careful. Subsequently, at the same place, an inquest was held by Mr. Hooper relative to the death of John Read, fifty-eight, who had been ill thirty weeks and had received attendance at Mr. Und6rtill’s surgery. In the end, the patient dying somewhat suddenly and being seen only by an unqualified assistant to Mr. Underhill, an inquest, was held. The coroner said no inquest would have been necessary had the deceased been attended by a qualified medical man. Medical men cannot be to3 particular ir regard to all grave cases to give personal attention. Otherwise they run the risk at once of bringing themselves into trouble and the profession into discfedit.
THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES ACTS. SHORT-SIGHTED ECONOMY. THERE is one part of Her Majesty Queen Victoria’s MR. PLOWDE, one of the magistrates sitting at the dominions in which the Contagious Diseases Acts have not Marylebone Police-court, has complained of the too general been repealed, but continue to perform their useful and practice of the police in calling in a medical man to attend beneficial work. This is the island of Malta. As is well persons under arrest for drunkenness, and this, too. in the known to many readers of THE LANCET, prostitutes in this face of the recently emphasised order of the Chid Commis. island had been subject to inspection for a very long time- sioner of Police. No doubt there are ma.ny cases in which how long is not known, but it is believed to have been intro- neither the intoxication itself nor any attendant injury duced during the early years of the government of the is of sufficient gravity to necessitate skilled medical aid ; Knights, more than 300 years ago. The difficulty of finding bat this is merely the fringe of the general question. It out when and by whom medical inspection originated caused is not only for the purpose of treating illness or injary it to be stopped for a time. This was in 1859 ; but such serious that the police are advised to seck professional aid, consequences resulted, as might have been expected in so bnt for the far more important reason of obtaining a reliable small and densely populated an island, with a large naval and diagnosis. Unfortunately, now and then mistakes are 1
Centralbl. fur Innere
Medicin, No. 12,1894.
1
Her
Majesty’s printers, Messrs. Eyre and Spottiswoode.