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THE HOSPITAL CENSUS.
PREVENTrON OF C]tUEL’J’Y TO ANIMALS.
264
another way, for it may be used in the examination of the by various institutions ;and so far as the great hospitals are concerned it will be found to app]7 without any marked or inexplicable deviations from the Deviations of course there are, but common standard. in in mind that some cases the nursing staff is housed bearing to a greater or less extent in separate dwellings we are dis. posed to wonder at the uniformity found in fact to prevaü through the figures. Yet there are some character differences to be marked. For example, the proportion of resident officials is distinctly lower in the provincial than iR the metropolitan hospitals. Thus, taking the metropdn alone, the resident officers are in the proportion of 32t per cent. to the total number of inmates, wherea, in the provincial institutions the resident staff numbei PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. in corresponding manner rather fewer than 31t pe’ of the whole number of inmates. Nor is this cent. THE sixty-ninth annual report of the Itoyal Society for the confined to any one part of the country. Liverpool and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is before us. We gladly take occasion to commend this society to the help and sym- Swansea, Leeds and Hall, Birmingham and Nottingham, pathy of every benevolent person. In Her Majesty the Queen Exeter and Plymouth, all contribute instances of hospitals of it has one of the truest and most practical supporters. It considerable size which, by their proportion between patients is not the least glory of her reign that it has seen a wonderful and resident officers, tend to bring down the provincial development in feeling and tenderness for the lower creatures average. The n ason of this difference, which is sufficiently and not a little of this is due to her personal interest in this marked to challenge notice, must be sought elsewhere and i. society expressed in a memorable letter in the year 1874. no doubt worthy of investigation. It may be that Locfjcc The following sentence occurs in this letter : "In regard to hospitals are, as a whole, amongst the best equipped and most the pursuit of science the Queen hopes that the entire efficiently administered in the country ;but if efficient work. advantage of those anaesthetic discoveries from which man ing implies a lavish expenditure of labour, efficient organisahas derived so much benefit himself may be fully extended tion should bring about a high efficiency and economy of to the lower animals." This is a sentiment in which the labour, so that this explanation, though naturally suggesting whole medical profession will concur. As representing that itself at the first blush, is not quite obviously satisfactory, profession, we desire to express our high sense of the value of and tlae subject is one upon which more remains to be said, this society. No men more than medical men sympathise with suffering and none have a deeper satisfaction in the abateREFLEX EPILEPSY. ment of it and in the acute vigilance of this society in the SOME years ago it was the prevailing idea that epilepsy dr; detection and punishment of cruelty to the lower animals. pended in a large number of cases directly on some peripheral irritation. Later under the irflaence of the teachings of THE HOSPITAL CENSUS. Hughlings Jackson and the experiments of Ferrier and othera THE statistics contained in the second volume of the the tendency was developed to minimise the periphery census report, which has just appeared, concerning the irritation and to regard the brain disturbance as the primary population of the various hospitals are very full of interest cause of convulsions. Now there seems to be the natural and suggestion. It is not a little striking to observe that of rebound to a view that both factors are operative, and in some the total number of inmates of hospitals not mny more quarters the peripheral irritation is regarded asthefons ttorigo, than two-thirds are patients, the remaining one-third being In a recent number of the Journal of Nervous and j)Jeldai resident officials, so that, taking the administrative de- Diseases Dr. William C. Krauss contributes an ably written partments altogether, it appears to be one person’s article on reflex disturbances in the causation of epilepsy, the work to look after two patients. The exact figures are : tendency of which is, while recognising clearly an underlyin5 total patients, 27,579 ; total resiclents, 40,341, giving cerebral instability, to attach much weight and importanceto 12,762 as the number of persons who may be classed as various kinds of peripheral irritations as at least the excite resident officials, or 3H per cent. of the entire number. This causes of epilepsy. As we have said, the underlying instability aggregate will, of course, include a certain proportion of of the nervous centres is recognised in the paper, but it dependents, visitors and other non-effective residents ; but is difficult to reconcile this with such statements as "in. these will not probably be considerable enough to affect the grown toe-nails, corns and calluses are not infrequently the broad result, and would no doubt be fully compensated for if cause of epilepsy, scars about the limbs, disorders of the account were taken of all the officials who assist in carrying on genitalia, incomplete descent of one or both testes are some the work of the institutions but sleep outside, so that on the of the causes in youth." By all means let the peripheral occasion of the census they would be enumerated elsewhere. sources of irritation be carefully investigated in every case of There is, indeed, no reason, we think, to doubt that the figure epilepsy or other disorder and let all such irritation beremovai, above given represents the normal etficiency of hospital work as a step towards the proper treatment of the condition; but with rough correctness. It certainly sheds a strong light at the same time let us guard ourselves against any such upon its exacting and multifarious character, for when it is statements as the foregoing, for if we accept them we place borne in mind that this figure expresses, not the amount of ourselves in a hopeless position. Ingrown toe-nails are, rre attention bestowed upon dangerous or difficult or otherwise venture to think, rather commoner than epilepsy and many/, selected cases, but upon the average patient, including in the boy with a tight prepuce has never had a fit at all, and, on the aggregate convalescents and simple cases of disease ; more- other hand, everyone who has had much to do with epilepsy over, that it shows what can be done when the sick are col- knows well that in spite of the most diligent search. lected together in wards and dealt with in large bodies, so as in the vast majority of cases, no source of perito economise the labour of attendants, it will be felt pheral irritation is to be found. American physicians, or that we have here a new and most graphic view of the of them, seem to be inclined to over-estimate the havoc wrought by disease. The figure is interesting in effect of peripheral disturbances as actual causes of epilel. the " alassos "--too muoh r1ividod in this count,ry-mingle, and the rude, rough manners of the few aro softened by the better deportment of the many. The Earl’s-court Exhibition provides the pretext for enjoying in the open air, at the moderate cost of one shilling, the sweet scent of flowers and good music. This is a cheap healthy lounge and for an equally small sum Old Paris and the Bastille There again, though or the Water Show can be seen. under shelter, the spectator is still in the open air, and this is an advantage which, in the hot summer months, We should be sorry to hear cannot be over-estimated. Exhibitions were to be discontinued that these Earl’s-court and hope that some happy idea may suggest itself for their maintenance.
retnrnH made
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section
264
another way, for it may be used in the examination of the by various institutions ;and so far as the great hospitals are concerned it will be found to app]7 without any marked or inexplicable deviations from the Deviations of course there are, but common standard. in in mind that some cases the nursing staff is housed bearing to a greater or less extent in separate dwellings we are dis. posed to wonder at the uniformity found in fact to prevaü through the figures. Yet there are some character differences to be marked. For example, the proportion of resident officials is distinctly lower in the provincial than iR the metropolitan hospitals. Thus, taking the metropdn alone, the resident officers are in the proportion of 32t per cent. to the total number of inmates, wherea, in the provincial institutions the resident staff numbei PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. in corresponding manner rather fewer than 31t pe’ of the whole number of inmates. Nor is this cent. THE sixty-ninth annual report of the Itoyal Society for the confined to any one part of the country. Liverpool and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is before us. We gladly take occasion to commend this society to the help and sym- Swansea, Leeds and Hall, Birmingham and Nottingham, pathy of every benevolent person. In Her Majesty the Queen Exeter and Plymouth, all contribute instances of hospitals of it has one of the truest and most practical supporters. It considerable size which, by their proportion between patients is not the least glory of her reign that it has seen a wonderful and resident officers, tend to bring down the provincial development in feeling and tenderness for the lower creatures average. The n ason of this difference, which is sufficiently and not a little of this is due to her personal interest in this marked to challenge notice, must be sought elsewhere and i. society expressed in a memorable letter in the year 1874. no doubt worthy of investigation. It may be that Locfjcc The following sentence occurs in this letter : "In regard to hospitals are, as a whole, amongst the best equipped and most the pursuit of science the Queen hopes that the entire efficiently administered in the country ;but if efficient work. advantage of those anaesthetic discoveries from which man ing implies a lavish expenditure of labour, efficient organisahas derived so much benefit himself may be fully extended tion should bring about a high efficiency and economy of to the lower animals." This is a sentiment in which the labour, so that this explanation, though naturally suggesting whole medical profession will concur. As representing that itself at the first blush, is not quite obviously satisfactory, profession, we desire to express our high sense of the value of and tlae subject is one upon which more remains to be said, this society. No men more than medical men sympathise with suffering and none have a deeper satisfaction in the abateREFLEX EPILEPSY. ment of it and in the acute vigilance of this society in the SOME years ago it was the prevailing idea that epilepsy dr; detection and punishment of cruelty to the lower animals. pended in a large number of cases directly on some peripheral irritation. Later under the irflaence of the teachings of THE HOSPITAL CENSUS. Hughlings Jackson and the experiments of Ferrier and othera THE statistics contained in the second volume of the the tendency was developed to minimise the periphery census report, which has just appeared, concerning the irritation and to regard the brain disturbance as the primary population of the various hospitals are very full of interest cause of convulsions. Now there seems to be the natural and suggestion. It is not a little striking to observe that of rebound to a view that both factors are operative, and in some the total number of inmates of hospitals not mny more quarters the peripheral irritation is regarded asthefons ttorigo, than two-thirds are patients, the remaining one-third being In a recent number of the Journal of Nervous and j)Jeldai resident officials, so that, taking the administrative de- Diseases Dr. William C. Krauss contributes an ably written partments altogether, it appears to be one person’s article on reflex disturbances in the causation of epilepsy, the work to look after two patients. The exact figures are : tendency of which is, while recognising clearly an underlyin5 total patients, 27,579 ; total resiclents, 40,341, giving cerebral instability, to attach much weight and importanceto 12,762 as the number of persons who may be classed as various kinds of peripheral irritations as at least the excite resident officials, or 3H per cent. of the entire number. This causes of epilepsy. As we have said, the underlying instability aggregate will, of course, include a certain proportion of of the nervous centres is recognised in the paper, but it dependents, visitors and other non-effective residents ; but is difficult to reconcile this with such statements as "in. these will not probably be considerable enough to affect the grown toe-nails, corns and calluses are not infrequently the broad result, and would no doubt be fully compensated for if cause of epilepsy, scars about the limbs, disorders of the account were taken of all the officials who assist in carrying on genitalia, incomplete descent of one or both testes are some the work of the institutions but sleep outside, so that on the of the causes in youth." By all means let the peripheral occasion of the census they would be enumerated elsewhere. sources of irritation be carefully investigated in every case of There is, indeed, no reason, we think, to doubt that the figure epilepsy or other disorder and let all such irritation beremovai, above given represents the normal etficiency of hospital work as a step towards the proper treatment of the condition; but with rough correctness. It certainly sheds a strong light at the same time let us guard ourselves against any such upon its exacting and multifarious character, for when it is statements as the foregoing, for if we accept them we place borne in mind that this figure expresses, not the amount of ourselves in a hopeless position. Ingrown toe-nails are, rre attention bestowed upon dangerous or difficult or otherwise venture to think, rather commoner than epilepsy and many/, selected cases, but upon the average patient, including in the boy with a tight prepuce has never had a fit at all, and, on the aggregate convalescents and simple cases of disease ; more- other hand, everyone who has had much to do with epilepsy over, that it shows what can be done when the sick are col- knows well that in spite of the most diligent search. lected together in wards and dealt with in large bodies, so as in the vast majority of cases, no source of perito economise the labour of attendants, it will be felt pheral irritation is to be found. American physicians, or that we have here a new and most graphic view of the of them, seem to be inclined to over-estimate the havoc wrought by disease. The figure is interesting in effect of peripheral disturbances as actual causes of epilel. the " alassos "--too muoh r1ividod in this count,ry-mingle, and the rude, rough manners of the few aro softened by the better deportment of the many. The Earl’s-court Exhibition provides the pretext for enjoying in the open air, at the moderate cost of one shilling, the sweet scent of flowers and good music. This is a cheap healthy lounge and for an equally small sum Old Paris and the Bastille There again, though or the Water Show can be seen. under shelter, the spectator is still in the open air, and this is an advantage which, in the hot summer months, We should be sorry to hear cannot be over-estimated. Exhibitions were to be discontinued that these Earl’s-court and hope that some happy idea may suggest itself for their maintenance.
retnrnH made
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section