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THE IRISH FREE STATE AND THE MEDICAL REGISTER.
400
hoped
that the
example
set
by
Dr. Thoner will be
followed by others, and that work of this kind will not ,
be financially starved is a monopoly of the
on the assumption that research laboratory.
to the workers during the actual process. Briefly, the " fritting," or fusing a mixture of process consists in red lead, clay, ground flint, and washing soda in a kiln. A mass of lead silicates is thus produced. The fritt " is then ground up and suspended in water in which the vessels to be glazed are dipped. The vessel is then baked at a high temperature in order to produce a uniform glossy surface. As early as 1887 the Germans realised that such gla7.e might liberate lead if boiled with acid solutions, and they laid down a law that condemned any cooking vessel yieldirn lead on boiling with 4 per cent. acetic acid. The object of Dr. Monier-Williams’s researches was to reinvestigate those problems, and to determine the stability of glazed articles to ordinary cooking His results may be summarised by processes. stating that certain wares do give off lead, arsenic, and other toxic substances when submitted to the ordinary cooking processes, and that consequently they are a source of danger. We gather from the report that the most unsuitable articles come from abroad, or from the smaller English "
THE IRISH FREE STATE AND THE MEDICAL REGISTER. THE Senate of the Irish Free State recently passed the Medical Bill, dealing with the maintenance of the Medical Register, through all its stages, and the Bill has now become law. The Bill authorises the General Council of Medical Education and Registration to continue to exercise authority in respect of medical practitioners in the Irish Free State. Persons registered under the Medical Acts are, in the Free State, to have the same rights, privileges, and immunities, and be subject to the same obligations as in Ireland before the Free State came into existence. The General Council is to have, in relation to persons and matters in the Free State, all the old powers, jurisdictions, and authorities; the Branch Council for potteries. The question naturally arises as to what sort of Ireland will similarly retain its powers ; the General utensil really is safe. In view of the uncooking Council and the Branch Council will continue to be of most ordinary materials, a new form suitability constituted and elected as before ; and Universities of in the shape of platinum-lined extravagance and medical corporations in the Free State continue casseroles itself for delicate millionaires. suggests to have powers of granting diplomas and holding qualifying examinations under the Medical Acts. The Bill is for the period of one year. Mr. McGilligan, Minister for Industry and Commerce, who was in THE zeal inspired by Sir James Mackenzie will not charge of the Bill, stated that prolonged negotiations cease with his death. It would be unfortunate had taken place between the British and Irish Govern- indeed if the work which he initiated at St. Andrews ments in reference to some points in dispute. For the should have to be discontinued through lack of funds, next 12 months, however, the position of medical especially since the ultimate value of observations men qualified in the Free State is assured, in that they by a group of practitioners must depend largely on will continue to enjoy equal privileges with their col- the length of time covered by their records. A leagues in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. suggestion that a fitting tribute to his memory would be the endowment of the Institute founded by him at St. Andrews is likely to receive cordial support. We understand that 260,000 is the miniTHE DANGERS OF EARTHENWARE COOKING mum sum required if the James Mackenzie Institute for Clinical Research, St. Andrews, as it is now to UTENSILS. be called, is to be put on a sound financial basis. A VARIETY of types of saucepans, frying pans, and Of this sum 27000 has already been collected. casseroles have been recommended from time to time Donations should be sent to the hon. treasurer of by health enthusiasts, but the dangers of each have the Institute, Commercial Bank, St. Andrews. been unmasked by a relentless series of chemical investigations. Thus enamel vessels have been condemned because it has been stated that such INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF THALASSOTHERAPY.lesions as appendicitis may result from the swallowing The fourth International Congress ofThalassotherapy will of small pieces of dislodged enamel. Nickel-lined be held at Arcachon, near Bordeaux, from April 27th to 29th. utensils have also been includedin the danger list, The Association of Thalassotherapy (treatment of disease since, although stable to alkaline fluids, they are by a residence at the seashore, by sea-bathing, or by a unsuitable for acid foods, such as stewed fruits and sea-voyage) was founded by Prof. Verneuil, ofParis, at the the like. Aluminium and zinc3 containing alloys International Congress at Boulogne in 1895. The President have also proved to be unsuitable for the manufac- ofthe Association was for many years Prof. Albert Robin, of Member of the Academy of Medicine, and the presiture of cooking utensils. Iron and steel rust, and Paris, is dency now held by Prof. Gilbert, of the Paris Faculty of looked have been earthenware consequently goods Medicine and a Member of the Academy ofMedicine. The upon as a last resort, and have, up to the present, Association is managed by a permanent bureau with its been regarded as being ’safe. A report just issued office in Paris. This permanent bureau, together with the by the Ministry of Health (Reports on Public Health national committees of each country, organises the interand Medical Subjects, No. 29)4 proves conclusively national congresses. Among the French Committee are that we must inquire carefully into the history and many well-known names, such as Prof. D’Arsonval, Prof. Marfan, Prof. Pinard, and Prof. Roger, Dean of the Faculty hirthplace even of our casseroles and earthenware of Medicine of Paris. Dr. Robert Pierret has been elected vessels before entrusting our meals to them. In liaison secretary to assist the work ofthe British Committee. this report Dr. G. W. Monier-Williams calls attention among whose members are Sir Dyce Duckworth, Sir of to the danger absorbing noxious substances from Humphry Rolleston, and Sir StClair Thomson (President the glaz3 of these articles. The report, which. of the British Committee), and Dr. Campbell McClure The question to be discussed at the forthalthough highly technical, is extremely interesting, (secretary). coming International Congress is the Marine Treatment of commences with a brief outline of investigations Rickets. The speakers from Great Britain will include already performed upon the question of lead poisoning Prof. Leonard Hill and Dr. P. L. Webster, and delegates arising in connexion with lead glazing. As Dr. Monier- from France, Italy, Belgium, and other countries will also all these Williams points out, practically investiga- contribute papers to the discussion. The Association is tions were conducted from the point of view of danger composed of titular and adhering members and the sub1
1924, ii., 339. 2 Ibid., 1913, i., 54. 3 Ibid., 1923, i., 242. 4 Reports on Public Health and Medical Subjects, No. 29. The Solubility of Glazes and Enamels Used in Cooking Utensils. By G. W. Monier-Williams, M.A., Ph.I F.I.C. London : H.M. Stationery Office. 1925. 6d. THE LANCET,
.,
the Congress is fixed at 50 French francs for the titular members and 30 francs for the adhering members. Special facilities for accommodation at Arcachon have been secured at reasonable rates. All the members who intend to be present at the Congress are requested to write to Dr. Pierret, 7 bis, Rue Raynouard, Paris (16e) from whom further information may be obtained.
scription for
’
hoped
that the
example
set
by
Dr. Thoner will be
followed by others, and that work of this kind will not ,
be financially starved is a monopoly of the
on the assumption that research laboratory.
to the workers during the actual process. Briefly, the " fritting," or fusing a mixture of process consists in red lead, clay, ground flint, and washing soda in a kiln. A mass of lead silicates is thus produced. The fritt " is then ground up and suspended in water in which the vessels to be glazed are dipped. The vessel is then baked at a high temperature in order to produce a uniform glossy surface. As early as 1887 the Germans realised that such gla7.e might liberate lead if boiled with acid solutions, and they laid down a law that condemned any cooking vessel yieldirn lead on boiling with 4 per cent. acetic acid. The object of Dr. Monier-Williams’s researches was to reinvestigate those problems, and to determine the stability of glazed articles to ordinary cooking His results may be summarised by processes. stating that certain wares do give off lead, arsenic, and other toxic substances when submitted to the ordinary cooking processes, and that consequently they are a source of danger. We gather from the report that the most unsuitable articles come from abroad, or from the smaller English "
THE IRISH FREE STATE AND THE MEDICAL REGISTER. THE Senate of the Irish Free State recently passed the Medical Bill, dealing with the maintenance of the Medical Register, through all its stages, and the Bill has now become law. The Bill authorises the General Council of Medical Education and Registration to continue to exercise authority in respect of medical practitioners in the Irish Free State. Persons registered under the Medical Acts are, in the Free State, to have the same rights, privileges, and immunities, and be subject to the same obligations as in Ireland before the Free State came into existence. The General Council is to have, in relation to persons and matters in the Free State, all the old powers, jurisdictions, and authorities; the Branch Council for potteries. The question naturally arises as to what sort of Ireland will similarly retain its powers ; the General utensil really is safe. In view of the uncooking Council and the Branch Council will continue to be of most ordinary materials, a new form suitability constituted and elected as before ; and Universities of in the shape of platinum-lined extravagance and medical corporations in the Free State continue casseroles itself for delicate millionaires. suggests to have powers of granting diplomas and holding qualifying examinations under the Medical Acts. The Bill is for the period of one year. Mr. McGilligan, Minister for Industry and Commerce, who was in THE zeal inspired by Sir James Mackenzie will not charge of the Bill, stated that prolonged negotiations cease with his death. It would be unfortunate had taken place between the British and Irish Govern- indeed if the work which he initiated at St. Andrews ments in reference to some points in dispute. For the should have to be discontinued through lack of funds, next 12 months, however, the position of medical especially since the ultimate value of observations men qualified in the Free State is assured, in that they by a group of practitioners must depend largely on will continue to enjoy equal privileges with their col- the length of time covered by their records. A leagues in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. suggestion that a fitting tribute to his memory would be the endowment of the Institute founded by him at St. Andrews is likely to receive cordial support. We understand that 260,000 is the miniTHE DANGERS OF EARTHENWARE COOKING mum sum required if the James Mackenzie Institute for Clinical Research, St. Andrews, as it is now to UTENSILS. be called, is to be put on a sound financial basis. A VARIETY of types of saucepans, frying pans, and Of this sum 27000 has already been collected. casseroles have been recommended from time to time Donations should be sent to the hon. treasurer of by health enthusiasts, but the dangers of each have the Institute, Commercial Bank, St. Andrews. been unmasked by a relentless series of chemical investigations. Thus enamel vessels have been condemned because it has been stated that such INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF THALASSOTHERAPY.lesions as appendicitis may result from the swallowing The fourth International Congress ofThalassotherapy will of small pieces of dislodged enamel. Nickel-lined be held at Arcachon, near Bordeaux, from April 27th to 29th. utensils have also been includedin the danger list, The Association of Thalassotherapy (treatment of disease since, although stable to alkaline fluids, they are by a residence at the seashore, by sea-bathing, or by a unsuitable for acid foods, such as stewed fruits and sea-voyage) was founded by Prof. Verneuil, ofParis, at the the like. Aluminium and zinc3 containing alloys International Congress at Boulogne in 1895. The President have also proved to be unsuitable for the manufac- ofthe Association was for many years Prof. Albert Robin, of Member of the Academy of Medicine, and the presiture of cooking utensils. Iron and steel rust, and Paris, is dency now held by Prof. Gilbert, of the Paris Faculty of looked have been earthenware consequently goods Medicine and a Member of the Academy ofMedicine. The upon as a last resort, and have, up to the present, Association is managed by a permanent bureau with its been regarded as being ’safe. A report just issued office in Paris. This permanent bureau, together with the by the Ministry of Health (Reports on Public Health national committees of each country, organises the interand Medical Subjects, No. 29)4 proves conclusively national congresses. Among the French Committee are that we must inquire carefully into the history and many well-known names, such as Prof. D’Arsonval, Prof. Marfan, Prof. Pinard, and Prof. Roger, Dean of the Faculty hirthplace even of our casseroles and earthenware of Medicine of Paris. Dr. Robert Pierret has been elected vessels before entrusting our meals to them. In liaison secretary to assist the work ofthe British Committee. this report Dr. G. W. Monier-Williams calls attention among whose members are Sir Dyce Duckworth, Sir of to the danger absorbing noxious substances from Humphry Rolleston, and Sir StClair Thomson (President the glaz3 of these articles. The report, which. of the British Committee), and Dr. Campbell McClure The question to be discussed at the forthalthough highly technical, is extremely interesting, (secretary). coming International Congress is the Marine Treatment of commences with a brief outline of investigations Rickets. The speakers from Great Britain will include already performed upon the question of lead poisoning Prof. Leonard Hill and Dr. P. L. Webster, and delegates arising in connexion with lead glazing. As Dr. Monier- from France, Italy, Belgium, and other countries will also all these Williams points out, practically investiga- contribute papers to the discussion. The Association is tions were conducted from the point of view of danger composed of titular and adhering members and the sub1
1924, ii., 339. 2 Ibid., 1913, i., 54. 3 Ibid., 1923, i., 242. 4 Reports on Public Health and Medical Subjects, No. 29. The Solubility of Glazes and Enamels Used in Cooking Utensils. By G. W. Monier-Williams, M.A., Ph.I F.I.C. London : H.M. Stationery Office. 1925. 6d. THE LANCET,
.,
the Congress is fixed at 50 French francs for the titular members and 30 francs for the adhering members. Special facilities for accommodation at Arcachon have been secured at reasonable rates. All the members who intend to be present at the Congress are requested to write to Dr. Pierret, 7 bis, Rue Raynouard, Paris (16e) from whom further information may be obtained.
scription for
’