- Email: [email protected]
The North-Western Branch
28o
PUBLIC HEALTH.
an assurance tfiat the members had been greatly impressed by what they had seen. In the course of his remarks the President provided an interesting sketch of the history of dried milk during the past twenty-five years. Major A. J. Suenson Taylor (Chairman, Cow and Gate, Ltd.), irt welcoming the visitors, paid a tribute to the work of the public health service. He claimed that scientific cleanliness was one of the achievements of the Company, who were anxious to cooperate in every way possible with medical o.fficers of health in their work, and also to assist the development of English agriculture. Major Taylor pointed out that the attention of the legislature was being directed particularly to the problem of increasing home production and industry, a reference which provided an opportunity of calling upon Captain G. S. Elliston, M.c., M.P., to respond for the Houses of Parliament and the Ministry of Health. Dr. James Fenton (tton. Secretary, Metropolitan Branch) expressed gratitude to the staff for organising so successful a visit, and Mr. Valder Gates (Assistant Managing Director), in reply, explained that the Co.mpany's Chief Chemist (Mr. J. Tavroges, B.Sc., A.1.C.) had been largely responsible for the arrangements. During the afternoon the party .divided into two groups, one proceeding by motor-coach to the recently-established Powdering Factory at Somerton, and the other to. the Packing Factory in Wincanton, where the powder is blended, weighed, and packed by ingenious machinery. Before making the return journey to London, the party partook of tea at YVincanton. Dr. Charles Porter, on behalf of.the Branch, conveyed a cordial expression of thanks to. the Directors for their generous hospitality and for the enjoyable and instructive day the visitors had been able to spend as the C o m p a n y ' s guests in Somersetshire. Mr. Bramwelt Gates (Managing Director) briefly replied. A m o n g those who took part in the visit were many of the Metropolitan Medical Officers of Health, representatives of the medical staff of the London County Council, Professor A. Bostock Hill, Professor C,. S. Wilson (Lo.nd0n School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), Dr. F. R . Seymour (Ministry of Health), and Lieut.-Colonel T , Dunlop Young, O.mE. (Veterinary Officer, City of London).
JUNE,
A meeting of the Council of the Metropolitan Branch was held at the house of the Society on April 8th, 1982. The President occupied the chair and fourteen other members of the Co.uncil were present. Dr. Stott (Medical Officer of Health, Southwark) received a cordial welcome on the occasion of his first attendance. It was reported that Dr. Macmill~m lind expressed his willingness to represent the Branch on the National Safety W e e k Council for the present year. Other business of a domestic nature was transacted , and the meeting concluded with a demonstration of electro-diagnostic instruments. THE
NORTH-WESTERN
BRANCH.
President : Dr. G. W . N . Joseph, M.O.H.,Warrington. Hon. Secretary : Dr. J. E. Spence, M.O.I:I., Eccles.
An ordinary meeting of this Branch was held in Parker's Restaurant, Manchester, on April Sth, 1932, the President occupying the chair. Twenty-five members and one guest were present, and apologies for absence were received from nine members. A letter from the Metropolitan Branch relating to nominations fo.r the Presidency of the Society was read, and also one from the British R e d Cross Society relating to hospital libraries. Dr. Hall proposed the following resolution, which was seconded by Dr. R . M. Galloway : " A resolution passed at any meeting of the NorthWestern Branch of the Society of Medical Officers of Health shall not be forwarded to the Council of the Society, unless the following regulations have been observed :-" (i) The resolution shall be printed on the agenda paper and seven days' notice shall be given to each member. " (ii) Twenty-one members, including ex-officio members, must be present at the meeting at which the resolution is submitted to vote. " (iii) The resolution must be carried by a twothirds majority of votes of the members present." After full discussion, in which Drs. Statlybrass, Taylo.r, VVood, Graham, Hauxwetl and Beggs took part, the motion was put to the meeting but was not carried. The following resolution, which had been forwarded to the Society by the Northern Branch and referred to the Branches by the General Purposes Committee, was considered : - -
1932.
PUBLIC
" T h a t the Ministry of Health be approached by the Society of Medical Officers of Health with a view to the establishment of a special committee which shall be available to advise local authorities in the selection of candidates for appointment in the public health service. Dr. F. T. H. \'Voo.d gave a rdsumd of the views of the General Purposes Committee on the resolution, and the Branch were unanimously o.f the opinion that the resolution was impracticable. Dr. H. G. Trayer, seconded by Dr. Ratner, moved the resolution submitted by tile Tuberculosis Group to the Society : - " That local authorities be encouraged to employ tuberculous ex-patients on their tuberculosis staff whenever possible," and briefly summarised the memorandum on the resolution which had been prepared by the Tuberculosis Gro.up. After considerable discussion on paragraph 13 of the-memorandum, in which it is recommended that tuberculous staff should be accepted for superannuation at the same rate as the sound members, the resolutio,n was carried, but it was tile opinion of the majority of the members present that tuberculous persons could not be admitted to designated posts under the Act. Dr. G. H. Leigh moved the second resolution submitted by the Tuberculosis Group : " T h a t adequate clerical assistance is necessary for tuberculosis officers. Each whole-time clinical tuberculosis officershould be provided with at least one clerk." This was seconded by Dr. McClure and carried unanimously. Dr. F. T. H. V~:ood, in the absence of Dr. T. ~W. N. Barlow, opened a discussion on the salaries scale. Dr. W o o d pointed out that the scale which was negotiated in 1929 represented not what was desired, but what could at that time be obtained. The scale, which came into force on April 1st, 1930, remains in force until April 1st, 1935, when it will again come up for reconsideration. It was desirable that in the near future the memorandum should be carefully considered by the members and the Society should, when the ~cale was reconsidered, be able to put forward the considered opinion of its members. Dr. W o o d stated that, in reply to. a questionnaire, information had been received from 202 county and municipal boroughs and urban districts, and 139 were p a y i n g salaries in accordance with the scale, or better. Advertisements had been received by the journals in connection with new appointments in 96 of which the salary was
HEALTH.
281
according to scale, while 7 had been refused which did not comply With it. There were still, however, o.fficers whose salary did not reach the minimum of the scale, and it was desired to refer difficult cases to the Advisory Committee composed of representatives of the Councils' Associations and the British Medical Association. Dr. Spence proposed and Dr. Beggs seconded the resolution : " T h a t each group of members of the NorthWestern Branch be requested to appoint a sub-committee to discuss the memorandum so far as it concerns their group, and submit to a future meeting of the Branch such amendments to the memorandum as they consider desirable." T h e resolution was unanimously carried, and Dr. Ratner agreed to undertake the duty of convening a sub-committee of the tuberculosis officers, Dr. H. Herd, the school medical officers, and Dr. J . M. Mackintosh the maternity and child welfare o.Ncers. The t[o n. Secretary was asked to arrange for members to undertake similar duties for the venereal diseases officers, superintendent and resident officers in isolation hospitals, and the o.fficers of institutions transferred under the Local Government Act, 1929. A further meeting of this Branch was held in the Public Health Laboratory, York Place, Manchester, on May 6th, 1932, the President occupying the chair. Eleven members were present, and apologies for absence were received from eight members. Dr. R. H. Marsden, Medical Superintendent, Crumpsall tfospital, Manchester, opened a discussion on " Modern Diet Requirements in Hospitals." He first pointed o.ut the impossibility of dealing with the whole subject in one discussion. The cooking and serving of the meals were of equal or even greater importance than the actual co nstitutiort of the diet. In the construction of a dietary on a scientific basis, one had to consider the calory requirements of a normal individual, hospital diets varying from this standard according to the condition of the patients. In criticising a diet there were four criteria, namely, the calory value, the daily quantum of first class protein, the daily quantum of mineral matter, and the .daily quantum of vitamins. Other important factors in hospital dietary were the necessity for variety, the need for economy, and the avoidance of waste. It was also essential to train the nursing staff to study each
282
PUBLIC
individual patient and the nature of his illness so that suitable amounts o.f food could be supplied and waste avoided. Dr. Marsden then dealt with the structure and calory value of various hospital diets, and in conclusion referred to the necessity of and difficulty in educating a large proportion of patients to accept a normal diet in place of cooked and tinned foods, and also. to limit their meals to normal proportions instead of overfeeding. Dr. H. G. Trayer, in proposing a vote of thanks to Dr. Marsden for his address, mentioned the difficulties experienced in sanatoria, and pointed out that in such institutions a high protein diet was necessary. H e also referred to .diets provided in American and Canadian sanatoria. Dr. Hall, in seco.nding the vote of thanks, referred to the difficulty in providing fresh foods, and the idiosyncrasies of medical officers. Dr. T. W . N. Barlow thought that there was often danger in attempting to fix up a dietary on a purely scientific basis, without considering the desire of the patient. Variety was necessary to stimulate zest for food, and the importance of good cooking and serving, as aids to digestio.n, was often forgotten. Dr. Brothwood also took part in the discussion. In conveying to Dr. Marsden the thanks of the Branch for his interesting address, the President also expressed the sympathy of the members with him in his wife's illness. THE YORKSHIRE BRANCH. President : Lieut.-Colonel H. T . Bates, O.B.E., B.A., M.B., D.P.H., M.O.H., Ilkley U.D., and Burley-in-Wharfedale U.D. Hon. Secretary : Dr. G. H. Pearce, M.O.rL, Batley.
A meeting of this Branch was held in the County Offices, Wakefield, on April 29th, 1932, the President occupying the chair. There was a large attendance of members, including representatives of the dental profession. The following nominations of candidates to fill the various offices in the Branch during the session 1932-33, and in respect of which the ballot will be taken at the May meeting of the Branch, were received and announced by the Honorary Secretary : - President.--Dr. T. N. V. Ports. One Vice-President.--Dr. L. PickeringPick.
HEALTH.
JUNE,
Hon. Secretary and Treasurer.--Dr. G. H. Pearce. Seven Members of Council to hold office for twelve months.--(Drs. Mair and Russell were elected in 1930 to retire in 1933. The remaining members of Council retire automatically in 1932 under tile Byelaws).--Drs. F. Allardice, W . Barr, J. J. Buchan, N. Gebbie, H. M. Holt, P. R . McNaught, J. B. Samson, J. A. Scott, R. L. Thornley and E. A. Underwood. Four Representatives of the Yorkshire BraJ~ch o/the Society on the Yorkshire Branch Council of the Britis£ Medical Associa~ion.-Drs. Bates, Jervis, Mair and Pearce. Two Auditors who must be members of Council. Veterinary Representative on the Council oi the Branch ( Non-officiaI).--Lieut.-Colonet J. A. Dixon, T . D . Dental Representative on the Council of the Branch (Non-official).--Mr. B. R. Townend, L.D.S.
It was found impossible to consider the memoranda from the Tuberculosis Group (adjourned from last meeting) owing to lack of time. The Dental Group o4: the Branch, having held its meeting in another part of the building, the members and visitors joined the main meeting to hear an address by Dr. J. Sire Wallace, entitled " Sundry Observations on Vitamins, Rickets, Scurvy and Dental Caries." As a compliment to the members of the dental profession the President invited Mr. B. R. Townend, Chairman of the Dental Group of the Yo.rkshire Branch, to occupy the chair. Particulars will appear in PUBLIC HEALTH under the transactions of the Dental Group of the Society. A number of questions having b'een replied to by Dr. Sim Wallace, Dr. Bates resumed the chair and on behalf of all members of the Yo.rkshire Branch warmly thanked Dr. Wallace for his very interesting remarks. The Council of the Branch met prior to the Branch meeting, when consideration was given to. the nominations respecting elections by ballot, at the May meeting, of officers of the Society. It is agai.n worthy of note that no assistant colleagues were nominated as was the case in previous years, once again demonstrating the lack of practical interest o.n the part of such officers in the government of the
PUBLIC HEALTH.
an assurance tfiat the members had been greatly impressed by what they had seen. In the course of his remarks the President provided an interesting sketch of the history of dried milk during the past twenty-five years. Major A. J. Suenson Taylor (Chairman, Cow and Gate, Ltd.), irt welcoming the visitors, paid a tribute to the work of the public health service. He claimed that scientific cleanliness was one of the achievements of the Company, who were anxious to cooperate in every way possible with medical o.fficers of health in their work, and also to assist the development of English agriculture. Major Taylor pointed out that the attention of the legislature was being directed particularly to the problem of increasing home production and industry, a reference which provided an opportunity of calling upon Captain G. S. Elliston, M.c., M.P., to respond for the Houses of Parliament and the Ministry of Health. Dr. James Fenton (tton. Secretary, Metropolitan Branch) expressed gratitude to the staff for organising so successful a visit, and Mr. Valder Gates (Assistant Managing Director), in reply, explained that the Co.mpany's Chief Chemist (Mr. J. Tavroges, B.Sc., A.1.C.) had been largely responsible for the arrangements. During the afternoon the party .divided into two groups, one proceeding by motor-coach to the recently-established Powdering Factory at Somerton, and the other to. the Packing Factory in Wincanton, where the powder is blended, weighed, and packed by ingenious machinery. Before making the return journey to London, the party partook of tea at YVincanton. Dr. Charles Porter, on behalf of.the Branch, conveyed a cordial expression of thanks to. the Directors for their generous hospitality and for the enjoyable and instructive day the visitors had been able to spend as the C o m p a n y ' s guests in Somersetshire. Mr. Bramwelt Gates (Managing Director) briefly replied. A m o n g those who took part in the visit were many of the Metropolitan Medical Officers of Health, representatives of the medical staff of the London County Council, Professor A. Bostock Hill, Professor C,. S. Wilson (Lo.nd0n School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), Dr. F. R . Seymour (Ministry of Health), and Lieut.-Colonel T , Dunlop Young, O.mE. (Veterinary Officer, City of London).
JUNE,
A meeting of the Council of the Metropolitan Branch was held at the house of the Society on April 8th, 1982. The President occupied the chair and fourteen other members of the Co.uncil were present. Dr. Stott (Medical Officer of Health, Southwark) received a cordial welcome on the occasion of his first attendance. It was reported that Dr. Macmill~m lind expressed his willingness to represent the Branch on the National Safety W e e k Council for the present year. Other business of a domestic nature was transacted , and the meeting concluded with a demonstration of electro-diagnostic instruments. THE
NORTH-WESTERN
BRANCH.
President : Dr. G. W . N . Joseph, M.O.H.,Warrington. Hon. Secretary : Dr. J. E. Spence, M.O.I:I., Eccles.
An ordinary meeting of this Branch was held in Parker's Restaurant, Manchester, on April Sth, 1932, the President occupying the chair. Twenty-five members and one guest were present, and apologies for absence were received from nine members. A letter from the Metropolitan Branch relating to nominations fo.r the Presidency of the Society was read, and also one from the British R e d Cross Society relating to hospital libraries. Dr. Hall proposed the following resolution, which was seconded by Dr. R . M. Galloway : " A resolution passed at any meeting of the NorthWestern Branch of the Society of Medical Officers of Health shall not be forwarded to the Council of the Society, unless the following regulations have been observed :-" (i) The resolution shall be printed on the agenda paper and seven days' notice shall be given to each member. " (ii) Twenty-one members, including ex-officio members, must be present at the meeting at which the resolution is submitted to vote. " (iii) The resolution must be carried by a twothirds majority of votes of the members present." After full discussion, in which Drs. Statlybrass, Taylo.r, VVood, Graham, Hauxwetl and Beggs took part, the motion was put to the meeting but was not carried. The following resolution, which had been forwarded to the Society by the Northern Branch and referred to the Branches by the General Purposes Committee, was considered : - -
1932.
PUBLIC
" T h a t the Ministry of Health be approached by the Society of Medical Officers of Health with a view to the establishment of a special committee which shall be available to advise local authorities in the selection of candidates for appointment in the public health service. Dr. F. T. H. \'Voo.d gave a rdsumd of the views of the General Purposes Committee on the resolution, and the Branch were unanimously o.f the opinion that the resolution was impracticable. Dr. H. G. Trayer, seconded by Dr. Ratner, moved the resolution submitted by tile Tuberculosis Group to the Society : - " That local authorities be encouraged to employ tuberculous ex-patients on their tuberculosis staff whenever possible," and briefly summarised the memorandum on the resolution which had been prepared by the Tuberculosis Gro.up. After considerable discussion on paragraph 13 of the-memorandum, in which it is recommended that tuberculous staff should be accepted for superannuation at the same rate as the sound members, the resolutio,n was carried, but it was tile opinion of the majority of the members present that tuberculous persons could not be admitted to designated posts under the Act. Dr. G. H. Leigh moved the second resolution submitted by the Tuberculosis Group : " T h a t adequate clerical assistance is necessary for tuberculosis officers. Each whole-time clinical tuberculosis officershould be provided with at least one clerk." This was seconded by Dr. McClure and carried unanimously. Dr. F. T. H. V~:ood, in the absence of Dr. T. ~W. N. Barlow, opened a discussion on the salaries scale. Dr. W o o d pointed out that the scale which was negotiated in 1929 represented not what was desired, but what could at that time be obtained. The scale, which came into force on April 1st, 1930, remains in force until April 1st, 1935, when it will again come up for reconsideration. It was desirable that in the near future the memorandum should be carefully considered by the members and the Society should, when the ~cale was reconsidered, be able to put forward the considered opinion of its members. Dr. W o o d stated that, in reply to. a questionnaire, information had been received from 202 county and municipal boroughs and urban districts, and 139 were p a y i n g salaries in accordance with the scale, or better. Advertisements had been received by the journals in connection with new appointments in 96 of which the salary was
HEALTH.
281
according to scale, while 7 had been refused which did not comply With it. There were still, however, o.fficers whose salary did not reach the minimum of the scale, and it was desired to refer difficult cases to the Advisory Committee composed of representatives of the Councils' Associations and the British Medical Association. Dr. Spence proposed and Dr. Beggs seconded the resolution : " T h a t each group of members of the NorthWestern Branch be requested to appoint a sub-committee to discuss the memorandum so far as it concerns their group, and submit to a future meeting of the Branch such amendments to the memorandum as they consider desirable." T h e resolution was unanimously carried, and Dr. Ratner agreed to undertake the duty of convening a sub-committee of the tuberculosis officers, Dr. H. Herd, the school medical officers, and Dr. J . M. Mackintosh the maternity and child welfare o.Ncers. The t[o n. Secretary was asked to arrange for members to undertake similar duties for the venereal diseases officers, superintendent and resident officers in isolation hospitals, and the o.fficers of institutions transferred under the Local Government Act, 1929. A further meeting of this Branch was held in the Public Health Laboratory, York Place, Manchester, on May 6th, 1932, the President occupying the chair. Eleven members were present, and apologies for absence were received from eight members. Dr. R. H. Marsden, Medical Superintendent, Crumpsall tfospital, Manchester, opened a discussion on " Modern Diet Requirements in Hospitals." He first pointed o.ut the impossibility of dealing with the whole subject in one discussion. The cooking and serving of the meals were of equal or even greater importance than the actual co nstitutiort of the diet. In the construction of a dietary on a scientific basis, one had to consider the calory requirements of a normal individual, hospital diets varying from this standard according to the condition of the patients. In criticising a diet there were four criteria, namely, the calory value, the daily quantum of first class protein, the daily quantum of mineral matter, and the .daily quantum of vitamins. Other important factors in hospital dietary were the necessity for variety, the need for economy, and the avoidance of waste. It was also essential to train the nursing staff to study each
282
PUBLIC
individual patient and the nature of his illness so that suitable amounts o.f food could be supplied and waste avoided. Dr. Marsden then dealt with the structure and calory value of various hospital diets, and in conclusion referred to the necessity of and difficulty in educating a large proportion of patients to accept a normal diet in place of cooked and tinned foods, and also. to limit their meals to normal proportions instead of overfeeding. Dr. H. G. Trayer, in proposing a vote of thanks to Dr. Marsden for his address, mentioned the difficulties experienced in sanatoria, and pointed out that in such institutions a high protein diet was necessary. H e also referred to .diets provided in American and Canadian sanatoria. Dr. Hall, in seco.nding the vote of thanks, referred to the difficulty in providing fresh foods, and the idiosyncrasies of medical officers. Dr. T. W . N. Barlow thought that there was often danger in attempting to fix up a dietary on a purely scientific basis, without considering the desire of the patient. Variety was necessary to stimulate zest for food, and the importance of good cooking and serving, as aids to digestio.n, was often forgotten. Dr. Brothwood also took part in the discussion. In conveying to Dr. Marsden the thanks of the Branch for his interesting address, the President also expressed the sympathy of the members with him in his wife's illness. THE YORKSHIRE BRANCH. President : Lieut.-Colonel H. T . Bates, O.B.E., B.A., M.B., D.P.H., M.O.H., Ilkley U.D., and Burley-in-Wharfedale U.D. Hon. Secretary : Dr. G. H. Pearce, M.O.rL, Batley.
A meeting of this Branch was held in the County Offices, Wakefield, on April 29th, 1932, the President occupying the chair. There was a large attendance of members, including representatives of the dental profession. The following nominations of candidates to fill the various offices in the Branch during the session 1932-33, and in respect of which the ballot will be taken at the May meeting of the Branch, were received and announced by the Honorary Secretary : - President.--Dr. T. N. V. Ports. One Vice-President.--Dr. L. PickeringPick.
HEALTH.
JUNE,
Hon. Secretary and Treasurer.--Dr. G. H. Pearce. Seven Members of Council to hold office for twelve months.--(Drs. Mair and Russell were elected in 1930 to retire in 1933. The remaining members of Council retire automatically in 1932 under tile Byelaws).--Drs. F. Allardice, W . Barr, J. J. Buchan, N. Gebbie, H. M. Holt, P. R . McNaught, J. B. Samson, J. A. Scott, R. L. Thornley and E. A. Underwood. Four Representatives of the Yorkshire BraJ~ch o/the Society on the Yorkshire Branch Council of the Britis£ Medical Associa~ion.-Drs. Bates, Jervis, Mair and Pearce. Two Auditors who must be members of Council. Veterinary Representative on the Council oi the Branch ( Non-officiaI).--Lieut.-Colonet J. A. Dixon, T . D . Dental Representative on the Council of the Branch (Non-official).--Mr. B. R. Townend, L.D.S.
It was found impossible to consider the memoranda from the Tuberculosis Group (adjourned from last meeting) owing to lack of time. The Dental Group o4: the Branch, having held its meeting in another part of the building, the members and visitors joined the main meeting to hear an address by Dr. J. Sire Wallace, entitled " Sundry Observations on Vitamins, Rickets, Scurvy and Dental Caries." As a compliment to the members of the dental profession the President invited Mr. B. R. Townend, Chairman of the Dental Group of the Yo.rkshire Branch, to occupy the chair. Particulars will appear in PUBLIC HEALTH under the transactions of the Dental Group of the Society. A number of questions having b'een replied to by Dr. Sim Wallace, Dr. Bates resumed the chair and on behalf of all members of the Yo.rkshire Branch warmly thanked Dr. Wallace for his very interesting remarks. The Council of the Branch met prior to the Branch meeting, when consideration was given to. the nominations respecting elections by ballot, at the May meeting, of officers of the Society. It is agai.n worthy of note that no assistant colleagues were nominated as was the case in previous years, once again demonstrating the lack of practical interest o.n the part of such officers in the government of the