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WHEN WAS JOHN HUNTER BORN?
351
pound words (cf. anagram, diagram, epigram), and the objection to it lies only in its literal meaning -i.e., a thing written by a ray. In defence of this inaccuracy, may I suggest that the important element an X ray picture is not its pictorial effect, or
in
"graphë," but its message or gramma (pace those who do not read radiologists’ reports), and that the secondary meaning justifies its adoption as a noun in preference to radiograph. Other advantages of radiogram are, as " Radiogrammarian " has pointed out, euphonic and practical. It is somehow tidier to have different words for the noun and the verb. Again, do the advocates of to talk of cholecystograph or propose radiograph pyelographg I confess they come awkwardly to the tongue. The piracy of the wireless and gramophone interests are, to my mind, a further incentive to hold fast to the word coined first in radiology. As for r6ntgenogram or r6ntgenograph, the sound of them is enough ! I would almost as soon use augeograph or radiopict, both of which at least have parents of the same stock. Finally, is X-ray really spelt without a hyphen ? I am, Sir, yours faithfully, S. COCHRANE SHANKS. NASAL SINUSITIS IN CHILDHOOD
To the Editor
of THE LANCET no is doubt that chronic antral infecSIR,-There tion is often overlooked both in children and adults, and there is not necessarily any fluid to be found in the infected antrum. In fact the dry antrum with the infected membrane is a greater cause of trouble than where there is fluid in it. Where a few antrum punctures and wash-outs do not cure the infection an intranasal opening should be made so that daily lavage of the cavity can be done. If the antrum recovers, frequently the other cells do also. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, C. HAMBLEN THOMAS.
WHEN WAS JOHN HUNTER BORN? To the Editor of THE LANCET
SIR,-The approaching anniversary of John Hunter’s birth recalls the various dates that have been given by various people for that event. These number at least four. (1) July 14th, 1728. This is the date given by Sir Everard Home in his memoir of Hunter’s Life prefaced to Hunter’s treatise on the blood, inflammation, and gunshot wounds. In a copy of this work in the Royal College ofSurgeons library is a marginal correction to February in William Clift’s beautiful handwriting. I believe, but have not the reference by me, that Sir E.
Home himself subsequently corrected the error, but
so far as I know, explaining how he came to make the mistake. It is surprising that so gross an error should have been made by one who was Hunter’s resident pupil, assistant, locum tenens, successor, brother-in-law, and executor under his will. (2) Feb. 7th, 1728. This is a written entry on the flyleaf of a small bible presented to the Royal College of Surgeons by the late Miss Helen Baillie. The entry records the marriage of Hunter’s parents, the years (and in some instances the dates) of the births and deaths of all their children. John’s death alone is wanting. (3) Feb. 13th, 1728. In the appendix to Dr. Adams’s memoir a letter to the author from the minister of East Kilbride is quoted. It says that this date is that given in the baptismal register of the parish of East Kilbride, and that he was baptised on March 30th. It adds that Hunter’s mother’s name is entered as-Paul.
without,
Paul
unmarried surname. Her Christian It is plain that the informant did not know her Christian name, and therefore was not Hunter’s father. (4) Feb. 14th, 1728. Ottley, in his " Life," prefaced to Palmer’s edition of Hunter’s works, says that Hunter himself used to date his birth on this day, which consequently is that on which his anniversary is celebrated at the College of Surgeons. was
name was
the
lady’s
Agnes.
Hunter’s evidence can only be hearsay, despite the fact that he was a principal party and present on the occasion. On the whole it seems most probable that he was born on the night of Feb. 13th-14th, 1728, about midnight, and that the exact time was not observed by any of those present at the birth. I am,
Sir, yours faithfully, R. K. HOWAT.
B.M.A. AND T.U.C. SOME time ago Sir Walter Citrine, secretary of the Trades Union Congress, approached the council of the British Medical Association with a proposal for a working link between the trade-union movement and the medical profession, and suggesting a standing joint committee to deal with subjects on which cooperation would be advisable. The settlement of the dispute at Llanelly paved the way for some arrangement of this kind and the appointment of a joint committee has now been announced as follows : For the B.M.A.Sir E. K. Le Fleming (chairman of council), Sir Henry Brackenbury, Dr. H. G. Dain, Prof.
R. M. F. Picken, Dr. J. W. Bone, Dr. H. W. Pooler, and Dr. G. C. Anderson (medical secretary). For the T.U.C.: Mr. Ernest Bevin, Sir Walter Citrine, Mr. A. Hayday, M.P. (chairman of the Social Insurance Committee), Mr. W. Kean (chairman of the Workmen’s Compensation and Factories Committee), Dr. A. Welply and Dr. E. A. Gregg (Medical Practitioners’ Union), and Dr. H. B. Morgan (medical adviser to the T.U.C.).
This joint committee will meet alternately at the house of the B.M.A. and the T.U.C., the chairman to be drawn alternately from either side. The joint secretaries of the committee are Dr. Charles Hill for the B.M.A., and Mr. J. L. Smyth for the T.U.C. ROYAL EYE HOSPITAL, SouTHwARK.-Sir John Simon was the principal guest at the Coronation dinner held in aid of this hospital on Jan. 22ncl, when subscriptions amounting to nearly 2000 were received. The hospital in 79 years has dealt with over a million patients, and is the only London eye hospital south of the Thames, though there are four on the north bank. Over 7000 cases of industrial eye injury were treated last year. NEUROSURGERY
AT
EDINBURGH
ROYAL
INFIR-
MARY.-At a recent meeting of the court of contributors to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh reference was made to the accommodation of fee-paying patients in the neurosurgical ward. The managers of the infirmary have not previously made any provision for fee-paying patients ; but it was pointed out at the meeting that the circumstances are peculiar, in that neurological surgeons require a special team of trained assistants and nurses and it is impracticable for the neurological surgeon to have one such team in the hospital and another outside in a nursinghome. Ward 20 is in the process of being reconstructed as a ward for neurosurgical patients, who are at present scattered throughout the hospital.
pound words (cf. anagram, diagram, epigram), and the objection to it lies only in its literal meaning -i.e., a thing written by a ray. In defence of this inaccuracy, may I suggest that the important element an X ray picture is not its pictorial effect, or
in
"graphë," but its message or gramma (pace those who do not read radiologists’ reports), and that the secondary meaning justifies its adoption as a noun in preference to radiograph. Other advantages of radiogram are, as " Radiogrammarian " has pointed out, euphonic and practical. It is somehow tidier to have different words for the noun and the verb. Again, do the advocates of to talk of cholecystograph or propose radiograph pyelographg I confess they come awkwardly to the tongue. The piracy of the wireless and gramophone interests are, to my mind, a further incentive to hold fast to the word coined first in radiology. As for r6ntgenogram or r6ntgenograph, the sound of them is enough ! I would almost as soon use augeograph or radiopict, both of which at least have parents of the same stock. Finally, is X-ray really spelt without a hyphen ? I am, Sir, yours faithfully, S. COCHRANE SHANKS. NASAL SINUSITIS IN CHILDHOOD
To the Editor
of THE LANCET no is doubt that chronic antral infecSIR,-There tion is often overlooked both in children and adults, and there is not necessarily any fluid to be found in the infected antrum. In fact the dry antrum with the infected membrane is a greater cause of trouble than where there is fluid in it. Where a few antrum punctures and wash-outs do not cure the infection an intranasal opening should be made so that daily lavage of the cavity can be done. If the antrum recovers, frequently the other cells do also. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, C. HAMBLEN THOMAS.
WHEN WAS JOHN HUNTER BORN? To the Editor of THE LANCET
SIR,-The approaching anniversary of John Hunter’s birth recalls the various dates that have been given by various people for that event. These number at least four. (1) July 14th, 1728. This is the date given by Sir Everard Home in his memoir of Hunter’s Life prefaced to Hunter’s treatise on the blood, inflammation, and gunshot wounds. In a copy of this work in the Royal College ofSurgeons library is a marginal correction to February in William Clift’s beautiful handwriting. I believe, but have not the reference by me, that Sir E.
Home himself subsequently corrected the error, but
so far as I know, explaining how he came to make the mistake. It is surprising that so gross an error should have been made by one who was Hunter’s resident pupil, assistant, locum tenens, successor, brother-in-law, and executor under his will. (2) Feb. 7th, 1728. This is a written entry on the flyleaf of a small bible presented to the Royal College of Surgeons by the late Miss Helen Baillie. The entry records the marriage of Hunter’s parents, the years (and in some instances the dates) of the births and deaths of all their children. John’s death alone is wanting. (3) Feb. 13th, 1728. In the appendix to Dr. Adams’s memoir a letter to the author from the minister of East Kilbride is quoted. It says that this date is that given in the baptismal register of the parish of East Kilbride, and that he was baptised on March 30th. It adds that Hunter’s mother’s name is entered as-Paul.
without,
Paul
unmarried surname. Her Christian It is plain that the informant did not know her Christian name, and therefore was not Hunter’s father. (4) Feb. 14th, 1728. Ottley, in his " Life," prefaced to Palmer’s edition of Hunter’s works, says that Hunter himself used to date his birth on this day, which consequently is that on which his anniversary is celebrated at the College of Surgeons. was
name was
the
lady’s
Agnes.
Hunter’s evidence can only be hearsay, despite the fact that he was a principal party and present on the occasion. On the whole it seems most probable that he was born on the night of Feb. 13th-14th, 1728, about midnight, and that the exact time was not observed by any of those present at the birth. I am,
Sir, yours faithfully, R. K. HOWAT.
B.M.A. AND T.U.C. SOME time ago Sir Walter Citrine, secretary of the Trades Union Congress, approached the council of the British Medical Association with a proposal for a working link between the trade-union movement and the medical profession, and suggesting a standing joint committee to deal with subjects on which cooperation would be advisable. The settlement of the dispute at Llanelly paved the way for some arrangement of this kind and the appointment of a joint committee has now been announced as follows : For the B.M.A.Sir E. K. Le Fleming (chairman of council), Sir Henry Brackenbury, Dr. H. G. Dain, Prof.
R. M. F. Picken, Dr. J. W. Bone, Dr. H. W. Pooler, and Dr. G. C. Anderson (medical secretary). For the T.U.C.: Mr. Ernest Bevin, Sir Walter Citrine, Mr. A. Hayday, M.P. (chairman of the Social Insurance Committee), Mr. W. Kean (chairman of the Workmen’s Compensation and Factories Committee), Dr. A. Welply and Dr. E. A. Gregg (Medical Practitioners’ Union), and Dr. H. B. Morgan (medical adviser to the T.U.C.).
This joint committee will meet alternately at the house of the B.M.A. and the T.U.C., the chairman to be drawn alternately from either side. The joint secretaries of the committee are Dr. Charles Hill for the B.M.A., and Mr. J. L. Smyth for the T.U.C. ROYAL EYE HOSPITAL, SouTHwARK.-Sir John Simon was the principal guest at the Coronation dinner held in aid of this hospital on Jan. 22ncl, when subscriptions amounting to nearly 2000 were received. The hospital in 79 years has dealt with over a million patients, and is the only London eye hospital south of the Thames, though there are four on the north bank. Over 7000 cases of industrial eye injury were treated last year. NEUROSURGERY
AT
EDINBURGH
ROYAL
INFIR-
MARY.-At a recent meeting of the court of contributors to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh reference was made to the accommodation of fee-paying patients in the neurosurgical ward. The managers of the infirmary have not previously made any provision for fee-paying patients ; but it was pointed out at the meeting that the circumstances are peculiar, in that neurological surgeons require a special team of trained assistants and nurses and it is impracticable for the neurological surgeon to have one such team in the hospital and another outside in a nursinghome. Ward 20 is in the process of being reconstructed as a ward for neurosurgical patients, who are at present scattered throughout the hospital.