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on this point has a special value for a psychological worker who hascome upon a difficult and out-of-the-way aspect of a phenomenonwhich-is in itself so common as the cry of pain. There is in such a

subject the danger of struggling and straining in far-off places afterevidences which may be as familiar as the light of day to the regularworker in the vicinity of extreme suffering. But this candour is instrict harmony with the spirit in which Darwin himself drew hisconclusions in the "expression of the emotions to which you makereference. Darwin evidently fully appreciated the difficulties of hissubject and, far from dogmatising, he scrupulously cleared the groundfor other workers. Take, for example, his emphatic warnings againstlooking at the expression of the emotions from an exclusively com-municative standpoint ; his insistence that, "on the contrary,every true or inherited movement of expression seems to havehad some natural and independent origin. But when once

acquired such movements may be voluntarily or consciously em-ployed as a means of communication" (p. 356). Now, of course,the communicative values of the cry of pain’ may be left

entirely unchallenged by the observer who notes the psychicalvalue of the cry by way of the auditory impression made on the’sufferer, nor, as far as I can see, need we controvert any view thatmay be held as to the importance to the sufferer of the sense ofmuscular effort in producing the cry. It is solely a question of fact.

Direct observation may prove difficult and results not very encourag-’ing. The mere cry of pain can only at best produce an elementarysensation, a sensation which, at all events, has no power of competingwith the psychical riches of the simplest articulate syllable of humanspeech. But notwithstanding this psychical poverty in comparisonto other uttered sounds I appeal that the cry of pain should beobserved and studied in the aspect suggested.May I, Sirs, make one indication of a line of observation ? A

sufferer is sinking to a state of mental inertia. He utters a cry, a

groan. This cry or groan is a stimulus; it exerts some influence onthe sufferer’s psychical life by way of his hearing. This is entirelybeyond question. What remains to be done is to observe and torecord this influence as closely as possible. Use the best means atthe disposal of modern psychological observation to ascertain the fullmeasure of this influence. Does the sufferer’s cry tend to arrest even fora moment the oncoming of psychical inertia? Then record the factand let it stand among the data of science. Cries of pain usher thehuman consciousness out of the psychical inertia of birth, then, so tospeak, leave it for a while, but come again to usher it into the

psychical inertia of death. Therefore I again appeal to workers in thevicinity of physical and mental suffering to observe this cryptic aspectof the cry of pain.and I am of opinion that they may thus lend ahand in a most important psychological revelation.

,

I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,London, May llth, 1904. PSYCHOLOGUS.

HOLMAN TESTIMONIAL FUND.

THE following further list of contributions has been forwarded tous by the honorary treasurer of this fund, Dr. John H. Galton,Chunam, Sylvan-road, Norwood, S.E., by whom or by the secretary,Mr. W. A. Berridge, Oakfield, Redhill, Surrey, subscriptions will bereceived :-

2 s. d. JE s. d.Dr. C. Gibson......... 1 1 0 Dr. R. B. Wrighton...... 1 1 0Mr. T. J. Watts ...... 1 1 0 Mr. George Roe Carter ... 1 1 0Mr. W. Wallis ...... 0 10 6 Mr. Giles Lockwood L.Mr. P. Purnell ...... 1 1 0 Hawken ...... 2 2 0Dr. Thomas Bridgwater 3 3 0 Mr. F. Boxall ......... 1 1 0Dr. J. Ward Cousins ... 1 0 0, Sir George H. Philipaon... 1 1 0

AN ABNORMAL FCETUS.

Mr. Edward H. Greaves, M.R.C.S. Eog., L.R.C.P. Lond., describes inthe Guy’s Hospital Gazette of May 7th a fcetus having the followingmeasurements: total length, 23! inches ; circumference of neck,10 inches; circumference round shoulder, 20 inches; circumferenceround chest, 16½ inches; and circumference round pelvis at crest,15½ inches. The foetus weighed 30 pounds 4 ounces. The patient,a cowman’s wife, three years ago gave birth to a child weighing18 pounds. The labour was difficult but natural and not unusuallylong," says the narrator; "no instruments used or chloroform

given and no injury to maternal parts." The child died duringdelivery. The mother believes herself to have been pregnantexactly 11 months.

THE SCOTCH OATH.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,-The Morecambe coroner is reported to have asked dozens ofdoctors why they hold their hands up to take the oath-Scotch custom-and they could not tell him. The answer’ is found in Genesis,chapter 14, verse 22, and sequel.

I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,JAMES T. T. RAMSAY, L.R.C.P., L,R.C.S. Edin., &e.

Blackburn, May 16th, 1904.

FIRE-WALKING IN THE FIJI ISLANDS.

AT a meeting of the Anthropological Institute held on Feb, 23rd theHon. W. L. Allardyce, C.M.G., delivered an address the subject oiwhich was the Fijians in Peace and War. An abstract of it published in the May number of Man gives some details relative to thtpractice of fire-walking which is performed only on the island Beqa and by the members of a particular tribe. After a brief notice

of the legend which describes how a certain family became possessedin perpetuity of the privilege of immunity from fire, Mr. Allardycegoes on to remark : -

" The ceremony which is supposed to commemorate this event isconducted as followe : A circular pit is dug, three feet deep and .30feet across; this is filled ’with alternate layers.of timher and stones.The pile is kindled and burns for about 12 hours when the e nbersare removed by means of non-combustible vines and the red-hotstones are levelled_by means of levers made from similar materials.The 12 or ’14 members of the privileged tribe come forward and

. walk round through the oven on the stones. The heat of the latteris considerable. A handkerchief laid on one of the stones wascharred and a thermometer suspended over the centre of the ovenregistered 280 deg. Fahr., when the solder melted. Mr. Allardyceexamined the feet of the performers both before and after theceremony and was convinced that no preparation of any kind wasrubbed on them. No signs of burning were discovered, and eventhe hair on the leg was not singed. The length of time occupiedby this part of the ceremony is not more than a minute ; the per-formers walk quite slowly. After this leaves and masawe arethrown on the stones and the latter baked and eaten.

, "As a partial explanation of this apparent immunity from fire the

lecturer mentioned the fact that the village faces north-west andis consequently sheltered from the prevailing wind (the 8.B. trade),while it is exposed to the full heat of the sun. The natives areaccustomed to walk about barefoot on the rocks when the latterare at such a temperature that an European cannot keep his handon them, and in this way the soles of the feet become hardened.Doubtless the intense faith of the performers also contributes to.their security."

To the foregoing account the editor of Man appends the followingnote:-" As an instance of the amount of heat which the foot, evenof an European, will stand, I may mention that I have seen a cadetin the merchant service, who had been accustomed to walk aboutthe deck bare-foot, hold a lighted wax match under his heel- withthe flame licking the skin until burnt out. He assured me that hefelt no inconvenience from the heat and certainly no signs of

burning appeared on the skin."

A NEW SPARKLET SYPHON.

AERATORS LIMITED, of Broad-street Avenue, E.C., point out withreference to a notice of this syphon in our issue of May 7th thatwhen traces of iron occur in the aerated water they are not derivedfrom the spout but arise from leaving the steel bulb in position afteremptying the syphon.

J. A. H. P. will find in THE LANCET of Oct. 14th, 1899, p. 1055, theinformation he or she desires.

Mr. J. Warburton will find complete information in THE LANCET forthe years 1871 and 1872.

G. P. writes :-Can any readers advise me what books I should readfor the F.R.C.S. Edin. ?

Mrs. Ll.-WE do not give medical advice or recommend medicotreatment.

Medical Diary for the ensuing Week.OPERATIONS.

METROPOLITAN HOSPITALS.MONDAY (23rd).-London (2 P.M.), St. Bartholomew’s (1.30 P.M., St.

Thomas’s (3.30 P.M.), St. George’s (2 P.M.), St. Mary’s (2.30 P.M.),Middlesex (1.30 P.M.), Westminster (2 P.M.), Chelsea (2 P.M.),Samaritan (Gynaecological, by Physicians, 2 P.M.), Soho-square(2 P.M.), Royal Orthopaedic (2 P.M.), City Orthopaedic (4 P.M.),Gt. Northern Central (2.30 P.M.), West London (2.30 P.M.), LondonThroat (9 30 A.M.). Royal Free (2 P.M.), Guy’s (1.30 P.M.).

TUESDAY (24th.-London (2 P.M.), St. Bartholomew’s (1.30 P.M.), St.Thomas’s (3.30 P.M.), Guy’s (1.30 P.M.), Middlesex (1.30 P.M.), West-minster (2 P.M.), West London (2.30 P.M.), University College(2 P.M.), St. George’s (1 P.M.), St. Mary’s (1 P.M.), St. Mark’s s(2.30 P.M.), Cancer (2 P.M.), Metropolitan (2.30 P.M.), London Throat(9.30 A.M.), Royal Ear (3 P.M.), Samaritan (9.30 A.M. and 2.30 P.M.),Throat, Golden-square (9.30 A.M.), Soho-square (2 P.M.), Chelsea(2 P.M.).

WEDNESDAY (25th).-St. Bartholomew’s (1.30 P.M.), University College(2 P.M.), Royal Free (2 P.M.), Middlesex (1.30 P.M.), Charing Cross(3 P.M.), St. Thomas’s (2 P.M.), London (2 P.M.), King’s College(2 P.M.), St. George’s (Ophthalmic, 1 P.M.), St. Mary’s (2 P.M.),National Orthopaedic (10 A.M.), St. Peter’s (2 P.M.), Samaritan(9.30 A.M. and 2.30 P.M.), Gt. Ormond-street (9.30 A.M.), Gt. NorthernCentral (2.30 P.M.), Westminster (2 P.M.), Metropolitan (2.30 P.M.),London Throat (9.30 A.M.), Cancer (2 P.M.), Throat, Golden-square(9.30 A.M.), Guy’s (1.30 P.M.).

THURSDAY (26th).-St. Bartholomew’s (1.30 P.M.), St. Thomas’s(3.30 P.M.), University College (2 P.M.), Charing Cross (3 P.M.), St.

George’s (1 P.M.), London (2 P.M.), King’s College (2 P.M.), Middlesex(1.30 P.M.), St. Mary’s (2.30 P.M.), Soho-square (2 P.M.), North-WestLondon (2 P.M.), Gt. Northern Central (Gynaecological, 2.30 P.M.),Metropolitan (2.30 P.M.), London Throat (9.30 A.M.), St. Mark’s2 P.M.), Samaritan (9.30 A.M. and 2.30 P.M.), Throat, Golden-square(9.30 A.M.), Guy’s (1.30 P.M.).

1475

FRIDAY (27th).-London (2 P.M.), St. Bartholomew’s (1.30 P.M.), St.Thomas’s (3.30 P.M.), Guy’s (1.30 P.M.), Middlesex (1.30 P.M.), CharingCross (3 P.M.), St. George’s (1 P.M.), King’s College (2 P.M.), St. Mary’s s(2 P.M.), Ophthalmic (10 A.M.), Cancer (2 P.M.), Chelsea (2 P.M.). Gt.Northern Central (2.30 P.M.), West London (2.30 P.M.), LondonThroat (9.30 A.M.), Samaritan (9.30 A.M. and 2.30 P.M.), Throat,Golden-square (9.30 A.M.), City Orthopaedic (2.30 P.M.), Soho-square(2 P.M.).

SATURDAY (28th).-Royal Free (9 A.M.), London (2 P.M.), Middlesex(1.30 P.M.), St. Thomas’s (2 P.M.), University College (9.15 A.M.),Charing Cross (2 P.M.), St. George’s (1 P.M.), St. Mary’s (10 P.M.).Throat, Golden-square (9.30 A.M.), Guy’s (1.30 P.M.).

At the Royal Eye Hospital (2 P.M.), the Royal London Ophthalmic(10 A.M.), the Royal Westminster Ophthalmic (1.30 P.M.), and theCentral London Ophthalmic Hospitals operations are performed daily.

SOCIETIESWEDNESDAY (25th).-DERMATOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN

AND IRELAND (20, Hanover-square, W.).-4.30 P.M. Annual Meetingand Contereince. Oration :-Dr. H. A. G. Brooke : The ClinicalRelationships of Seborrhcea.

FRIDAY ,27th).-SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF DISEASE IN CHILDREN(11, Chandos-street, Cavendish-Equare, W.).-5.30 P.M. Cases willbe shown by Dr. E. Cautley, Mr. F. Jaffrey, Mr. W. Edmunds, Mr.H Tod, Dr W. Emery, Mr. H. Balme, Mr. A. D. Reid, and Mr. T.Walker. Papers ;—Mr. W. W. Cheyne, Dr R. H. W. Welbe, andMr. L. Mummery.

CLINICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON (20, Hanover-square, W.).-8.30 P.M.Annual General Meeting. Election of Officers for Session 1904-5.Papers:—Dr. D W. Finlay : A Case of Pneumothorax treated byIncision and Removal of Ribs.- Dr. H. E. Thompson and Dr. C. U.Aitchison (introduced by Dr. P. Kidd): Two Cases of Tumour ofthe Left Auricle simulating Mitral Stenosis.-Mr. H. B. Robinson:Femoral Aneurysm in Hunter’s Canal, Ligature of SuperficialFemoral and Popliteal Arteries, Cure of Aneurysm, Death fromCardiac Disease Ten Weeks later.-Mr. 0. R. Keyser : Case of Con-genital Elevation of the Scapula.

LEOTURES, ADDRESSES, DEMONSTRATIONS, &0.TUESDAY (24th).-MEDICAL GRADUATES’ COLLEGE AND POLYCLINIC

(22, Chenies-street, W.C.).-4 P,M. Dr. S. Taylor: Clinique.(Medical.)

POST-GRADUATF COLLEGE (London County Lunatic Asylum,Hanwell).-5 P M. Dr. R. H. Cole: Puerperal Insanity.

ST. PETER’S HOSPITAL (Henrietta-street, Covent Garden.)- 3 30 P.M.Mr. P. J. Freyer: Surgical Dieeases of the Kidneys.

NATIONAL HOSPITAL FOR THE PARALYSED AND EPILEPTIC (Queen-square. BIoonnbury. W.C.). 3.30 P M. Dr. Batten : The Reflexes.WEDNESDAY -25th).- MEDICAL GRADUATES’ COLLEGE AND POLY-

CLINIC (22, Chenies-street, W.C.),-4P.M. Mr. T. P. Legg: Clinique.(Surgical.) 5.15 P.M. Dr. A. P. Luff : The Forms of Diabetes andthe Differential Examination of the Urine.

POST-GRADUATE COLLEGE (West London Hospital, Hammersmith-road, W.).-5 P M. Dr. Beddard : Practical Medicine.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE (University of London) (Physiological Theatre).—5 P.M. Dr. W. P. May: Advanced Lectures on the Tracts of theBrain-Lecture IV. : Motor Paths.

HOSPITAL FOR CONSUMPTION AND DISEASES OF THE CHEST (Bromp-ton).-4 P.M. Dr. Perkins : Angina Pectoris.

ST. GEORGE.’S HOSPITAL MEDICAL SCHOOL (St. George’s Hospital).-8 30 p M. Prof. H. Marsh : ,a) Intermittent Hydrops of the Joints ;(b) The Influence of Growth on Deformities. (Hunterian Lecture.)

All members of the medical profession are invited to attend.muRSDAY ’26th).--MEDICAL GRADUATES’ COLLEGE AND POLYCLINIC

(22, Chenies-street, W.C.).-4 P.M. Mr. Hutchinson : Clinique.(Surgical.) 5.15 P.M. Dr. T. W. Eden: Purulent Endometritis.

POST-GRADUATE COLLEGE (West London Hospital, Hammersmith-road, W ).-5 P M. Mr. S. Edwards : Rectal Fistula.

CHARING CROSS HOSPITAL.-4 P.M. Mr. Waterhouse : Demonstrationof Surgical Cases. (Post-Graduate Course.)

MOUNT VERNON HOSPITAL FOR CONSUMPTION AND DISEASES OF THECHEST (7, Fitzroy-square. W.).-5 P.M. Dr. J. E. Squire: GeneralPrinciples of Treatment of Respiratory Affections. (Post-GraduateCourse.)

NORTH-EAST LONDON POST-GRADTTATE COLLEGE (Tottenham Hos-nital, N.).-4.30 P.M. Dr. A. J. Whiting: Affections of the CranialNerves.

THE HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN (Gt. Ormond-street, W.C.).-4 P.M. Dr. Poynton : On the Use of Citrate of Soda in InfantFeeding.

FRIDAY 27th).-MEDICAL GRADUATES’ COLLEGE AND POLYCLINIC(22, Chenies-street, W.C.)-4 PM. Dr. L. Lack: Clinique.(Throat.)

POST-GRADUATE COLLEGE (West London Hospital, Hammersmith-road, W.).-5 P M. Mr. Paget: Surgical Cases.

NATIONAL HOSPITAL FOR THE PARALYSED AND EPILEPTIC (Queen-square. Bloomsbury, W.C.).-3 30 P M. Dr. Batten.

SATURDAY (28th).-ST. PETER’S HOSPITAL (Henrietta-street, CoventGarden).-2.30 P.M. Mr. J. W. T. Walker: Diagnosis in UrinaryDisease.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.It is most important that communications relating to the

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M E T E O R O L O G I C A L R E A D 1 N G S.(Taken daily at 8.30 a.m. by Steward’8 Instruments.)

THE LANCET Office, May 19th, 1904.

During the week marked copies of the following newspapershave been received:-Daily Express (Dublin), Belfast NewsLetter, Cheshire Daily Echo. Stockport Advertiser, Westmeath

Independent, Western News (Galway), Glasgow Flerald, Irish Timea,Eastern Morning News, Aberdeen Free Press, Sussex Daily News,Dublin Times, Birmingham Post, Surrey Advertiser, Notts Gnardian,Westminster Gazette, Dublin Express, Bradford Observer, HerefordMercury, Sanitary -Record, Local Government Chronicle, The

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