1940

NOTES FROM INDIA.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

House-to-House Vaccination.

? IN a report on vaccination in the Punjab during the pastyear; Lieutenant-Colonel C. J. Bamber, I.M.S., the Sanitary.Commissioner of that province, states that while in mostdistricts the people as a whole have no objection to primaryvaccination there is a strong prejudice against the operationof revaccination, partly because it is considered unnecessaryand partly because in the case of boys it may interferein a slight degree with their work. Another factormaking against the operation is said to be the lack ofinterest displayed by municipal members, ziladars, lambardars,and other civil subordinate officials. In the districts of

Kangra, Ferozspore, Gujrat, Shahpur, and Muzaffargarh, thedecrease in vaccination statistics is directly ascribed to wantof energy on the part of those who might be expectedto set a good example. Lieutenant-Colonel Bamber, inthe course of his report, throws out a suggestion whichmeets with the approval of the Lieutenant-Governor to theeffect’ that house-to-house vaccination might be introducedexperimentally in a few places. "This," he says, "has

proved a great success in England in popularising vaccina-tion and is very likely to prove equally successful in this

country. This would be also a good method for the dis-tribution of quinine. This measure will meet with oppositionfrom some of the vaccination staff, but the people will

undoubtedly welcome a measure that will save them fromthe exertion and annoyance of taking their children to adistance. "

The Distribution of Quinine.A recent United Provinces gazette contains a resolution

on the sale and distribution of quinine as a prophylacticagainst malarial fever. The Lieutenant-Governor acceptsthe principle that quinine should not be distributed at

public expense (save in charitable dispensaries) unless thismeasure is necessary to combat a severe epidemic of malaria.From past experience it is calculated that in case of an

epidemic the amount that can be distributed among 1,000,000people is from 1500 to 2000 pounds. As regards the dis-tributing agency, his honour desires the hearty cooperationof every official. All touring officers should receive a

supply for distribution, but for systematic distribution

during a severe epidemic non-official agency must neces-

sarily be utilised, and in this matter the district boardsare primarily responsible. Instructions are given forthe procedure to be adopted in arranging for this

systematic distribution of quinine. It is considered that

except in the case of a severe epidemic the best methodof making quinine readily acceptable is by the ex-

tension of the pice packet system. The Lieutenant-Governor approves the Commissioner’s proposal to increasethe amount of quinine sold for a pice from 7 to 9 grains.Additions to agencies for the sale of these packets are underconsideration, and arrangements have been made for theexperimental issue of the drug in tablet form, three tablets of3 grains each being contained in a packet. It is quitepossible that the larger the sales the greater will be the lossto Government, as it is not yet certain that 9 grains can besold profitably for a pice (¼ d.). But, whatever the loss,Government is willing, indeed anxious, to incur it in theeffort to encourage the use of the prophylactic.

Health of Eastern Bengal and Assam.Unlike Bengal and many other parts of India, the most

prevalent disease in Assam and in parts of Eastern Bengal isdue to intestinal parasites. It is under this head that the

Inspector-General of Hospitals places the largest number ofadmissions into dispensaries, which totalled 562,590, or 17.2 2per cent. of the total number of patients treated in the dis-pensaries of the new province during 1908. Malarial feversand diseases of the skin come next with 547,122, or 16 7 percent., and 526,528, or 16’1 per cent. respectively. We arenot told what the species of the parasites were that attackedsuch a large number of persons in the new province, northe nature of the skin diseases, which come third inorder of frequency of admissions into the dispensaries.Malarial fever, as might be expected, was responsible for the

usual number of attacks one is accustomed to associate withthe major portion of the new province; but it is curious tofind that, of the total number of malarial fever cases, only48 were diagnosed as kala-azar, against 61 in the precedingyear. This would tend to show that this dread disease isnot so prevalent as might have been thought, as it is inti.

mately associated with Assam. There is no referenceto I blackwater fever" under this head, but perhapsit is classed under some other head. There was a markeddecrease in the number of cholera and diarrhoea patientsadmitted. The civil surgeon of the Naga Hills reportsthat goitre is extraordinarily common throughout the I

district. There is a curious belief prevalent among thenatives of Assam that goitre is directly due to the eatingof a species of yam, called locally "sootnie." It is not

apparent that this general belief has been investigated bymedical officers. There is occasionally a substratum of truth Iin such local beliefs, so that this idea might well be con-firmed or exploded by competent investigation.

Plague.The mortality from plague in India considerably decreased

during the week ending Nov. 13th, the total number of casesbeing 5002, resulting in 3901 deaths. In Bombay there were647 deaths ; in Madras, 91 ; in Bengal, 202 ; in the UnitedProvinces, 1122 ; in the Punjab, 400 ; in Burma, 22 ; and inthe Central Provinces, 677.Nov. 25th.

_________________

Medical News.VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER.-At

examinations held recently the following candidates weresuccessful in the subjects indicated :—

THIRD M.B. EXAMINATION.General Pathology and Morbid A-rzcctooay.-Ii. D. Bean, C. E. Butter-

’ worth, Norman Duggan. Jane C. Miller, Manfred Moritz, Lovel! Moss, W. Howarth Parkinson, John Rothwell, William Stirling,

J. S. B. Stopford, * G. K. Thompson, and William Warburton.Pharmacology, Therapeutics, and Ilypierze.-0. R. Allison, C. B.

Davies, E. R. Eatock, W. H. Kauntze, T. W. Martin, Newtont Matthews, Lovel Moss. H. G. Peake, S. B. Radley, G. E. Sawdon,,

C. M, Stallard, and J. P. Stallard.Hygiene.-C. E. Butterworth.

SECOND M.B. AND CH.B.R. B. Berry, t A. G. Bryce, L. T. Challenor, Geoffrey Fildes, C. L.Graham, George Jackson, T. P. Kilner, J. A. Lees, P. H. Midgtey,L. W. Sparrow, C. F. White, and A. G. Wilkinson.

, Anatomy.-C. T. G. Bird, G. C. Dixon, and W. H. Wood.DIPLOMA IN DENTISTRY (THIRD EXAIIINATION).

Vernon Ditcham, S. I. Fillingham, F. B. Preston, Norman Vickers,and R. S. Ward.

Anatomy, Dental Anatomy, and Histology.-Wilfrid Jackson.Distinction in Pathology. t Distinction in Physiology.

UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL.-At the examina-tion for the Diploma in Tropical Medicine held recently, thefollowing candidates were successful :-E. R.-Armstrong, M.B., Ch.B.; G. Beatty, M.B., C.M.; C. L. ChevallierM.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.; W. Fleming, M.B., Ch.B. ; H. M. Hanchell,

’ M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. ; S. A. Henry, M.A., M.B., B.C.; F. A. Innes,! M.A., M.B., Ch.B.; A. F. Jackson, B.A., M.B., B.C.; S. M. Kaka,

M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.; A. A. D. McCabe-Dallas. L.M., Lic. Med.;K. B. Shroff, L.M. & S.; Violet A. Turkhud, M.B., B.S.; and

’ F. Yen, M.D.

FOREIGN UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.-: Berne: Professor A. Siegrist, Director of the University

Ophthalmic Clinic, has declined an invitation to Strasburg assuccessor to Professor Schirmer.-Berlin: Dr. Ernst Weberhas been granted the title of Professor.-Bonn: Dr. Prym

has been recognised as privat-docent of Pathological Anatomyand General Pathology.-Gottingen : Dr. Göppert has been

: appointed Extraordinary Professor of Children’s Diseases.-Marseilles: Dr. Treille has been appointed Clinical Professorof Tropical Diseases, a newly created chair.-New Orleans

. (Tulane University) : Dr. Henry W. Stiles has been appointedI Adjunct Professor of Anatomy.-Padua : Dr. Annibale Pretor has been recognised as privat-dooent of Operative Medicine.: -Phiadelphia (Medico- Chirurgical College) Dr. J. Hamilton

Small has been appointed Adjunct Professor of Bacteriology.-Strasburg : Dr. Georg Ledderhose, Extraordinary Professor

. of Surgery, has been entrusted with the courses of lectureson Forensic and Social Medicine.-Titrin : Dr. G. Roasendahas been recognised as privat-docent of Neurology. B

1941

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE (UNIVERSITY OF LONDON).-On Dec. 17th a new department of botany was opened atUniversity College by Mr. D. H. Scott, Ph.D., Vice-Chancellor of the University. The suite of 15 rooms hasbeen made available by the migration of the old physio-logical department to the new institute of physiology.

APOTHECARIES’ HALL OF IRELAND.-The pre-liminary examination for candidates seeking this licence willtake place on Monday, Jan. 3rd, 1910. The quarterlyexaminations will be held on the following dates : First

professional, Monday, Jan. 3rd, 1910; second professional,Thursday, Jan. 6th ; third professional, Monday, Jan. 10thand final professional, Wednesday, Jan. 12th.

EARTHQUAKE IN ARMENIA.-Our Constantinoplecorrespondent writes that according to a telegram fromBitlisa violent earthquake has completely destroyed thelocality of Ernit. One village disappeared from the face ofthe earth and four others suffered greatly. 70 houses havebeen levelled with the ground and 40 persons perished underthe ruins.

DEATHS OF EMINENT FOREIGN MEDICAL MEN.-The deaths of the following eminent foreign medical men areannounced :—Dr. A. 0. Lindfors, professor of gynaecology inthe University of Upsala.-Dr. Heinrich Adler, editor ofthe Wiener Medizinisehe Wochenschrift, aged 61 years.-Dr.Niels Peter Schierbeck, docent of hygiene in the Universityof Copenhagen.-Dr. Antonio Ripamonti, privat-docent ofneurology in the Florence Medical School and councillor inthe Commune of Milan.

DRAINAGE OF ST. PETERSBURG.-On the subjectof the drainage of the Russian capital a correspondent ofthe Novoe Trremya, after pointing out the exceptional death-rate of the town, 28 per 1000, with that of other capitals ofthe world-e.g., Moscow, 25; Rome, 18; Vienna, 17;Paris, 17 ; Berlin, 15 ; and London, 15-and enumeratingthe practically endemic position of some of the infectiousdiseases that rage there and the threatened permanence ofcholera, which has held its position since autumn of lastyear (1908), proceeds to describe the drainage system pre-vailing, to which, making allowance for the poverty of theworking classes, he ascribes most of the terrible mor-

tality recorded. The chief cause, he says, is theexceedingly dirty condition of the ground of the townand its rivers and canals. The sewage, both solidand liquid, is carried in a most primitive way throughbadly constructed wooden tubes to the rivers andcanals that run through the town. Much of the filth leaksthrough the tubes into the soil and, further, the system is sobadly levelled that the liquid impurities gather by gravita-tion in places and form sickening pools. On the rare

occasions when these tubes are cleaned out-usually byshovels-the filth is flung on to the open ground to infectthe surrounding atmosphere for a greater or less time.Much of the sewage is removed in imperfectly equipped carts,and in the sparsely inhabited parts of the town the men

simply throw it out on the roads or into the local canals.Some collections, particularly the Glucho-oserskaya, flow ina stream into the Volchovka river and thence into theObvodnoma canal, thus flowing back into the town.This collection has not been disinfected for the last20 years. The effect of this neglect on the soil ofSt. P,. tersburg has been such that some of the ground takenfrom the courtyard of the Nikolaieff Military Hospital, on

chemical analysis, yielded seven times as much nitrogen asthe soil taken from cemetery graves. The ground waternear the Kriukoff canal has a strong smell of sulphurettedhydrogen, and has been known frequently to cause men whohave been engaged digging foundations to swoon. Therivers and canals are simply open sewers. To what extentthe town water is infected may be judged from the fact thatthe Fontanka river, even in the coldest weather, does notfreeze in the lower strata." The only advantage of thepresent system, says the writer of the article, is its

cheapness, and that is why the question of the drainage ofthe capital, though under debate since 1864, has not beendecided. He believes that the limits of nature are beingapproached, and that without radical measures the city

.’ must undergo a vital and economic disaster.

BOOKS, ETC., RECEIVED.

BAILLIERE, TINDALL, AND COX, London.Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Sanatorium Treatment. A Record’rofTen Years’ Observation and Wor in Open-air Sanatoria. ByC. Muthu, M.D., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. Price 3s. 6d. net.

BENNETT, COLEMAN, AND Co., The Times Press, Bombay.Transactions of the Bombay Medical Congress, 1909. Edited byLieutenant-Colonel William Ernest Jennings, M.D., D.P.H.,I.M.S., General Secretary of the Congress. Price not stated.

BLACK, ADAM AND CHARLES, London.Who’s Who. 1910. Price 10s. net.Who’s Who Year Book. 1910. Price Is. net.The Writers’ and Artists’ Year Book. 1910. Price Is. net.The Englishwoman’s Year Book and Directory. 1910. Edited byG. E. Mitton. Price 2s. 6d.

FROwDE, HENRY, Oxford University Press, London.Michael Servetus. By William Osler, M.D., F.R.S. Price Is. net.

GRIFFIN, CHARLES AND COMPANY, LIMITED, London.The Year Book of the Scientific and Learned Societies of Great

Britain and Ireland. Price 7s. 6d.

HAZELL, WATSON, AND VINEY, LIMITED, London.Hazell’s Annual for 1910. Edited by Hammond Hall. Price 3s. 6d.

net.

LONGMANS, GREEN, AND Co., London, New York, Calcutta, andBombay.Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine. Vol. III., No. 1.November, 1909. Price 7s. 6d. net.

The Essentials of Chemical Physiology. For the Use of Students.By W. D. Halliburton, M.D., LL.D., F.R.S., F.R.C.P. SeventhEdition. Price 4s. 6d.

Essays in Politics. By Andrew Macphail. Price 6s. net.SWAN SONNENSCHEIN AND Co., LIMITED, London.

Remedial Gymnastics for Heart Affections used at Bad-Nauheim.Being a Translation of " Die Gymnastik der Herzleidenden," vonDr. med. Julius Hofmann und Dr. med. Ludwig Pohlman, Berlinund Bad-Nauheim. By John George Garson; M.D. Edin. Price5s. net.

VIGOT FRERES, Paris.La Phototherapie: ses Avantages dans le Traitement du LupusVulgaire. Par le Dr. Leon Friedmann. Price Fr.3.

Voss, LEOPOLD, Hamburg und Leipzig.Umfang und Art des jugendlichen Kriippeltums und der Kriippe

fiirsorge in Deutschland. Nach der durch die Bundesregierungenerhobenen amtlichen Zahlung. Im Auftrage und mit Unter-stiitzung des preuss. Kultusministeriums, der deutschen Zentralefiir Jugendfiirsorge und des Krüppel-Heil-u. Fiirsorgevereins fiirBerlin-Brandenburg. Bearbeitet und herausgegeben von Dr.Konrad Biesalski. Price, paper, M.30; bound, M.32.

WHITAKER, J., AND SONS, LIMITED, London.An Almanack. For the Year of Our Lord. 1910. By JosephWhitaker, F.S.A. (Whitaker’s Almanack.) Price 2s. 6d.

WILEY, JOHN, AND SONS, New York and London. (CHAPMAN ANDHALL, LIMITED, London.)Food Inspection and Analysis. For the Use of Public Analysts,Health Officers, Sanitary Chemists, and Food Economists. ByAlbert E. Leach, S.B. Second edition, revised and enlarged.Price, cloth,$7.50 or 31s. 6d. net.

YEAR BOOK PUBLISHERS, Chicago.The Practical Medicine Series. Under the general editorial charge

of Gustavus P. Head, M.D. Volume VIII. Materia Medica andTherapeutics, Preventive Medicine, Climatology. Edited byGeorge F. Butler, Ph.G., M.D., Henry B. Favill, A.B., M.D., and

. Norman Bridge, A.M., M.D. Series, 1909. Price not stated.

Appointments.Successful applicants for Vacancies, Secretaries of Public Institutions,

and others possessing information suitable for this column, areinvited to forward to THE LANCET Office, directed to the Sub-Editor, not later than 9 o’clock on the Thursday morning of eachweek, such information for gratuitous publication.

CANNEY, J. R. CAMPBELL, M.B., B.C., has been appointed Resident! Medical Officer at University College Hospital.

CLIFFORD, HAROLD, M.B. Lond., F.R.C.S. Edin., has been appointedRegistrar to the St. Mary’s Hospitals, Manchester.

. COLLINS, G. F., L.R.C.P. Irel., M.R.C.S., has been appointed, Certifying Surgeon under the Factory and Workshop Act for the

Sutton Bridge District of the county of Lincoln.’

FiTzwiLUAMS, DUNCAN C. L., M.D., Ch.M., F.R.C.S. Edn., F.R.C.S.Eng., has been appointed Surgeon-in-Charge of Out-patients at

, St. Mary’s Hospital.GORDON, S. G., L.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.Irel., L.M., has been appointed

’ Assistant Resident Surgeon at the General Dispensary, Nottingham.. HoBBS, EDWARD COOMBER, M.R.C.S., L:R.C.P..Lond., has been

, appointed House Physician to the West London Hospital, Hammer-smith.

’ McCuLLY, D., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., has been appointed House! Physician at University College Hospital.! MACMAHON, A. P., M.B., B.S. R.U.I., has been appointed Certifying. Surgeon under the Factory and Workshop Act for the Clondalkin

District of the county of Dublin.RAYNER, H. H., M.B.,! B.Ch. Vict., F.R.C.S. Eng., has been appointed

Honorary Surgeon for Children at the Northern Hospital,Manchester.

’

SHATTOCK, C. E., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., has been appointed ObstetricAssistant to University College Hospital.