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1421 Notes and News ALICE GREGORY AND TWO OTHERS 1--q a world teeming, in Dr. Johnson’s phrase, with guilt and misery, the history of social medicine stands as a refreshing witness of man’s humanity to man. Alice Gregory, whose life Dr. Egbert Morland (formerly editor of THE LANCET) outlines in a recent book,l was daughter of the Dean of St. Paul’s, trained as a midwife in the ’nineties when that was still an uncommon thing for a young lady of birth and education to do, and worked for eight years among the mothers in the Somerset villages round Midsomer Norton. Lelia Parnell, the second of the three pioneers about whom this book is written, chose to train as a maternity nurse, and was in charge of the Paulton Hospital when Alice Gregory came there to gain her first experience of nursing. Those were not the days of a preliminary training school. Alice plunged into the new life like a diver. "2.ix.93. To Paulton via Bath," her diary runs... Arrived at Hospital about 6. Found Mrs. Parnell working all alone, and a raving D.T. Unpacked in passage and settled in. Slept very badly." The third member of the trio, Maud Cashmore, to whom Dr. Morland is indebted for much of his material, and whose death prevented her from helping to write this graceful and worthy tribute to her friends, was another Victorian young lady who preferred a life of hard service to one of genteel leisure. These three women-Lelia Parnell with the good brains and the flair for organisation, Alice Gregory with the zest, wisdom, and strength, and Maud Cashmore with her devotion to the task, her good memory, and her great personal humility, were to help to set a new standard in the care of childbearing women. Alice Gregory, believing that if midwifery offered even the barest livelihood women of character would take it up, charged 5s. a case at first, but was reluctantly obliged to raise the fee to 8s. in her second year of district work : her fees for the first year had amounted to £27 10s. In those days enthusiasts were working hard to get the Midwives Act passed, and Alice Gregory and her friends had a training scheme in mind. No o hospital would accept it, and they realised that they would have to found a training school of their own. While Maud Cashmore took over the district work, Alice Gregory ranged the country looking for a place where such a school would be welcome. There was no welcome anywhere ; but at last she told her story to- the Rev. Charles Escreet in Woolwich. No sooner had he heard it than he reached for his hat. He knew the very place for her, he said ; and a few months later the house that he pointed out in Wood Street became the Home for Mothers and Babies. Later it was to receive an Exchequer grant of E20,000, and to grow up into a new building, and a new title-the British Hospital for Mothers and Babies. It has survived two wars and has trained innumerable midwives. Lelia Parnell died in 1931, the first of the three, and her loss seemed for a time to dim the inspiration of the work ; but it was, after all, its own inspiration. The other two members of the team worked on until 1945, and then retired together to the house at Alfriston which for many years had offered sanctuary to any of the Woolwich staff who needed rest of body or mind. CHILDREN’S FEET IT is surprising with what complacency the authorities and the public accept the fact that four people out of every five have foot defects severe enough to interfere with their comfort and efficiency. It is perhaps not so well realised that the great majority of these defects arise during child- hood and are largely preventable. Though it lies within the power of the authorities to effect the remedies, they will never act except under the pressure of public opinion. Mr. Pratt 2 has set out to tell the man in the street-or rather the parent-how the common foot troubles arise, how to look after their own children’s feet, and what could and should be done on a wider national basis. He presents the facts clearly and intelligibly, avoiding technical jargon and confusion of the main issues by unnecessary detail. When describing methods of examination, he might have laid a little more stress on the importance of good mobility of the joints of the foot and toes. But his book can be recommended to all those who have anything to do with the care of the child’s foot. 1. Alice and the Stork. London : Hodder & Stoughton. 1951. Pp. 87. 7s. 6d. 2. Your Children’s Feet. By CHARLES A. PRATT, M.C.S.P. London : C. A. Watts. 1951. Pp. 52. 7s. 6d. University of London Mr. P. H. Mitchiner, F.R.C.S., has been appointed deputy vice-chancellor for the year 1951-52. University of Bristol At recent examinations the following were successful : M.D. (State medicine).-M. M. Lewis. M.B., Ch.B.—D. R. Coles, June K. Lloyd (with second-class honours) : Margaret M. Ashton, W. G. Benson, A. C. Brown, C. T. Brown, Ruth E. Coles, T. E. Dada, C. E. Dickson, Dorothy R. Douglas, M. S. Dunnill, M. A. Feldman, D. H. Fox, B. W. Hill, Doreen E. D. Hillier, J. A. Jefferies, S. J. Lloyd, Ruth M. Martin, S. J. Palmer, M. E. Parry, D. S. Paton, Margaret R. Salisbury, J. H. Scudamore, M. N. Simmonds, R. E. D. Simpson, R. D. Stride, A. M. Sweeting, Denorah Vardy, P. G. J. Wilcock. D.P.M. (part II).-Oliver Lyth, W. D. C. Thomas. University of Liverpool The title of professor of orthopaedic surgery has been conferred on Mr. Bryan McFarland, director of orthopaedic studies in the university. Dr. S. Barton Hall has been appointed director of studies in psychological medicine. Royal College of Physicians of Ireland On June 14, Prof. E. J. Conway, D.sc., F.R.S., was admitted to the honorary fellowship of the college. Professor Conway afterwards delivered a lecture entitled Science and the Physician. Order of St. John of Jerusalem The King has sanctioned the following promotions in, and appointments to, this order : As Knight.—C. E. Salt, M.B. As Commanders.—W. J. Vickers, C.M.G., M.R.C.S., W. E. Hutchinson, M.D., M. M. Scott, M.R.c.S., Sir Arthur Porritt, K.C.M.G., C.B.E., F.R.C.S.. Surgeon Rear-Admiral K. A. I. Mackenzie, C.B., M.R.C.S., K.H.P., Sir Harold Graham-Hodgson, K.c.v.o., F.R.C.P. As Officers.-J. B. Mackie, M.B., Walter Radcliffe, M.B., Major- General W. E. Tyndall, C.B., c.B.E., M.C., M.B., x.H.s., Major-General Frederick Harris, c.B., C.B.E., M.C., M.B., K.H.S., E. R. A. Merewether, C.B.E., M.D., Dr. J. T. P. Handy, M.R.C.s., Dr. Ehoo Peng Seng, Brigadier H. C. Edwards, C.B.E., F.R.C.S., George Swapp, D.C.M., M.M., M.B., H. M. Golding, D.F.C., M.B., Major R. R. M. Porter, M.C., i.M.s. retd, L. W. Hefferman, M.D., F.R.C.S., M. V. Roberts, L.M.S.3.A., E. M. B. West, o.B.E., B.M., Squadron-leader D. S. Grant, M.R.C.s., Surgeon Captain J. Hamilton, C.B.E., M.B., R.N., Surgeon Captain W. P. E. McIntyre, M.D., R.N. As Associate Officers.—Ip Ram Wa, M.B., Dr. Pah Chien Kwan. Dr. Shaik Ismail Mohamed Ibrahim. International Dental Congress The eleventh International Dental Congress will be held in London from July 19 to 26, 1952. Further particulars may be had from the secretariat of the congress, 13, Hill Street, London, W.1. More Pay for Medical Auxiliaries The Industrial Court has awarded an annual increase of 50 at all points of all scales in the salaries of the following medical auxiliaries who are employed in the National Health Service : almoners, occupational therapists, orthoptists, physiotherapists, psychiatric social workers, remedial gym- nasts, speech therapists, and therapeutic dietitians. The award is to date from April 1 this year, and about 6200 workers will receive a rise. Osler Club of London The annual dinner of this club will be held on Thursday, July 12, at the South Kensington Hotel, Queen’s Gate Terrace, S.W. 7, at 7.45 P.M., to celebrate the 102nd anniversary of Osler’s birth. Mr. S. C. Roberts, master of Pembroke College, will deliver the Oslerian oration on the Rev. James Beresford (1764-1840). Further particulars may be had from the hon. secretary, Dr. W. R. Bett, 11, the Avenue, Bedford Park, W.4. ’ Toxic Chemicals in Agriculture The Working Party on precautionary measures against toxic chemicals used in agriculture, whose first report was published in April, has been reappointed to investigate the risks to the consumer of the final product arising from the ’ use of toxic chemicals in agriculture and in the storage of food. The members include : Prof. S. Zuckerman, C.B., M.D., F.R.S. (chairman) ; Dr. J. M. Barnes, Dr. R. H. Barrett, Dr. B. S. . Lush, and Dr. R. J. Peters. Organisations who wish to submit, . evidence should write to Mr. W. K. Melrose, Ministry of Food,. ’ Portman Court, London, W.I.
