Notes and News

ROYAL MEDICAL BENEVOLENT FUND

DURING 1951 the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund helped88 new applicants, and the number of its beneficiaries is nowover 600. Reporting on the year, Dr. R. Cove-Smith, thehon. secretary, says that during the year £41,467 was dis-bursed, including £21,865 in grants, £10,609 in annuities,£2028 as Christmas gifts, and jE2020 as New Year gifts.Working expenses amounted to 6-6%. Investment incomewas £13,794 and subscription income JE24.410 ; income-taxrecovered under covenants totalled JE58IO. In addition,fl8.ll4 was received in legacies and credited, as usual, tocapital account. Dr. Cove-Smith observes that, with income-tax at 9a. 6d. in the pound, each guinea of covenant sub-scriptions represents an income of E2 to the Fund ; and heasks all supporters to consider this method of subscription.The headquarters of the Fund are at 1, Balliol House, ManorFields, Putney, London, S.W.15.

A NEW KIND OF CECIL HOUSE

WOMEN wandering about the streets of London in searchof a cheap lodging are fortunately no longer as common asthey were in 1925, when Mrs. Cecil Chesterton set out, withnothing in her pockets, to see what it felt like to be one ofthem. But there are still more than enough of them to disturbour peace of mind if we stop to think about it. The CecilHouses, which she founded, still fill themselves every night,and the numbers turned away do not diminish. Those whoget there in time can still get a clean and comfortable bed,a hot bath, and facilities for washing clothes, for a sum whichhas risen, with the change in the value of money, from Is.to 2s. 3d. ; a cot for a baby costs an additional 3d. They areasked no questions ; they want, and are paying for, a night’slodging, and their private lives are respected. The onlystipulation made is that they shall be sober.Over the course of the years six Cecil Lodging Houses have

been opened ; some were closed for a time by bombing, andhave since reopened-all but one, which is let temporarilyfor light industry until it can be rebuilt. In 1938 a new kindof Cecil House was opened-a residential club, in GowerStreet, for 72 working girls who pay £2 a week, and must notbe earning more than £5. This building was let during thewar to the Canadian Legion but has been fulfilling its originalpurpose since 1947. Next year another new venture is to belaunched-a residential club for 72 old ladies. The building18 up. in Medlake Street, North Kensington ; and it is delight-ful. from the roof garden and verandahs, and the nineteendormitories, to the comfortable common-rooms, the convenientkitchen, and the central-heating installation in the basement.Once launched, the Cecil Houses pay their way, and the

new residential home will be no exception ; but it has cost£65,000 to buy the site and build on it, and not all of this sum hasbeen collected vet. Those who wish to contribute should sendtheir subscriptions to the Hon. Treasurer, Cecil Houses (Inc.),193, Gower Street, London, N.W.I.

A VOICE FROM THE PAST

Daniel Drake was born in New Jersev in 1785. At theage of 2 he took part in the migration to the western

parts of the United States. In the turmoil of those pioneerdays a boy’s education was apt to be neglected, but Danielwas soon able to take the matter in his own hands ; for,as he later wrote,

" I could read and examine a dictionaryfor the meaning of words and here is the starting point ofall improvement." And improvement thus started led tohis apprenticeship at 15 with a doctor in Cincinnati, and carriedhim on to a place of distinction in the historv of Americanmedicine. He became a physician, teacher, and writer whosereputation spread far beyond the Ohio Valley where he spentmost of his life.

Biographical facts, however impressive, give a poor pictureof the man, but his written words do much to fill in thedetails-and Dr. Drake wag a vigorous and prolific writer.His essays on medical education and the medical profession,first published in 1832, have now been reprinted.1 Many ofhis pungent criticisms must have been unpopular at the

1. Practical Essays on Medical Education and the Medical Pro-fession in the United States. By DANIEL DRAKE, M.D. Baltimore:Johns Hopkins Press. London: Oxford University Press.1952. Pp. 103. 20s.

time, and indeed some of them may touch a sore spot hereand there even now. " The profession abounds in studentsand practitioners who are radically defective in spelling,grammar, etymology, descriptive geography, arithmetic, ....and book-keeping." He also demanded ‘‘ a competent know-ledge of the elements of physical geography, general history,the art of composition, algebra, geometry, and mechanics."How his students must have quailed ! He deals as devas-

tatingly with the failings that he detected in the medicalschools of the time ; and his ideas on a proper medicaltraining laid the foundations of modern American teachingmethods. He wrote so entertainingly that he should beread again even if his lessons had all been learnt, which is

by no means the case.

THE WORKS OF SIR ALMROTH WRIGHT

Dr. Leonard Colebrook, F.R.s., loving disciple of an unusualman, has prepared a bibliography of all the published worksof Sir Almroth Wright,’ and has appended to each title a shortaccount of the contents. Most of these deal with immunisa-tion, Wright’s major interest, and it is impressive to see thevast field he ranged and the notable contributions he madeto this subject. Two works on which Dr. Colebrook evidentlysets a high value are Prolegomena to the Logic which searchesfor the Tritth, and Alethetropic Logic (still unpublished) towhich the Prolegomena was written as a foreword. The mainwork began to take shape, Dr. Colebrook says, in the ’nineties,when Wright had become interested in the physiologicalprocesses associated with emotional disturbances. This ledhim to reflect on the nature of belief, and the intellectualoperations usually included in the word ’’logic." "It seemed tohim that the modern development of psychology and physio-logy called for a new system of logic-one which was notconcerned only with Reasoning, but took account also of allthe processes by which we arrive at our Beliefs." Threecontributions, whose shocking illiberality nowadays raises asmile, are concerned with the case against woman suffrage ;perhaps it would have been kinder to leave them out.

SAFETY FOOTWEAR

IN industry injuries to the feet are a common cause ofdisablement. The Ministry of National Insurance found thatin 1949 and 1950 such injuries accounted for about 4% of allsuccessful claims for injury benefit. The British StandardsInstitution, in cooperation with other organisations, hasissued a standard for men’s safety boots and shoes (B.s.1870/1952, price 2s. 6d.). Shoes made by this standard, whichwere demonstrated in London this week, have an external orinternal steel toecap, weighing 2 oz. and designed to withstanda shock test of 150 foot-lb. or a dead weight of 3 tons.

Royal Medico-Psychological AssociationDr. W. Rees Thomas will deliver the Maudsley lecture to

this association on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 2.15 P.M., at 1, WimpoleStreet, London, W.1. He is to speak on The UnwillingPatient.

London HospitalOn Thursday, Oct. 9, at 4.15 P.M., at the Medical College,

Prof. S. P. Bedson, F.R.S., will deliver the Schorstein lectureon Twenty-five Years’ Progress in Virus Research.

Royal Free HospitalSir Henry Dale, O.M., F.r.s.. will deliver the opening address

of the 1952-53 session to the medical school on Friday, Oct. 3,at the Senate House, University of London, W.C.1, at 3 r.M.

Guy’s HospitalThe biennial dinner for past medical and dental students

will be held in the Connaught Rooms, Great Queen Street,London, W.C.2, on Friday, Oct. 3, at 7.30 p.m. Tickets

(25s. exclusive of wines) are obtainable from Mr. 0. GayerDiorgan, hon. secretary of the dinner. Medical School, Guy’sHospital, London, S.E.1.

Westminster Medical SchoolOn Monday. Oct. 6, at 3.45 P.M. at Church House, Great

Smith Street. S.-%V.1. Sir Raymond E-ershed, P.c., the Masterof the Rolls. will give the inaugural address.

1. Bibliography of the Published Writings of Sir Almroth Wright,M.D., F.R.S. London: Heinemann. 1952. Pp. 32. 6s.

544

Society of Chemical IndustryOn Monday, Oct. 20, at 5.30 r.M., at the rooms of the

Chemical Society, Burlington House, London, W.1, at a

meeting of the crop protection panel of the agricùlture group,Dr. J. M. Barnes will speak on Health Hazards in CropProtection.

Rubber Products for Hospital UseWith the collaboration of the professional and industrial

interests concerned, the British Standards Institution is

preparing a series of standards for rubber products used insurgical and hospital practice, and the following have nowbeen published :B.S.1803-Surgical rubber gloves (price 1s. 6d.) deals with glovesB.S.1803-Surgical rubber gloves (price ls. 6d.) deals with glovesmade by dipping in rubber solution (both cold and hot vulcanised),

or by dipping in latex. Recommendations are given for storingand sterilisation.B.S.1883-Rnbber ward-dressing gloves and porters’ gloves (2s.) )

covers three types of gloves-namely, rubber-solution dipped,rubber-latex dipped, and those built up from sheet rubber. Methodsof marking to show date of manufacture are laid down.

B.S.1884-Rubber post-mortem gloves (2s.) is similar in scope toB.S.1883.B.S.1882-Rubber tubing for hospital use (2s.) includes specifica-

tions for pressure, drainage, stethoscope, and Paul’s tubing.Transfusion tubing is still under consideration, and will be dealtwith by an amendment slip to the present standard as soon as thework is completed. Exact methods of manufacture, with dimen-sions and tolerances, are specified, and details are given of physicaltests to ensure that the quality of rubber used is satisfactory foreach purpose.

Copies of these standards may be had from the sales branchof the Institution, 24, Victoria Street, London, S.W.I.

British Legion HomesThis year the British Legion has completed its post-war

plan to provide 8 special homes. The 4 country homes forthe aged at Westgate, Cromer, Ripon, and Bwlch, near

Brecon, accommodate 220 men and women, 130 of whom aredisabled. Every year more than 3000 men and women spenda fortnight at the convalescent homes at Southport, Weston-super-Mare, Sevenoaks, and Helen’s Bay in Northern Ireland.

Institute of Child Health, LondonTen postgraduate lectures on Disease in the Young Animal

and the Child are to be given at the Hospital for Sick Children,Great Ormond Street. The lectures will be held on Mondays,at 5.30 r.M., beginning on Oct. 13. Further particulars maybe had from the secretary of the institute, Great OrmondStreet, W.C.1.

Wessex Rahere ClubThe autumn dinner of this club will take place at the Grand

Spa Hotel, Clifton, Bristol, on Saturday, Oct. 25. Membershipof the club is open to all Barts men practising in the WestCountrx-. Further details mav be had from Mr. A. DaurltBateman, the hon. secretary, 3, The Circus, Bath.

Vellore Christian Medical College, South IndiaFriends of Vellore are to hold their annual reunion on

Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Caxton Hall, Westminster, S.W.1,at 3.30 r.M. The speakers will include : Dr. llargaret Brand,Mr. Paul Brand, Dr. Gwenda Lewis, and Dr. P. Koshy.

Association of Clinical PathologistsThe annual general meeting of this association will be held

at the Westminster Hospital Medical School, London, S.W’.1,from Oct. 2 to 4.

Hunterian SocietyThe annual party of this society is to be held at 41, Portland

Place, London, W.1, on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 6 P.M., whenrecent additions to the museum will be shown.

Rations for Patients with Cceliac Disease

A new category of extra rations has been introduced forchildren with coeliac disease. In future children who are

being treated on a wheat- or gluten-free diet may be allowedone extra ration of fats (butter, margarine, and cooking-fat),one extra tneat ration, and one priority allocation of eggs aweek. These allowances are alternative to, and not additional

to, the extra rations at present granted. Medical certificates,in addition to providing the figures for a stool fat-analysis orfat-absorption test, should state that the patient is on agluten-free diet. The Ministry of Food’s medical advisers areprepared to give consideration to adults suffering fromsteatorrhoea who have been placed on a similar diet.

International Congress on Rheumatic DiseasesThe eighth International Congress on Rheumatic Diseases

will be held at Geneva from Aug. 24 to 28, 1953. The followingsubjects have been chosen for discussion : Connective and Rheumatism ; Steroids in the Treatment of Rheumatism :the End-results of Surgery for the Rheumatic Hip; &M

Occupational Reablement. Further particulars may be hadfrom Prof. K.-M. Walthard, Institut de Physiatrie, HopitalCantonal, Geneva, Switzerland.

St. Thomas’s HospitalThe old students’ dinner will take place at the Trocader

Restaurant, Piccadilly Circus, London, W.1, on Friday.Oct. 17, at 7.30 P.M., when Mr. L. E. C. Norbury, will takethe chair. Tickets (29s. exclusive of drinks) can be obtainedfrom the hon. secretaries, G. A. MacGregor, R.A.P., and C. t.Savage, R.A.S., St. Thomas’s Hospital, S.E.l.

Illuminating Engineering SocietyOn Jan. 28, Prof. E. D. Adrian, o.M., P.R.S., will deliver u..-

Trotter-Paterson lecture to this society. He will speak on inNervous Reactions of the Retina. Dr. W. J. Wellwood

Ferguson will deliver the presidential address on Oct. 14.Both meetings will be held at the Royal Institution, AlbemarleStreet, London, W.1, at 6 r.M.

Newsholme LecturesProf. W. M. Frazer, medical officer of health for Liverpool,

is to deliver these lectures at the University of London in 1954.

Mr. A. S. Parkes, D.sc., F.R.S., head of the division of experimentalbiology of the National Institute for Medical Research, 3fill Hill,London, leaves on Sept. 17 for a lecture tour in Latin America,which has been arranged by the British Council.The British Standards Institution has issued a draft British

Standard for clinical maximum thermometers (B.s. CO[LBC] 3325,comments on which should be sent before Oct. 9 to the institution,24, Victoria Street, London, S.W.I.The Cambridge Instrument Company Ltd. are issuing to delegates

at the European Congress of Cardiology a monograph on theDevelopment of the Eleetrocardiograph by Mr. S. L. Barron, M,R.I..to which Sir Alan Drury, F.R.S., has contributed a foreword, touteadditional copies are available, and will be sent, without charge, todoctors who apply to the company, 13, Grosvenor Place, LondM!S.W.1.

Births, Marriages, and Deaths

BIRTHS

ATKINSON.-On Sept. 1, at Bromley, Kent, to Mollie (née Morrisioe.wife of Mr. W. J. Atkinson, M.D., F.R.C.S.-a daughter.

CLARKE.-On Aug. 29, at the Purey Crust Nursing Home, York.to Catherine (née Waugh), wife of Mr. P. R. R. Clarke, F.R.C.S.- a son.

FELIX-DAVIES.-On Aug. 29, in London, to Joan (née Kellett. wifeof Dr. D. Felix-Davies-a son.

HICKS.-On Sept. 3, at Edgware General Hospital, Edgware, toMarie, wife of Dr. Frederick N. Hicks-a daughter.

HIGHTON.-On Aug. 25, to Dr. Roberta Highton (nee Baker). wifeof Dr. Thomas C. Highton, si.tt.c.P., of Rotorua, New Zealand- a son.

LOTHIAN.-On Aug. 31, at Shoreham, Kent, to Joan (nee Hamlyn,wife of Dr. William Lothian-a son.

LUCAS.-On Aug. 25, at Princess Elizabeth Hospital, Nairobi.Kenya, to Dr. Shelagh Lucas (nee Fair), wife of Mr. J. M. S.Lucas, M.R.c.v.s., Box 2141, Nairobi-a daughter.

MUNRO.-On Sept. 6, at Crayford, Kent, to Dr. Olive Munro, wife ofDr. Ian Munro-a daughter

ROBERTSON.-On Sept. 4, to Helen (nee Preston), wife of Dr. JamesRobertson, 66, Gloucester Gardens, W.2-a son.

TASKER.-On July 25, at Northampton, to Anita, wife uf t"J. R. Tasker-a son.

WOHL.-On Aug. 31, at the London Clinic, to Hilda (nee Hoffman.wife of Dr. M. Wohl-a daughter.

MARRIAGESDEVITT-BROWNLEE.-On Sept. 6, at Pinner, Herbert P.-S. Devill.

M.R.C.S., to Carol Brownlee.

DEATHSANDREWS.-On sept. 2, at Gorse, Blatchington, Seaford. HM!?

Arthur Andrews, M.R.C.S., formerly of Tonbridge, aged Su-INNES.-On Aug. 24, at Grantown-on-Spey. Inverness-shire.

Riddell Innes, M.B. Edin., formerly of the Christian MedicaCollege, Vellore, S. India, and of Brisbane. Australia.

McKIBBIN.-On Sept. 5, at his home, Frederick McKibbin. O.B.IM.B. Belf., colonel, late R.A.M.C.

POLLARD.-On Sept. 3, at Pound Hill, Framfield, Sidney Pollard, M.D. Camb., F.R.C.S.

SMALL-On Aug. 25. at his residence, Kinghurst, Stoke GabrielDevon, Robert Small, M.R.C.S., D.P.H., D.T.M., formerly M.O.H.Mombasa.

WARDROP.-On Aug. 30, at his home, 45, Northumberland R and.

Leamington Spa, John Glen Wardrop, M.D. Lond., aged 61.