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Notes and News

BIRTH AND SURVIVAL

LAST year, for England and Wales, a provisional birth-rate of 18’O-the highest since 1925-was recorded.1 Live-births reached 745,318, the highest total since 1923, exceeding’the 1943 rate by 1.5. The effective reproduction-rate for1944 has been provisionally assessed at 99 %-within 1% offull replacement standard, a figure not reached since 1922.The lowest figure was in 1941, when the rate fell to 76%.In the last quarter of 1944 the infant-mortality rate was

the lowest ever recorded-46 per 1000 related live-births—-andthe stillbirth figure of 28 per 1000 total births also made anew low record. The death-rate of 11-9 per 1000 popula,tionwas 0-2 below that of 1943 but 0-3 above that of 1942. Themarriage-rate in 1943 was the lowest since 1926 ; last yearit rose to 14-6 per 1000 population, which represents 6632more marriages than in the previous year.’ Live birthsexceeded total deaths by 253,040, with an increase of 71,239over the previous year’s figure.The live-birth rate during the December quarter of 1944

was 17-1 per 1000, as compared with 15-4 in the correspondingquarter of 1943. There were 1057 boys born for every 1000girls.’ The stillbirth rate was the same as for the year as awhole (28 per 1000 total births) and the infant-mortalitv ratea little lower (44 per 1000 related births). The death-ratewas 11-8, as compared with 14-6 in the corresponding quarterof 1943.

BIRTH-RATES IN TWO WARS

Year.. 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919Rate.. 23-8 21’8 21-0- 17-8 17-7 18-5

ye- .. 1939 ’1940 1941 1942 1943 1944Rate 14-9 14-6 14-2 15-8 16-5 18-0

The trend of the birth-rate in the two European wars isshown in the table. After the 1914-18 war the rate rose from18-5 in 1919 to 25-5 in 1920, when it began to fall to the lowrate of 1939. ,

WITH THE RED CROSS IN CHINAINFORMATION on Red Cross work in China during these war

years has been far too scanty, and it was a happy thought toissue as a pamphlet 2 a collection of the racy letters of Dr.Robert McClure, a young Canadian medical missionary who,

since 1938, has been working for the International Red Crossand with the Friends Ambulance Unit. He is now fielddirector of the Red Cross in China, with supervision of the staffand equipment of fourteen of their hospitals. Born in China,and possessing a deep and sympathetic understanding of theChinese people, he draws a vivid picture of the difficultiesunder which the work has had to be carried out, the cheerfulendurance and splendid morale of the people. We get glimpsesof extraordinary journeys through Burma, along the BurmaRoad, through Indo-China and the remote provinces in theSouth-West ; of ambulances fitted to burn coal or charcoal,in default of petrol ; of mobile surgical teams and X-ray unitsfollowing the troops into Burma ; of the constant fightagainst sepsis and disease and neglect ; and of the immense

need for surgical dressings, drugs, and instruments from thiscountry. Wounded Chinese soldiers have been warm intheir appreciation of what has been done for them, and per-haps the choicest story of all is that of the soldier who stoppedDr. McClure in the streets of Kunming and nearly embracedhim, exclaiming, with a beaming smile, that " One of youforeign devils picked me up off a battlefield in Burma !

"

A FRESH ASSAULT ON LEPROSYiNo disease-riot even cancer-has such an agelong associa-

tion with misery and despair as leprosy. This year Belra-the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association-reaches itstwenty-first anniversary, and to mark the occasion has openeda 210,000 fund in aid of a campaign to rid our colonies of thedisease. The fund was launched at the Mansion House onApril 2fr, the King being the first contributor. There are,estimated to be about 2,000,000 lepers in the Empire ; andspread of the disease is associated, as Sir Alfred Beit remindedthe meeting, with bad living conditions. He suggested thatwe can do much to prevent it by improving standards ofliving in the affected regions. Sir Bernard Bourdillon, former

1. Registrar General’s Summary of Vital Statistics for 1944.2. The Red Cross at Work in China. Published by the United Aid

to China Fund, 57 New Bond Street, London, W1. 1s.

Governor of Nigeria, pointed out that the fund’will be able tosponsor research into better methods of treatment. "

In an account of the Island ofChacachacare, the leper 6o]oilyof frinidad and British Guiana, Dr. Ernest Muir, medicalsecretary of Belra, drew a remarkable contrast between theeffects to be expected of compulsory treatment and treatmentsought voluntarily. According to the Leprosy Ordinance ofTrinidad, all infectious lepers are interned on the island-alovely spot, but to them a prison. Dr. Muir had come toChacachacare from work in India and Africa, where leperscrowd the hospitals, seeking treatment only fearful lest bysome misconduct they should forfeit their opportunity tosome more cooperative patient. But the interned patients ofTrinidad, he found, have the resentment of those whose fatehas been taken out of their hands. The Government, theyargue, has taken away their liberty : let the Government curethem, then. Nothing could be worse for their health ; as Dr.Muir said, " if the patient is to benefit from treatment or havea chance of recovery, he must have a contented, cheerful, andactive mind and be engaged in carefully regulated physicaloccupation." He spoke of the slow response to his teachingthat they were giving up their liberty to save the next genera-tion from infection; and of the great change in mood and spiritwhich followed the successful trial of new methods oftreatment. ,

Royal College of Physicians of London

At a meeting of the college held on April 26 with LordMoRAN, the President, in the chair, the following were electedto the fellowship : Prof. S. P. BEDSON, FRS, London; Major-General S. R. BuRSTON, Melbourne; Sir ERNEST ROCKCARLING, London ; Brigadier-General P. R. HAWLEY, US ;C. H. WHITTLE, Cambridge ; S. H. COOKSON, Bournemouth ;J. -A. BIRRELL, -Bristol; W. A. ROBB, Exeter;’ GEOBCtEFLETCHER, Manchester; C. S. HALLPIKE, London; MAURICEMITMAN, Dartford; ARTHUR BURROWS, London; R. G.CocHRA-N-E, Madras ; Brigadier G. W. BAMBER, London;Lieut.-Colonel EwEN DOWNIE, Melbourne ; A. MARGARET C.MACPHERSON, London ; A. G. OGILVm, Newcastle-on-Tyne ;PHILIP ELLMAN, London ; C. A. BIRCH, London ; BENJAMINBARLING, London ; ELIOT SLATER, Oxford ; Lieut.-ColonelT. E. GUMPERT, Sheffield ; Lieut.-Colonel W. C. SMALLWOOD,Birmingham ; H. C. TROWELL, Uganda ; C. H. ROGERSON,Stoke-on-Trent; Lieut.-Colonel STANLEY ALSTEAD, Glasgow ;Lieut.-Colonel P. R. EVANS, London ; L. J. DAVIS, Edinburgh ;MAHMOUD ERFAN, Cairo ; W. H. KAUNTZE, London ; Lieut.-Colonel W. R. M. DREW, London ; S. A. HENRY, London.Dr. L. G. Parsons and Dr. Donald Paterson were appointed

representatives at the conference of the National Associationof Maternity and Child Welfare Centres. Lord Moran waselected representative on the governing body of the BritishPostgraduate Medical School and Sir Arthur Ha,ll on theboard of governors of Sheffield University. Dr. G. E. S. Wardwas appointed an external examiner in medicine for the

fellowship examination of the Faculty of Radiologists.The following, having satisfied the censors’ board, were

, admitted to the membership :T. J. Agius-Ferrante, MD MALTA, Patience E. Barclay, MB LOND.,

0. W. Chapman, MB. NZ. J. D. Craig, MB Loxr., night-lieutenant BAFVR,Joyce _0B. Davies: lBIB LOND., captain RAMP, H. J. W. Fisher, MB LOND.,Gerald Garmany, MB MANC. surgeon lleut.-comna.nder RNVR,C. C. Houghton, MB BIR1B[’, A. H. ],saa son, MB DUBL., A. E. Jones,MB LON])., captain RAMC, H. B. Kelly, M]3 I.OND., Monica K.McAllen, ars LOND., Oscar Magidson, MD LEEDS, G. R. B. Newns,M]3 BIRM., K. N. V. Palmer, MB OAMB., D.’ A. Rope Pond, MB CAMB.,Cynthia M. Redhead, MB DURH., R. V. Stone, MB CAMB., J. M.Stowers, MB OAMB., R. M. Todd, MB CAMB.

Licences to practise were conferred upon the following 139candidates (110 men and 29 women) who have passed thefinal examination of the Conjoint Board :

E. M. Allen, C. F. Allfrey, E. A’fJ. Alment, W. M. Anderson,E. T. Anderton, R.. J. Aspinal, D.’J. Atherton, C. M. Attwood,D. A. Bailey, R. W. Barr-Brown, H. F. M. Bassett, A. J. T. Bate-son, A. M. H. Bennett, J. P. M. Bensted, Aleck Bernstein, Diana M.Beyts, Mark Binnie, G. L. Bourne, C. W. Bowen, J. H. Boydcll,Margaret Bywaters, F. E. V. Cant, Mary N. A. Carlile,T3. F. Chap-man; Irene M. S. Chappel, H. C. Churchill-D avidson, I. F. J.Churchill-Davidson, Iris B. F. Collirs(ii, J. S. Coymay, J. N. C. Ccoke,Sydney Copp, Vera M. Dalley, H. T. Davenport, D. G. Davidson,D. F. Davies, J. A. Dew, A. M. Dorey, E. L. Dutta, J. C. Edwards,F. T. Falkner, Eve G. Field, S. G. A. Forsyth, Salomon Galewski,G. G. Garlick, Basil Geoghegan, Brychan George, W. P. D. Green,Prigit M. Griffiths, Ruth A. Hacs, A. E. Hall, Norman Harrison,R. A. C. Hart, Joan Haythorne, N. M. 0 Hewett, Ruth Jackson,D. D. E. Jewitt, P. H. A. Jonason, C. J. M. T. Jones, E. R. Joncs,R. S. Jones, M. C. Joseph, C. R. Kirkpatrick, Maurice Kirwan, M. R.Kohli, Jean V. Lang, R. M. Laslett. Pamela Laws, A. 0. Laymond,Constance G. Lee, P. G. Leese. J. A. Litchfield, A. H. M. Littlcwcod,Jessie B. Maraulay, H. B. Maliphant, I. G. Manning, P. M. C.Mark, Margaret M. Mason, G. G. Mathew, J. C. Matthews, J. B.

582

Metcalfe, J. N. Micklem, Mary H. Moller, R. E. Moore, J. A. B.Mounsey, Margaret C. Myddelton, R. F. Naunton, Moragh J.Noakes, Clifford Ormston, Jannette D. A. Owen, T. E. Owen,. Frances 1. Panton, Cynthia M. Parrott, R. F. Payne, Noel J.Pease, Thelma M. Phelps, B. L. C. Phillips, J. R. H. Pinkerton,J. L. Pring, C. W. A. Pullan, D. A. Pyke, R. J. Rabett, Roy Rantlell,Derek Richter, E. G. G. Roberts, R. L. B. Roberts, D. J. Rudman,P. 1. Rutherford, A. H. B. Rydon, Betty J. Schofield, J. C. Seymour,D. S. Sharpe, Joan M. Sheehan, G. W. Shepherd, N. I. A. Shohet,Betty E. Shortland, P. H. S. Silver, R. B. Sloane, John Stevenson,H. J. C. Swan, Margaret M.’Sweeney, M. T. Sweetnam, J. C. Talbot,B. 0. T. Taylor, W. D. G. Tellam, J. M. Thomas, Mary E. Upsdell,D. F. van Zwanenberg, C. C. Vidot, 0. L. Wade, R. V. Walley,E. M. Watts, William Waugh, N. T. Welford, P. W. Wells, J. D.Whitehouse, Michael Wigram, D. J. K. Wilkie, G. V. S. Wright,and F. J. Yeardsley. ’

Diplomas in ophthalmic medicine and-surgery and in medi-cal radiology were granted to the candidates named in thereport of the meeting of the Royal College of Surgeons in ourissue of March 24 (p. 389) and diplomas in child health tothose named in our issue of April 21 (p. 518). A diploma inmedical radiotherapy was also granted to L. M. Shorvon,and in medical radiodiagnosis to J. A. Ireland.

University of Cambridge - -

On April 27 the degrees of MB, B Chir, were conferredby proxy on P. B. S. Cooper, J. J. Fleminger, R. J. Harrison,and M. B. Mcllroy. f

,

Chadwick LectureOn Tuesday, May 8, at 2.20 PM, at 26, Portland Place,

London, WI, Mr. Eardley Holland will deliver a Chadwicklecture on the importance of a maternity service in the lifeof the nation.

Royal Society of MedicineThe section of psychiatry will meet on Tuesday, May 8, at 5

PM, when Mr. G. D. Greville, D sc, and Dr. Derek Richter willopen a discussion on biochemistry and psychiatry. Mr. J. H.Quastel, FRS, will also speak.

Lecture for Expectant MothersThe National Birthday’ Trust Fund has prepared an

illustrated lecture The Expectant Mother for use in teachingmothers at antenatal clinics at hospitals. The new Synchro-phone’ process has been used.

Freeman of CroydonOn April 28 Major-General Sir Ernest Cowell was presented

with the freedom of Croydon. Sir Ernest has lived in theborough for many years and is surgeon to Croydon GeneralHospital.

Royal Medico-Psychological AssociationAt a meeting of the child psychiatry subcommittee to be

held at the City Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham,on Wednesday, May 30, at 11 AM, Dr. Edward Stern will opena discussion on psychoses in children. The quarterly meetingof the association will begin the following day at 10.15 AMwhen Dr. Alfred Meyer will read a paper on neuropathologicalproblems arising from leucotomy, and Dr. F. A. Pickworthon the physiology and pathogenesis of amnesia. At 2.15 PMLieut.-Colonel A. A. W. Petrie, the president, will deliver hisvaledictory address on the reduction of the distinctions drawnbetween mental ill health and physical ill health.

Value of Early Diagnosis to Industry -

A course on this topic will be held on Saturday and Sunday,May 12 and 13, at the London School of Hygiene, KeppelStreet, WC1. On Saturday, at 2 PM, Dr. A. J. Amor, chiefmedical officer to the Ministry of Supply, will speak on theclinical approach to industrial medicine, and at 3.30 PM,Mr. R. F. Milton, FRIO, head chemist to the department forresearch in industrial medicine, London Hospital, on the earlyinvestigation of the industrial environment.On Sunday, at 10.30 AM, Dr. Donald Hunter, director of

the department, will discuss the early diagnosis of industrialdiseases ; at 11.45 AM, Prof. Ida Mann, director of theNuffiekd Laboratory of Ophthalmology at Oxford, the earlydiagnosis of diseases and injuries of the eye; and at 2.15 rM,Lieut.-Colonel G. R. Hargreaves, assistant director of ArmyPsychiatry, personnel selection and its relationship to mentalhealth. The fee of one guinea for the course should be sent tothe secretary of the School not later than Monday, May 7.

The fact that goods made of raw materials in short supply owingto war conditions are advertised in this paper should not be takenas an indication that they are necessarily available for export.

INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN ENGLAND AND WALESWEEK ENDED APRIL 21

VocoMS.—The following cases of infectiousdisease were notified during the week : smallpox, 0 ;scarlet fever, 1356 ; whooping-cough, 1212 ; diphtheria,565 ; paratyphoid, 3 ; typhoid, 5 ; measles (excludingrubella), 15,901 ; pneumonia (primary or influenzal),573 ; puerperal pyrexia, 167 ; cerebrospinal fever, 73 ;poliomyelitis, 8 ; polio-encephalitis, 1 ; encephalitislethargica, 3 ; dysentery, 523 ; ophthalmia neonatorum,68. No case of cholera, plague, or typhus fever wasnotified during the week. ,

The number of service and civilian sick in the Infectious Hospitalsof the London County Council on April 18 was 1178. During theprevious week the following cases were admitted : scarlet fever, 33 ;’diphtheria, 24 ; measles, 177 ; whooping-cough, 14.

Deaths.-In 126 great towns there were no deathsfrom enteric fever, 3 (0) from scarlet fever, 13 (2) frommeasles, 9 (0) from whooping-cough, 7 (1) from diphtheria, 47 (1) from diarrhoea and enteritis under twoyears, and 11 (1) from influenza. The figures in paren-theses are those for London itself.

The number of stillbirths notified during the week was199 (corresponding to a rate of 30 per thousand totalbirths), including 14 in London. _

AppointmentsBROwN, A. R., M]3 GLASG.: temp. hon. physiotherapeutist, depart-

ment of physical medicine and rehabilitation, HampsteadGeneral and North-West London Hospital.

LAIDLAW, ERIC, MB CAMB.: RSO, Brompton Hospital, London.MACOARTHY, H., MRCP, FRCS : RSO, Royal Victoria Infirmary,

Newcastle-on-Tyne. ’

STEEN, PHILIP, MD BELF. : RSO, Brompton Hospital, London.SUTHERLAND, V. L., lkf]3 ABERD. : asst.11Z0, Kingston Public Hospital,

Jamaica.THOMAS, J. G. TREHARNE, MC, MA CAMB., MRCS, DPlI1: medical

superintendent, Cambridgeshire Mental Hospital, Fulbourn.TWEEDIE, M. C. K., Msc, A INST P : physicist at the radiothera-

peutic centre, Addeilbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.

Births, Marriages, and DeathsBIRTHS

BARTON.—On April 26, the wife of Dr. J. D. M. Barton, of Wey-bridge-a daughter.

GARIBIA.—On April 22, the wife of Dr. Stephen Garibian-twinsons.

HARMS.—On April 16, at Chailey, the wife of Dr. E. E. Harris-a son.

’

HowARD-JoNEs.-On April 22, in London, the wife of Dr. N.Howard-Jones-a son. ’

JAMEs.-On April 21, in London, the wife of Captain Ronald James,RAMC—a daughter.

JAPHA.—On April 21, in London, the wife of Dr. E. M. Japha-adaughter.

KIDD.—On April 17, at Hexham, Northumberland, the wife ofSurgeon Lieutenant John Kidd, RNVR—a daughter.

MANDEL.-On April 27, in London, the wife of Dr. Sydney Mandel-a son. .

OLLERENSHAW.—On April 22, at Esher, the wife of Dr. GeraldOllerenshaw-a son.

PALLOT.—On April 19, at Woking, the wife of Surgeon LieutenantJ. M. Pallot, RNVR—a son.

STEED.-On April 23, at Broadstairs, the wife of Squadron-LeaderG. R. Steed, MRCP—twin sons.

WELFORD.-On April 21, at Saxmundham, Suffolk, the wife ofDr. C. R. B. Welford-a daughter.

WILLIAMS.—On April 21, at Cardiff, the wife of Captain H. B.. Lloyd Williams, RAMC—a daughter.

MARRIAGES ,

CROMAR—WATT.—On April 14, at Jhansi, India, W. N. Cromar,captain, the Scinde Horse, to Doreen Margaret Watt, MB.

MILES—KELLY.—On April 21, at Naples, Basil Elystan Miles, cap’tain, RAMC, to Sarah Kelly, QAiMNSB. NORMAN—DUNLOP.—On April 21, at Edinburgh, J. Edward

Norman, MB, to Mary Ann Ross Dunlop.SEARLE—ALBAN.—On April 23, at Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire,

Charles Searle, lieut.-colonel IMS, to Ruth Alban.

DEATHSLITTLE.—On April 24, Frank Ernest Little, Mpca, aged 85.PHILIP.—On April 26, at Epsom, Thomas Williams Phil;p, MB

ABERD., surgeon captain RN retd.PINHEY.—On April 23, Eustace Townley Pinhey, OBE, MB, CH M,

medical superintendent, St. Pancras Hospital, and formerlyof St. Clement’s Hospital.

WILLIAMS.—On April 26, at Stoke Newington, Philip GeorgeWilliams, FRCSE, aged 74.