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405 the course of an operation on a patient suffering from influenza ; it was frequently seen during the influenza epidemic among the troops in France in 1918. I have been surprised to find how long ago this condition was recognised ; and perhaps the reference I have found is not by any means the earliest recorded. Lieutaud in his Historia Anatomico Medica (Vol. II., p. 329, Paris, 1767) quotes the case of a man, aged 30, who was seized with epidemic fever and died on the eighth day. Both recti abdominis were found ruptured. The appearances resembled those of rupture of the sterno-mastoid muscle seen in death by judicial haDcmo- Tam. Sir. vrmrs faithfullv. Clifton, Bristol, Feb. 10th, 1922. J. A. NIXON. GERMAN X RAY APPARATUS. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-A brief study of the contributions which have recently appeared in your pages discloses the unpleasant fact that the medical profession are already patronising German ’manufacturers by purchasing X ray and electro-medical apparatus of German origin, in particular equipments for deep therapy treatment. As equally good, if not superior, apparatus is manu- factured in this country, there is no excuse for purchasing these appliances from our late enemies. There are nearly 2,000,000 unemployed in this country, and it is therefore everyone’s duty to assist in stimu- 1ating home industries rather than those of Germany ; we wonder whether those who place their orders abroad appreciate the inevitable result of their action. If adequate support is not forthcoming for the British manufacturer, he obviously cannot continue, and will gradually cease, to construct British X ray and electro-medical apparatus, and seek the easier and possibly more remunerative path of representing .a foreign house and so satisfy the demands of the English medical profession. I am. Sir. vours faithfullv. A MANUFACTURER OF BRITISH APPARATUS. London, Feb. 14th, 1922. Parliamentary Intelligence. HOUSE OF COMMONS. TUESDAY, FEB. 14TH. Removal of the Sheli7eerd’s B1’8h Orthopaedie Hospital. Sir MATTHEW V’iLSOV asked the Minister of Pensions whether the hospital at Shepherd’s Bush, which has been specially equipped for orthopaedic surgical treatment, was to be transferred to the South African Hutment Hospital at Richmond ; and, if so, why.-Mr. MACPHERSON replied : The answer is in the affirmative. I received urgent represen- tations from the guardians of the parish of Hammersmith to the effect that the administration of relief in the parish was seriously hampered by my continued occupation of this - institution, which was formerly the workhouse and infirmary of the parish, and the guardians were only willing to assent to an extension of the tenancy of the building by my depart- ment in return for a very greatly increased rental, for which, dn my opinion, there was no justification. The opportunity having presented itself of acquiring equally suitable premises at the Richmond Hill Hospital from the Army Council free of rent, I found it possible to vacate the institution at Shepherd’s Bush, and in all the circumstances I deemed it advisable to do so. In answer to a later question, Mr. MACPHERSON stated that while the medical staff would naturally prefer to remain in - a building associated with so unique a standard of surgical efficiency, the question of removal did not resolve itself into .a purely medical one. He had no doubt that the trans- ference of the staff and the equipment to Richmond would be in no way detrimental to the interests of the patients. He understood that the estimate of the cost of removal and adaptation was not likely to exceed one half year’s rent that would have to be paid at Shepherd’s Bush. There was no lease of the Richmond Park Hospital, but a two years tenancy, rent free, was offered. [In reply to a further question, Major TRYON stated that the equipment, provided at a cost of £16,000 by the Red Cross, would be moved from the present institution and .installed elsewhere for the continued treatment of pensioners. ] Child Adoption. Mr. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN asked the Secretary for the Home Department whether he had considered the recom- mendations of the Departmental Committee on Child Adop- tion, presided over by Sir Alfred Hopkinson, K.C. ; and whether he proposed to introduce any legislation upon the subject in the course of the present session.-Mr. SHORTT replied : I hope a Bill may be introduced to give effect to the Committee’s recommendation as to the legitimation of children by the subsequent marriage of their parents ; but there appear to be very great difficulties in the way of carrying out the proposal for the legalisation of adoption. Lunatic Asylum Administration. Mr. ALFRED SHORT asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that the committee appointed to consider the administration of the lunatic asylums was predominantly representative of medical superintendents, the inefficiency of whose administration was the question to be inquired into, he would favourably consider strengthening the committee by the addition of representatives of the general public and of the Asylum Workers’ Union.-Sir A. MOND replied : The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The committee in question is appointed to consider charges made by Dr. Lomax and not the general question of asylum administra- tion. Neither of the medical members of the committee has ever been associated with an asylum provided by a local authority. It would merely prolong the inquiry to add persons with no previous experience of asylum administration, and as regards the Asylum Workers’ Union, while I regret their refusal to give evidence, I am unable to regard this as a reason for appointing to the committee a representative of a class directly incriminated by Dr. Lomax’s charges. Food and Milk for Evpectant Mothers. Lieut.-Col. ASSHETON POWNALL asked the Minister of Health whether he had yet come to a decision as to the policy to be pursued during the next financial year with reference to the supply by local authorities of food and milk to expectant and nursing mothers and young children, which was the subject of Circular 267 issued by his department in December last.-Sir A. MOND replied: The circular in question was in part the outcome of my desire to carry on the policy adopted by my predecessor of reducing the expenditure on the supply of milk to expectant and nursing mothers and young children which he found to be excessive. The circular also embodied medical advice as to the value of supplying meals instead of milk, which I received from my medical advisers and from outside persons of great authority. I have now received replies from most of the local authorities which are generally to the effect that they prefer to continue the supply of milk in view of the difficulty of arranging for the general supply of meals. I therefore propose to continue during the next financial year the arrangements at present in force for the supply of milk under proper safe- guards against abuse, allowing local authorities to substitute meals for milk where they desire and are able to do so. Trained Nurses and Unemployment. Major BOYD-CARPENTER asked the Minister of Labour how many fully trained nurses for the sick, holding a three years’ certificate of training, had registered at a labour exchange for unemployment benefit.-Dr. MACNAMARA replied : On Jan. 10th there were 701 women nurses on the Live Register as unemployed, but without inquiry at every exchange concerned it is not possible to say whether they held a three years’ certificate or whether they were claiming benefit. Nurses and Hospitals and Unemployment Contributions. Colonel BURN asked the Minister of Labour if he would consider the advisability of relieving hospitals and the nursing staff from the application of the unemployment insurance contribution which entailed a considerable financial burden on hospitals, and prevented nurses from giving their services by reason of the large proportion of wages which had to be paid in respect of that tax. Major BOYD-CARPENTER asked the Minister of Labour if nurses employed in private nursing homes or associations were compelled to contribute to insurance funds and were not eligible for unemployed benefit when waiting for a case.- Dr. MACNAMARA replied : Nurses employed in hospitals or in private nursing homes or associations are liable to pay contributions under the Unemployment Insurance Acts, and I have no power to exclude them from the scope of insurance. The question whether benefit would be payable in any particular case would depend on the facts of that case, and would fall to be decided by the insurance officer with a right of appeal to the Court of Referees and the Umpire. Life Pensioners and Medical Boards. Mr. HOGGE asked the Minister of Pensions why it was possible for the Ministry to call a pensioner awarded a life pension before an examining board at any time, while the
