1018

the implant and the external coils a generator (see accompany-ing figure) can supply this power requirement for a total timeof at least fifteen hours, representing about 300 contractionperiods of three minutes; if used to contract the urinary oranal sphincters continuously, it has a battery life of aboutforty days. The total weight of the external parts is ten

fnitirf":

D. Q. FULLER.Pye Laboratories Limited,

Cambridge.

SHOWER-BATHS AND THE CONTROL OF

HOSPITAL INFECTION

SIR,-Dr. Bowie and his colleagues (April 24) write:" This observation on bacterial dispersion is really an

extension of the finding, in contact infection, that hand-washingresults in a heavier growth of organisms when fingerprintcultures are taken." ’ 1

I have already dealt with this problem.2 3 If washing thehands with toilet soap and warm water (social cleanliness)followed by drying on a sterile towel is to produce asepsisit must be followed by soaking the fingers in a mixture of apint of absolute alcohol (ethyl or methyl) and an ounce oftincture of iodine (B.P.) for one minute, after which the fingersshould be allowed to dry in air. Sterile gloves can then bedonned. The gloved hands can be washed and dried, usinga dilute disinfectant for the washing, very many times. Suchtreatment for ungloved hands would be destructive; but

gloved hands can be washed and dried and soaked with

impunity-and with complete freedom from " bacterialdispersion ".

FRANK MARSH.Epping, Essex.

FIBRINOLYSIS IN PULMONARY VASCULAR

DISEASE

SIR,-We read with interest the article by Dr. Ellisonand Dr. Brown (April 10).We have found that during a febrile disease, and for weeks to

months afterwards, stimulation of the fibrinolytic potential by’Complamin’ (a nicotinic acid derivative) has no effect whenthe euglobulin-clot-lysis time is used as a measure of the

fibrinolysis. It is only long after a febrile disease that com-plamin causes an obvious reduction of the euglobulin-clot-lysistime. We have also observed this in patients with thrombo-embolic diseases.

It would be very interesting to know if the 9 patientswith pulmonary infarction were followed up for a longerperiod and if the diminished fibrinolytic activity becamenormal again a few months later.

R. N. E. VAN WALREEG. J. H. DEN OTTOLANDER.

Medical Department B,Ziekenhuis Dijkzigt,

Rotterdam, 2,The Netherlands.

THE STATE OF MIND IN MURDER

SIR,-Dr. Neustatter (April 17) contends that, if therewere discretion in sentencing, there would be no need fora plea of diminished responsibility. This does not

necessarily follow. He refers to the proper role of the

psychiatrist as that of advising the court on the best meansof disposal. But will not this advice be based, in part, onan assessment of the prisoner’s degree of responsibility ?If not, on what will this advice be based ?

Again, the differentiation between " responsibility "

and " culpability " may not be as easy as Dr. Neustatterimplies. May there not be some degree of overlap in theconnotation of these terms ?

CHARLES M. Ross.Hollymoor Hospital,Birmingham, 31.

1. Gale, D., Broderick, E. G., Lamb, B. J., Topper, R Ann. Surg. 1962,155, 107

2 Marsh, F. Brit. med. J 1960, i, 18083 Marsh, F Lancet, 1960, ii, 1403

Obituary

Mr. LENNOX BROSTER

V. P. writes:" No-one who knew Brockie ever thought of him other

than as a friend, and a great friend too. As a frequent col-league examiner both at the court of the Royal College ofSurgeons, and in the final examination in surgery at Cam-

bridge University, I had the greatest pleasure in this associa-tion. Justice from Broster went without saying. Kindlinessand consideration for the examinee were equal attributes.Fortunate was the candidate directed to Broster in his final.

Academically, Oxford was naturally Brockie’s first love, butCambridge and his numerous friends there came a closesecond. After each major contest between the two universities,if Cambridge won I never failed to receive from him a post-card ’ Well played Cambridge ’, and once after a rather pro-longed series of Oxford successes at rugger our cards crossed-mine with congratulations and his with ’ Well playedCambridge. ’roo many South Africans in the Oxford side.’Kindliness and competence might well be his epitaph."

Diary of the Week

MAY ’:J TO 1:J

Monday, 10thPOSTGRADUATE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF LONDON, Ducane Road, W.12

4 P.M. Prof. J. G. Scadding: Lung Disease, associated with Eosinophilia.WRIGHT-FLEMING INSTITUTE OF ,BtrCROBIOLOGY, St. Mary’s Hospital Medical

School, W.25 P.M. Dr. N. A. Mitchison: Immunological Paralysis. (Almroth Wright

lecture.)INSTITUTE OF DISEASES OF THE CHEST, Brompton Hospital, S.W.3

6.15 P.M. Dr. J. G. Lewis: Honeycomb Lungs associated with SystemicDisease.

Tuesday, 11thP(l,rGRADt,A Am MhDICAL SCHOOL ui LoB’)ON

5 p ,i- AlIaeBthfB1G. Dr. C. ’I’. I7ollery: Antlhvpet(-n,1%,c’l’licrap’.INSTITUTE OF DERMATOLOGY, St. John’s Hospital tor Diseases of th, Skin,

Lisle Street, W.C.24.30 P.M. Dr. R. W. Riddell: Histological Reactions in Fungal Infections

COLLEGE OF PATHOLOGISTS, 2, Queen Anne Street, W.15.30 P.M. Prof. C. L. Oakley: Quest for Immortality. (Roy Cameron

lecture.)ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL MEDICAL SCHOOL, W.2

5 P.M. Mr. J. A. Stallworthy: Changing Views on Uterine Cancer.(Sandoz Foundation lecture.)

5.15 P.M. (General Infirmary at Leeds.) Prof. Henry Miller: Pain inthe Face.

Wednesday, 12thPOSTGRADUATE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF LONDON

2 P.M. Dr. Herbert Spencer: Pulmonary Tumours.INSTITUTE OF DISEASES OF THE CHEST

5 P.M. Dr. M. E. H. Turner-Warwick: Asthma Controversy.ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, Gray’s Inn Road, W.C.1

5.15 P.M. Dr. Earle M. Chapman (Boston): Choices of Therapy 1D

Thyroid Disease.MANCHESTER MEDICAL SOCIETY

5 PM. (Medical School.) Pathology. Dr. J. Chapman: Electron Micro-scopy in Biology and Medicine.

Thursday, 13theROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, W.C.2

5 P.M. Prof. P. B. Medawar: Experiments on Corneal Transplantation.(Pocklington lecture.)

POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF LONDON4 P.M. Dr. A. M. Dawson: Carbohydrate Absorption.

INSTITUTE OF DERMATOLOGY4.30 P.M. Dr. K. V. Sanderson: Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis.

ALFRED ADLER MEDICAL SOCIETY8 P.M. (11, Chandos Street, W’.1.) Dr. 1. Herzberg: Role-playing in

Therapeutic Groups.ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY Or MEDICAL EDt’CATION

11 P.M (B.B.C.-2 Nlerimua ]’odI1YJ: Dr Chri,tuph<:1 Biiotli: .B1alabsorp-tion. Dr. David B’V1l1iams: Dermatology.

UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS5 P.M. (Physiology Department, Queen’s College, Dundee.) Prof

Robert Roaf: Growth Disorders of the Spine.UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN

4.30 P.M. ,Medical Hulldmgs, Foresterhill. Dr. John Marshall: CurrentConcepts in Management of Cerebrovascular Disease.

Fridav, 14thPOSfGRADUATE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF LONDON

10 A.M Mr. T. J. Butler: Enects of Gastrectomy on Pancreatic FunctionROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF EDINBURGH, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, 8

3 30 r M Mr William Mich Thyroidectomy and the Parathyroids