lCCO M£AY 31, 1930] ETIOLOGY OF LESIONS AT THE HIP-JOINE. THE BRITIS.-___CO ___MAY I930__ _I MEDICAL JOURNAL

limlbs, aIs w-ll as b)oniy displacements anti deep)-Seatedtenderniess, the J()ssible colllitioiis always being borne illlii)..l. Tlhls physical exaiiniiiatioin should always be supple-menilted by x.-ray photography, wlhich it miav be necessary toret)eat at initervals; it is only since the adveiit of radio-gr-aplhy that aniy really exact klnowledge of the state ofaffairs lias been p)ossible.

Referenice to the head of the femur p)rompts imie to saya few wor-ds about its blood supply. The hiead receives avariable branLeli of the internial circunfilex, artery tlhroughlthe liganientunii teres, wihile the neck is supplied byInUlu(ieirous tiny twigs via time retinaculae ili the cal)sale- ofthe hip-joint froiii the digital anastomosis, which1 also seiidsa branichi direct to the base of the neck. Receitly somieGeriniianl anatomists -hlave tr'aced -out tIme course, of theserather feeble vessels in the bone itself, demionstratin.g thlatthey i nn reniarkably straiglht courses to forimiia netwoirk atthe epiphyseall hiuie. From this fact cali be explaiiied,perhaps, the clianges which occur so frequently in theyounIg when the epiphvsis is moved relatively to the shaftof the bon;e, as bv a fall. As the result of this inijur'y ther'eis thrombosis of the arterial. whorl at the epiphlisis; this isa possilble explanationi of the pseudo-coxalgia which cropsup fr oiim time to tiniie in hip-joints pr eviouisly the seat ofcongelnital dislocatioii which have been successfully reducedbut too -ioleiltly.

Epiplhyseal straini, when it develops in the hlip-joinits ofchildren followiing ani injury, constitutes a definite thleatof futur e tr ouble if not piroperly treate(d by rest anid sofortll, sinice cases occurri'inlg presumlnably wvitlhoiit inifectionmay end iii a tr-autimiatic coxa vara; sholuld a lhacillato-genous inifectioil be supl)eaqded )pseuido-coxalgia wvill mostcer'tainlv ocuIr. Fortuniately or' unfor-tumately foI' thisinfective tlheory of tlle cause of pseudo-coxalgia, miiost care-fuil cuilturi es hmave beeii maade in defin-ite cases of thle con-ditioni with onlly negative results, but this does not provethat the conditioni was, always such. Whlen cultuies lhavebelen Xsuccessfudl a 8'tal)y1lococCiis C7ltaels of low virulenicehas beeii obtaiiied, anld, 8umpposedly, a sul)purative epiphiys-itis wvould hiave supervened lhad the nilicr-o-or-ganIisni beeninroe virile. Wlheni it is considter-ed hoiw freqtueitly lhealthychildre(lne kinock themiselv-es aibout with no ill result thequestioin arises wihy onlv sonIct slhould suffer, esp)ecially- astIme ul)l)er epiphysis of tle femiiur is always stul)jected toa slheering strain. Of late the inipoirtamce of calciummetabolism and its irelatioml to infeetionis genierally hasattr.acted( mtucil attenition; this is of special imnlortamncewilems dealing ith bony coniditions. Phosp)horotros and(calciunm takemi by the mouitlh as foo(d can onlv be ineta-bolizedl in tlhe presencee of acoessory fod s1 )substanices-tlhevitaiminls A and D-balance beinig preserv-ed betweeni thesetwo elemiienits anid the excess beinig excr,eted. This is niotthe whllole storyN, in the light of Colfip)'s researches ilitothe functions of ttie paratlimyroid bodies, since lhe fouindthat, quite aplart fromii vitaminls, the iiormoical level of bloodcalciunii depended oni the presence of tIme horloiie of thesebo(lies in the circulationi.

Late rickets " is a conivenieint label to apply to thoseepih)liyseal changes in patiemits wlho are too okl for this(lisease in its generally accepted formll. Is it niot m1or01desirable to recast the whole story of calcium aimetaholisn,anid to presume, at any rate fom; tIme mloIlmelnt, that r'icketsis olie indicatioii of a genleral mietabolic(lysftlnctionll wh1ichiiiay lie miianiifest at aniy tille, at. aniy imate iii ihe early -carsof life? - We miay go furthel aiid comisidere a (coi(lii0onl suchas ur'ticarlia, whichl is by n1o miieanls inlfr'eClqiently preseiit incases of rickety amid adolescent coxa vara.*. Does niot thisstiggest the inmportance of -gemmeral meastures as wzell as localsplintinmg, etc., in the treatmilenit of tlhese bomie joinit lesions?

1in (lays gomne by cod-liver oil w-as tlle stanldby in all thesenutritionial diseases, but of latte the resulits liavre niot beenuniiiforlylls successful, the reason being shown to rest in itsvariable vitamini conitenit. Wlien cases of bonie disease aretreate(d by sumnlight, the ultr.a-violet liglht of which sVnlthle-sizes the vitamiin in the skini, remiarkable results have beenobtalimmed, cesplecially inl cond(itions suchl '1S l)5c. 1(lo- oxalg"ia,wVhich i.s often mlost difficult to (histimiguishi froml tubjercelami has1b1l;leemi treated ,similarly0.

Pvseu'lol-cox Igianl is essenltially an1 epjiphmXst'al dtisealse,aj)pearllimlg f-ir.t a1s a (heStrutctive l)l'oceS, qnlictly commtiSliuing

unitil a natural attempt at arrest bringos aboutihypertrol)plicg;rowthl of bolin, frequenitly very soft, witlh the result. thatthe top of the femurtll is mushroomiie(d alnd coxa, plana results.The Amnericans describe coxa' planla, du'e-to this cause, a;sresembling the buiffer of .i -.railroad car rather thaii amushrlloom, the top of wlichl is really too big in. piroportionto its stem to b)e an exact simile, Trmeatmncent in tlle earlystages must be expectant, witlh rest anid massage at definitvtimies; 1 iter (leformities mnay require adjustmient.

Menition of the femoral epip)livsis le'ads on to anothliercoii(lition in which it is affectediinamelv, certain tylpcsof coxa vara. It is imp)ossible ini a short paper to e iter"-into a full (liscuissioni of this disease, blut as a rule it isbilateral, and anigulationi occurs at one of three points-epiphys-seal, cervical, r1lbasal. As regards the ty-)es, tflR,-'nie fairly well definied, the most interesting, being tio.>infantile, or cervical, whliclh xi-ray evi(dence definitely inidi-cates as beiii, of developmental origin. So -far as cani b)eascertained, it appear s that a diaphyseal spur developswvicih lhas a separate centre of ossification betweeni tNeep)iphysis anid diaphysis proper, for-minig a trianguilar Ie(:le(lof bone (Elmslie). The cemiienting cells between the lporticisof bone are weakened auid give way, there being twolayers instead of the usual one, as a result of the stra iiiof the hodv weighlt. In the a(dolescent type there is no)(diaphyseal spill, and the slipping of thie epiphysis is (d1(eto tlhe weakeninig of the cemienting cells from injury to tleblood supply-, anclplrsuniably to faultv calciumlinmetabolism))at the plalce, the clianges niot beinig comnparable witlh tlho.eof tru1e iickets. The ontset is nmarke(d by pain and limping,the limb being flexed, adduicted, and everted. TreatmientaiiitLs at correcting the (leformity by- sIitable extensioni; itsliould be conitin-ued iiltil skiagrams show that buttressilngby niew bone has takeii lplace.In a p)urposely slhort paper it is imiipossible to go fully

iiito all the conditions abaut thle lhip-jointu; those mnentionedlhave becai discussed very broadly to avoid dogmnatism.

MEDICAL, SURGICAL, OBSTETRICAL.

SCLEREMA NEONATORUM.THF case of aii iinfanit whlio illl(lollhtelyv Sllffeled froml thisunusual coml)l.illt, ain1d is IOW alix-e anid ill goo(l healtl,seems sufficiently interesting to be recorded.The mother, aged 36, who had a history of scarlet and rheumatic

fevers, indigestion apparently of hepatic oirigill, aind sov'eral attacksof urticaria, was ini poot iealth ulp to the time of het confiiiernemeton December l1th, 1929. She liad been married eighteen monthsbefore shiO becamiie pregilanit. She does not appear to have hadsufficient exercise. Her appetite was snmall, but she enijoyed fatsill tlhe form of btitter all( cleanl. Slie lilad miital disease, whicilat first caused little incollvelliellce, alid sloC eornplailled of variouis" rheumniatic " paills, iniduced by clinlatic clianges. Tile fathlea meagre, C 3-looking individual, lias suiffered for many years foroichronic nasal catarrh.The motlier commeilecd to voirlit as soo01 as she becanle pre-ianat,

alid colltillued, on an-d otf, durillg pregnianicy. Slie took iljilkof magnesia " contiliuouisly, aild liad some difficulty witlh con-stipation. Slhe lost weighlt, aild liad several attacks of brollehitisalid lliglht sweats. By tile seveiitl mtioltlil .s11i comnplainied ofpalpitationi, swellinig of tlhe anklcs, illorilinrg 3-1(1 eveningii, and ofatt.cks of faintillg. Helr urine, wliclI was tested frequcently,iiever colltailled aniy alburiin?, but plilospilates aild urates weirepresenit in excess of normal. Fori ttie last two weeks prior to h1rcollfiniemellt lher.abdornlell felt " seliseless." After beinig iliiefliours ill labour slle was giveII cillorofo rml and delivered witlhforceps of a fenlale cllild, w-linclh weighed 51- lb. Sloc recoveredfrom the conifiniemenit- fairly well, btut blad several attacks ofvomiting, anid the involutioni of tlie uterlls was delayed. She 1iad1o mnilk till tlle llilltll day.Delivery was hastened ill view of tile motlier's cardiac collditiol.

Oni the cord, wlvicli was ullusually tihick, there was, about o01e and(ia qilarter inicises fromii tile umbilicus, wlhat pr oved to be alilaerlatoma, two anid a quarter illelles lolig, dippinig illto Wlhartoni'sjelly. Thie placenita appearcd to be notrmal. Thie child seenled tobe lieavier than it actually was, and its skin was hiard and stiff,preventinig it froimi movillg its Jinl)s. but niot iilterferinig withsuckinig. Tile hardiiess, whiielh apparely0v inivolved tlle whole skill,seernled niost pronounced an1d remiahined loigest over the lbuittocks,which wet e dark blue ill colour. At 11o tille, did the skin pit oni

MAY 31, 19301 SCIENTIFIC PROCEEDINGS OF BRANCHES. [I TEDIBALTOUS 1001

pressure, anid ther e were no lhaemorrhages. The hlardness dis-appeared gradually about three weeks aft -r birth, and wasfollowed by a general desquamatioin.Four days after birtlh the clhild developed a paronyclhia of il s

right index finger, and a few days later a swelling was observedon thte inner side at the middle of the right uipper arm, over ticbrachial artery. This gradually increased in s:ize, and was dia-gnosed as an enilarged gland, ani angiona, or ait abscess. It nevergave any fluctuation, buit felt like rubber, and moved freely uniderthe skin. In view of the par-onychiia, it was iiicised on the twenty-fourth day, and about 1J draclhms of ptis were evacuated. Thewound lhealed without delay, and at the presmnit tinme, thrce monthlsafter birthl, the clhild weiglhs 10M lb , anid is lhappy anid apparenitlyin good lhealth.

In view of the uinknown pathogenesis of this obsciirecondition it is interesting to note: (1) the u-nsatisfactorycondition of the motisei 's health, witlh symptoms; pointillnto aller,gy or hlepatic insufficiency; (2) thei delay in lacta-tion; (3) the localized septic foctis in the inifantt, whichmnay huave hiad som-ethiing to (1o witlh its sulrvival andrecovery.

WoIerhIairip)ton. WV. (OLL)IF., H.C.., M B., C li.B

AN\T_ER10R POLIOMY lLITIS SI -IULATINCLANDRY'S PARALYSIS.

'ITHI followiing case seems to be of suifficient initerest andraritv to w-arant publicatioll.

Ont October 23rd, 1929, at, 10 a.mi., I saw Miss F., aged 35, antllipara. She complainied of vague painis in the back anid low(erlirrmbs, but was afebrile. She did niot look ill.- The pulse anidtermiperature wer-e normal. The niext day the condition was un-chtaniged, but the temperature was 100.50 FIi.

Oni the morningo of Octobe- 25tlh the patienit was fouind tohave flaccid paralysis of the lower limbs; the knee-jerks wereabsenit; the plaintar reflex was flexor oni both sides. The abdoninialcuttanieous reflexes were indefiniite; ctutaneous anid deep senlsationapparently niormal.On October 26th no abdo5miinal reflex was present anid the

planitar reflex was abolished. The ab.lomien was definiitelv dis-tetided. The patienit urinated with diffictulty, buit apparent inte .-tinial paresis was present. Teri'perature 1012, r-espirationis 17,pulse 99. Towards night olive oil and soap-and-water enema,pbifis 1 .eni. of pituitrili, gave a scan)ty rsultl, but relieved thoabodominial distenisioni temporar ily.

Oni October 27tll tlhe abdoinei va.s again distenided. The patienitc oked ill and distressed. Respirations lhad quiickened and wer-ee0tirclg thoracic. There were tlerteors of the tonigue, face, andarms; the puilse was very fast. anid irregular. Speech latet oilits tlte day became inicoherenit, articullationi tlhick; movements ofarllms erIrIatic. The patient died towards midnight of builbarparalvsis. The ultimate picture' was certainlv like asplhyxia.

'T'he case asoba iously )oliolnvelitis, but of a rapidlya.scesding natuire, with imiaini inlcidenice on the anteriorcornui1.a of grey matter. Its chtief featurles -ere very simiiilar-to those of Landry's paralv]sis, except for the fact thatthlere was obvious acute infection (fever'l1p)re.-esnt. Ein-fortunatelv tisere were no facilities to take the electricalreactions of the paralysed iltiscles, which in Landrv'sparalysis are supposed to slhow- nio reactioll of degeneration.Such a test wi-ould doubtless prove valuiable in the differ-enitial diagniosis.Ingleton, WA'est Yorks. J. MAcLE,oD, M.B., C'l.B.Aberd.

PRI)OHYLAXIS AGAINST DYSENTERY BY ORAT,-VACCINES.

CAsEs of diarrhoea anid dysenitery have been occurrinig atHillsleigh Selsool (a branllch of the Royal Eastern CountiesIn.tittution, Colchester) durin-g the last few years. Thechildren are of low grade, and it was deemed necessaryto plevenut further outbreaks. All the stools examinedbacteriologically proved negative, and it was thereforedecided to test the blood of all the l)atients.Samples were taken from 48 clhildren; in 26 cases the

serutsm edidl not agglutiniate Flexier's bacillus, R. dqiseia-tericiY,l or0 Shiga's bacillus inl any of thle dilutionsemployed-nlamely, 1 in 10, 1 inl 25, 1 in 50, and 1 inl 100.l a 14 cases the serum agglutinated a strain of Flexner'sbacillus inl dilultions of 1 in 10. In 4 cases it agglutin.ated

Flexner's bacilluts inl dilutions of 1 in 25 as well as 1 in 10,but weaker dilutions w-ere negative. Five of the 18seruimiis wlich agglutinated Flexner's bacillus also agglii-tinated Shiga's bacillus in a 1 in 10 diluttion, but weaker-dilutions; were negative. Seveni cases -hich agglutinatedFlexner's bacilluis also partially agglutinlated a Bt. dyseii-teriwie Y suspension in a 1 in 10 dilution, bhut weakerdilutionts were negative. Fouir cases agglutinated ft. dysten-tcriae Y ini 1 in 25 diluitioni, buit no other type.

All the cases at this branch home, hlethlelr positive o1negative, received a course of oral antidvseniterv vacciniesix nonths ago, eaclh patient having thlee (loses of 5 c.em.eacl. Tlhiss vaccine contains equlal parts of Shtiga's anldFIexier's bacilli, anid is given oni tlhree con3secutive days-.There was no reaetioni of any kinid, and uip to the presenitno case of dysentery hias occurred since thle patienitsreceivedl tile vacine

ROBERT MUNRO, M.B., C(1.B.,Assistant le(lieal Superintendent,

Royal Instittltion, colkllestel.

CLINICAL AND SCIENTIFIC PROCEEDING S.

LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE BRANCH: SOUTH-PORT DTVISI-ON.

ASIhrqeri, it# 1?eh'oiion to Diseas.es of the Coloni.ONv Marchl 27tlh Professor D. P. D. WILKIE gave a BlritislhMedical Association Lectuir-e to the Southport Div-isioni,elatitlc(l " Surgery in relation to diseases of the colon."T'lhe liie?tinig was hel(d ia tihe Assemblv Roomi- of the Princoof WaIes Hotel, Sotithport, anid was wvell attend(le, tllele,il)eing al)ott forty memibers present, inc'liudinlg visitors. TIlh]ctilture as m,de p)articiiiarlv interesting bv the demiloni-strationl of lantern slides.

Profe.sor Wilkie -aid that mnore disal)ilitie-si arose fr'om)ldisordeks of the large bowel tItan from anywhere else inthie lbo(lv; apart fromil acquired disorders there were inallY(ongelnitlCfidcaus;es which0 nmighit r'enlder' thte normial fuinctionlof -tle (0olon impilossible. Tlihe small bowel was the activesegment of the digestive canal, and therefore the colonanid the stomach, ithi less digestive activity, wvere miulcmore liable to be the seat of pathological changes. T'hle)roimal colon- wNas t,le p)art from w-hicil toxic absorptionmighit b)e exp)ected. The lectiurer, wlho dealt mainly withnoni-maligni-ant diseases of the colon, comnpared time caecumnanid caeco-colic tract to the stomachl, showing how it sufferedfrom tiie samie type of diseases-namely, ulcers, tihe con-stricting as wN-ell as the fuinigatinig types of carcinioima, andoccasionally fromii a large single cliverticulum. He alsocomiirnented oni dilatation, diverticullum, and tuberculoitsstricture of tile caeculill, and described tile disorders of timeIiPl-re stlpply of the colon. Refeiring to) the spastic typesof constipation, hie said that it was beyond disp-ute tihatmany individuals h-lio enjoyed good lhealth had a mobileproxiomal colon. In certain cases vhere there had be(,nlong coimplaint of dragginig, on the rilit side fixationi ofthe coloni had gi;en immeidiate and lasting relief. Theoperation of colopexy was of uindooubte(d value in som)ecases. In atonic dilated caecuni thle patient usiuallv comil-plained of right-sided abdolminal discomfort, and 'showedevidence of intestinal toxaemia. There was constipatioti,lassitude, and aIcute pain in the righit iliac region suig-gestive of a lesioni of tIme appendix. X-rav examinationrevealed a low dilated caecum, w-ith marked delay inemiptying,. Treatmenit by liquiid paraffin and senna ofteigreatly beniefited these cases, hutt operation woould, ofcouirse, give the surest relief; removal of the appendix ann(plicationl of the caeeciui abolished pain and facilitated tileemptying of the cnaecuni.

Professor Wilkie thieni referred to the reduidant colon,and remiarked that cases of coloin stasis liad been associatedwith this (on(ditionl. Somlle individuals halve a coloni onleanld a lhalf times als* lonlg as the a-erage. It imiighit be thattlle pel v ic coloni alone was redundant, necessitating resect ionl

MAY. 3I,- 19301 UNiVERSITIES AND CALEEGE3. [TmF BRJOTTIX 1027_ly I90 I MEIA JOURNAL

* Judyewestt for Delendlant Rveu. d.Following the answers of thle jury, ani aipplicatioin was made

on May 27th on behallf of the defendant, Mr. Evaiis, thatjuduement he enitered for him -in the action onl the grounid thathe hlad .suicceeded on1 the issue of the warranty.

Mr£1. .TJstice Chlailes said that altlhough the miatters in disputtewvere separated in the questions put to the jury, thie action,was a whole. He thlerefor e refused the applicationi, andordered Mr. Evans to pay the costs of it.

UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD.Silt A,ITHUR KEITrll vill be among the recilpients of the honoraryde-ree of Doctor of Scienice, to be couferred iu the SheldonianTlietrtt e oni Junie 25tli.

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.THI. Dunn1i1 Exlhibitionls in Anuatomy an,d Phlsiology for 1930 hanvebeen awarded to A. ]lirn]baumll, ani internial stnIdenlt of thie Lotndonl]hosp)ital Me(lical College.

UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER.TiuE jiibilee of the Manichester Uniiversitv aiid thje eiglhtiethltnniiiversary of its fouinidationi as Owveis College vas celebr)atedltast wveek.After at comm11ilemoration1 service hi ManIclIes8ter Cathiedra]l, at

wli ich the Archbiislhol) of York p)reached the sermiloni, a conigregationiof the UUniversity was llel(l ini the Free Tra(le Hall onl 1Jay 23rd,vluen the Chancellor, Lord CrawfordI of Balearr-es, delivered anijad(lrrss.A iitiiinber of lhoniorary degrees vere conferredl, icinlu(dinig thiat of

LL.D. bestowed uponi tihe Amiiericani Ambassa(lor, Genieral Da)ves:the Earl of Derby; Mr. Plilip Sniowden, Clhatiicellor of thteExchequer; Miss SaraL M1%largery FrY, Principal of SomervilleCollege, Oxford; and( Mlr. A. nl. Wor'thilngtonl, chalitirmani of theconiuicil of the University. The lihilorary de iree of D.Sc. wasconferre(d il)o0i Professor J. Lorraini Smiiith, F.R.S., who retire(dfromii the Clhair of Pattlhology il Manicilester Uniiversity ini 1912, onilis lpl)l)oiltimient as Professor of Pathology ini the University ofEdi nbun rgh.

UNIVERSITY OF WALES.THE Un1iversity of Wales aninounicies in onir atdvertisemiienit pagesthiat the followiing schlolarslhips vill be award(le( in the sessiont1930-31, provided stiltable canlidates are forthcolimig : CecilProsser Researchi Scholtrshlil) (valnie £250), for researchi ini theLleluartment of tnberecilosis; the Mrs. Jolihn Nixoni Scholarship(valnie £150), for resettrelh in the department of me(licitne andnmedietil p)athiology ; tile Lord Merthyr Seiolarshlip) (vatlue £200),for researci ini thie del)artment of surgery ; and thie Eweni MacleanResearelh Schlolarshlip (valne £150), for researchl- in the departmenitof ohstetrics anid g.ynaecology.. ParticulLirs of tile award of thescliolartlhips anid foriiis'of applicatiou niny be obtainledl fromii theReg,istrar, Uniiversity iletgistry; Cathays Park, Cardiff.

SOCIETY OF APOTHECARIES Ol4 rLONVDON.TIlE, followviti cand(lidates have passedl in the suibjects inidicate(:EURGFERY.-E. C. Dymond, R. F. T. Finn. E. A. Freywirth, H. G. Hind,

.1. H. Johnstoni, E. Lethem, A. Liber;is, J. Ross.MEDICINE.-G. P. Charles, A. R. Edwards, J. D. 13. Games, J. Ross,

E. M. Hf. Shaw, W. H. Willis.FORE1Nsic MEDICINE.-A. Btelh, G. T. W. Cashie!l, T. C. Keble,

E. H. W. Lyle, C. G. Nicol, J. Ross, C. M. Smithl, A. L. Thlomlas,W. H. Willis.

MIDWIFERY.-G. T. W. Cashell, Y. Haig, J. Ross, A. L. Thomas,W. H. Willis.

T'le (liplonia of thje Society hias beenl gliallte(l to Miessrs. A. R.Edwtlwardls, J. I. Jolhnston, A. Liber is, and(i J. Ross.

BRITISH COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS ANDGYNAECOLOGII TS.

AT tloe an1Unual gelleral mieeting( of thie B3ritishi College ofObstetriciantis anid Gynaecologists, lheld ini Loln(lont oni May 20tl,witth tle p)resident (Professor W. Blair Bell) ill tile clirtir, theresult of the electioni of tlle cotlincil vas ahllonioiced.At the flrst meeting of the niew couIncil, h1eld ini the arternmoon or

tile saime day, tthe officers Were elected anLid tIle casuial vtLaciciescr-eate(d ly thlese elections were filled. Dame* Lo'uise Malilroy(Lond(loni) was co-opted for tile special purpose of represenitingsxvolllell FelowVs auld Members.Thie officers alid the full couiicil are lo0W as follovs:President; W. Blair Bell.Vice-Presidenta: John S. Fairbairn, John M. Munro Kerr.Honorary Treasurer: Eardley L. Holland.Hontorary Secretarv: 'Wn. Fletcher Shaw.

Council.London.-H. Russell Andrews, T. Watts Edeni, J. S. Fairbairn,

Damlie Louise MAlroy (Fellows); L. C. Rivett (AIeniiber).Eu,glantd aJLd Wu,les (excludislg Loudot).-A. Doniald, Sir Ewven J.

AlMleale , H. Leith Murlray, Aliles H. Phillip,;, H. Beckwith Whitehouse(Fellowsl; E. Farqnhar Mnrray, J. Eric Stacey (Miemibers).

8c.itL.ajj .-_. W. Johuistone, J: M. Munro Kerr (Fellows); E. A. Lennie,W. F. T. Hanltain (Xlembers).Ireland.-C. H. Lowry, Bethel Solomons (Fellows); T. M. Healy (Member).

41eitirat 4otQs itl artiamlent.[FRomI OUR PARLIAMIENTARY CORRESPONDENT.]

'T'HE House of Commonis lhas commenced the committee stageof the Finiance Bill this week, and has also discussed unenlploy-mneit aInd Indiani affairs. The Educa.tion Bill, whichl proposesto rac.ise thle school-leaving age to 15, was down for secr1)dtieadinig, on May 29th, in the Commons, and the Coal MinlesBill for third reading in the Lords on the previous day.

Tile Parliamentary Medical Committee has arranged to visitthe Iled Cross rhlieumatic clinic at Regenit's Park on June 2nid,and to hear an address from Sir Walter Fletcher oni Juine 3rdalout medical research.On belhalf of the Public Health Advisory Committee of the

Labour party, Dr. Ethel Bentliam and Mr. Somerville HastinigsXsaw Mr. Greenwood on May 21st in order to ma.ke representa-tions in favour of the regulation of the sale and advertisementof patent medicines. Tlhe deputation gave instances of the evilsresulting from the unriegulated sale of secret remedies, such-is tlhe effect in preventing persons from seeking proper tr eat-nieilt, the waste of money, and the danger to lhealthl, particu-!ally from prolonged use of these reniedies. The Miniister wasvery sympathetic in his reply. He could not promise legislationduit-ing the present session, but there is understood to be apossibility that a private member's bill may be introducedldealing with ornly onie aspect of tlhe quiiestion in order to focuspublic opinion. If introdnced this bill will be prepared incoicert with the Britislh Medical Associatioin.

Milk for School Children in Scotland.The Educationi (Scotland) Bill came iup for thlird reading ill the

House of Commons o0l Mav 23rd. Dr. ELLIOT, wlio lad ilitioducedthe bill, remarked that it lad beeil read a second tinle witllouitdebate. Scotland, 11e said, had previously attaclied mtich impor-tanice to the traillillg of tIle mind and not enouagl to tile trainingof the body. Thc bill proposed to enable educationi auithioritiesill Scotlai:d to inicur expeinditure in supplyinig milk to tile chiildreniattelidilng the schQwls withnl their areas. The annual report oftilo Scot tislh Departmenit of Healthi showed thlat only o01e-thiirdof t'he eClhool population received systenlatic inedical inspectionill tile schiool year, anid that seven alid a lialf miniutes was spelitoni each child. That cursorv investigation showed that 2.4 percedIt. of tile cllildren exanlined were sufferinig from allaemia and2.5 pei; cenit. from tubercuilosis in one form or ainotiler. Tllesefig,ures liad iniduced Ihim to introdilce the bill. Of tilese chiildrlel,22 per cenit. suffered frorn lllnhcalthy glands. Dr. Elliot poinitedout tthat the bill had beeni ameinded in committee to provide thatthe mnil-k supplied should be certified milk, or, failing tilat-, tilebest grade available ill the area. Bovine tuber culosis was ulnder-stood to cauise the death of 3,000 children yearly in tlhis country.Its prevaleilce ill the lierds calised reluctance of doctolrs loprescribe mnilk anid of the ptublic to consume what .was the finestfood for the younig of the human race. The difficuilty of tiheprovoision was t1hat olily 101 lherds in Scotland we-e licenlsed for t1esale of tuberele-free milk, althollgli Scotland liad more thani450,000 lmlilch cows. The bill did not difTerentiate between nleces-sitous anid other children, because experimellts had SilOwll tliattile average child in Scotland suffered from a lack of certaini vitalconstituents. Witliout milk tlhe child could not take full advantageof the foods witll wiiel it was sulpplied at home.Mr. JOlINSTON (Under-Secretary of State for Scotland) said tlle

object of the bill was desired by all the large educationl atutlhoritiesill Scotlanid. Glasgow liad illtimated that its sclierne was ready.The bill was an eptiollal o01e. He pointed out that in selioolswlleie a rnilk rationi was given the absences fell almost to llothiing.Mr. W. R. SMITH moved the rejection of the bill. He said thlat

at presellt all edtucationi autlioiity couild suipply what was lackl'ijgto * a child wllie, tlirough physical ill liealth or otherwise, wasuniable to benefit by tlhe education wliich was given. The tetsat preselit being made were.-with Grade A (tuiberculini-tested) rnilk,Wiliell ill so0111 cases was pasteurized in additioni. Mr. JOHNSTONilltervened to say that tests ill Lanarkshire were conducted witlpasteurized and ttuberculin-tested milk, lilalf suipp-lies of eacli. Mr.SMITH r-enlarked that in maniy districts of Scotlanid it would heinlpossible to get a large ellough supply even of pasteur-ized milk.To allow education authorities to suipply children with nlilk wlichmlight conitaill tuberculosis germs would puit into the lospitalsthousands of cases of tuberculosis. Wlheyi the bill was ill colli-nlittee Mr. Jollnson lhad declared tlhat every year 2,000 or 3,OCOsurgical tuberculosis caws entered Scottish hospitals, aind thllesecases were directly traceable to tlle poisonled milk supply. Officialsof the Departmellt of Health said the bill could not be workLed1by rnany alltilorities if certified 01 pasteurized milk had to besuppliedl.Mr. BooTliBy poillte2d Oult thlat schlemes for tile sulpply of milkr

had to be approved both] by- tile Departmenlt of E:ducationl alId

1030 MAY 3I, 1930] MEDICAL NEWS. [ THE Bm3 y 0UDICAL JO@KA16

D lulraml aiid at St. Bartlholomiiew's Hospital. He obtainedthle M.R.C.S.Eng. diplomiia in 1884, graduated M.B. oftlhe Uniiiersity of Durlhaiii in 1884, anid proceeded M.D. in1887. He wi as formerlv house-surgeon at the West LondonHos,pital resideiit medical officer, Nortli-West Loidon Hllos-pital, anid houise-phvsiciani at tlhe Victoria Hospital forChildell, Chelsea. Before retirinig fromipractice, abouteiglhteeni montlhs ago, owiing-to failinig healtlh, Dr. Harperhiad lhad an active and usefuil career. He w-ill be especiallylemeimiberled for lhis valuted services in coninexioni w-ith theEas6othone Provident Medical Association, of whicih lhe w-asthe foundler-, and was chairnman up) to tlhe timiie of his deatlh.T'hle association proved so succe.ssful in the town that it w-ascol)ied ini many otlher towns' and(i also abroad. For maianyyeails lhe serve'd oi the lhonorarv medical staff of thePPrincess Alice Memoorial Hospital, and later w-as onie ofthle con-sutltinig surgeons. Duriinig the wvar hle ren-idered much-ap)preiated wi-or'k in connllPexion -itlh tlhe Vlrmston RedC'ross Hosp)ital, anid lie also iunidertook miianyv of the (Initiesof meedical m;eni who w-ent to the war; anid for thie medicalservices whfich lhe renidered to the mianiy Belgiani refug-eesresident in lEastbtoitlne lie wa; a;a\\raded the Me(laille ditR.oi Alb)ert.Dr. Harpler took great interest in the w-ork of the

British Medical Association. After serving for some yearsas a melmlber of the Execuitive Committee of the E4ast-bomrne Di\visioii lie was elected (cIin irman of tIme Di-isionint 1914. He leaves a widlow and twvo dlatughters;.

Dlr. ROBEIT ROBFRT.SON, a wi-ell-kn'ow-ni practitionter inlEdimburgli, (lied at hiis residlence in tlhatt citv on Mav 18tlh.After gradluatilig M.B., C.M. at Edinburgh ini 1868, lheobtlained the B.Sc. degree in public lhealtlh in the followi-inigyear, beinig one of the firstfwho a-ailed themselves of thisnewly ifllstituited qualification; lhe wvas a fellow stuldenit ofthe late Pr ofessor Ritchie, h-lio subsequciitly bc(amie thefii-t,L professor of bacteriologyv in the University. Hi.sass0ociationi wi-ithi Professor Ritclhie was largely resp)oinsiblefor the special interest which lie took in vaccine treatmentduring the later years of lit, life. After graduation, Dr.Robetsmoi began genieral practice in the Stockbridgedistlict of Edinburgh, residiig ini Roval Circus. Duriniga (considerable p)art of the next thir ty-four years hle w-asa miiemilber of the Ediniburl ghl Towi-ni Counmcil, and oni thePublic Healthi Commliiiittee lis valual)le service aiid adv-iceniioul(le(l to a considerablelt extenit the developments oflhealtlh services in the city. Towards the year 1920 hebecamne greatly initere.sted in the lpossibilities of the use ofvaccines in treatiiieint, and( lie coiit ributed numerousarticles to medical perliodie.als (leal ing w-ith thiis subject.An account of the treatmiient of niemrasthenia by -acciinewNas publisled. ini, the Edhin bvlilih Medl(il' Jov a'1l, anid adescriltion of vaccine therapy ini gynaecologv anidobstetrics appealred in the T.7a,,suctots of thie Edin burqlh

bcstetichal Society1; lie conitributted also to tlhe l eaftitijfllesone two years later ani article oni the iimethod of uisingtuibelrculin. Aboout this timiie the strenutious work of hi.slii cge practice bega.n to prov-e too much for ani ailmient ofthle hieari't from whichl lie suffered, and lie was obliged torestrict Iiis eniergies. Duriinlg the eighlt years before hiis(leatlh lie hiad dev-oted hiimiself largely- to vaccinie treatmienitafter remiovin1g hlis pr-actice to AMelville Street. Dr.Robertsoon is survived byi- a wido-, one dauiglhter, and twoso1nS, of whioiii one is a medical practitioner in KenyvaColony ; lie is also survived by lhisiiotlier, * ho iS still alileat tlle age of 104. m

Dr. Louis Fout-NIER, physician to the C'ochlili Hospital,Paili9, h-lio wv.as chieflv responbsile for the intro(luetioll ofthe bismnuth treatneint of syphilis about ten years algo, lhasdie(l, agedl 62. Otlher reported (le.-tlis of miedical. practi-tioniers abroad include Dr. BETTENCOURT of the PasteurInstitute of Lisbon; Dr. GIORGIO RIATTONE, profes1or ofgelleralp1atllology at Parma; aindI Dr. KAIRL IURBAN,(lirector of the Vienina branich of the medical pu;blishingfirm of IUrban and Schwarzenberg. w-lo wa.s created do(ctolI/ioioois cauisa by the Viennall miiedical fa-iculty someyears ago.

SIR ROBERT ARMSTRONG-JONES will deliver the fifthMfacalister Lecture beCAoe- the London Clinical Society at theLondon Temperance Hospital on Tuesday, June 24th, at9 p.m. The subject of this year's lecture is "1 The evolutionof the human mind." All medical practitioners are cor(liallyinvited to be present, alid may bring friends (ladles orgentlemen).I ORD LAMINGTON, President of the Research Defence

Society, will preside at the annual meeting of thie society tobe held at 11, Chandos Street, W.1, on Tuesday, June 3rd, at3.15 p.m. The fourth Stephen PagtA Memorial Lecture on"Diet and dental disease: wlhat we have learned fromanimal experiments," will be given by Mrs. Mellauby.THE anutial meeting of the governors of Epsom College

will be held at the offlce, 49, Bedford Square, W.C.1, onFriday, June 27th, at 4 p.m., wheu the result of the votincfor pensioners and foundation scholars will be atinounced.THE Mental AftL<r-Care Association will lhold its jubilee

meeting on Monday, June 2ud, at Drapers' Hall, ThrogwortonStreet, E.C., under the presidencY of HI.R.H. Prince George.The other speakers wvill inelude Lor(d WVakefield an(d SirMaurice Craig.A MEETING of the Society for the StuLdy of Inebriety will

be held at 11, Chandos Street, W.1, on Tu'esday, July 8:li,at 4 p.m. Dr. E. F. Willis, medical suiperiiltendent ofRendlesham Hall, Suffollk, will open a discussion on deliriultremiiens, its causation, prevention, and treatment.

TI-HERE will ba a discuLssion oni asthma at a special meetingof the MIedical Advisory Commtnittee of the Asthma ResearelcCouncil on Thursday, Junle 5tih, at 3.30 p.mi., at 37, RussellSquare, W.C.1, Those desiriDg to take part are requested togive notice to the Council.THE. Department of Research in Animal Genetics, University

of Edinburgh, will be opened on Moncday, June 3;th, at nloOi,by Sir Edward Sharpey Schafer.THE St. Cyres Lecture for 1930 on the filbroses of the hear t

will be delivered byiDr. John Cowan at t1me National Hospitalfor Diseases of the Heart, Westruoreland Street, W.1, oiiWednesday, June 4tlh, at 5 p.m. Members of the medicalprofession are iuvitedl to attend.THE Fellowship of Medicine announces that special

lectures in pieparation for the M.R.C.P. examina iotl wvill begiven onIMonday, Junie 2nd, at the Royal WaslminsterOphthalmic Hospital, Broad Street, by Mr. C. L. Glmu lelt,at 4.30 p.m., on general medical oplhtlhalmolo(y; oIn Tues-day, June 3rd, at the Medical Society's lecture room, 11,Chandos Street, Cavendish Square, at 8.30 p.m., by S rWilliam Willcox, on somue points iu conniexion with the toxiceffects of lead, arsenic, morphine, and cocaine, etc.; anid onFriday, June 6th, in the same lecture roorn, at 8.30 p.m., byDr. H. E. Archer, cn the fractional test meal as an ai(i todiagnosis. A free demonstration will be given by Dr. S. E.Dore on Monday, June 2nd, at 6 p.m., at St. John's Hospital,Leicester Square. The subje,ts of special courses in Jurieare: gynaecology, at the Chelsea Hospital for WVomen fromnJune 16th to 28th (somDe morning4 and some afternoons);dermatology, at the Blaclkfriars Skin Hospital from June 16lihto 28th (every afternoon); medicine and surgery at the Princeof Wales's Hospital, Tottenham, from June 16th to 28tlh; andlproctology at St. Mark's Hospital, June 30th to July 5tl,these last two being, all-day courses. Fees are payable tothe secretary of the Fellow.ship, 1, Wirt:pole Street, W.1,from wlhom all syllabuses and tickets of admlission areobtai-able.THE Bakerian Lecture of the Royal Society was (leliverecl

oni May 29th by Professor Robert Robinson, F.R.S., wh1otook for his subject the molecular structure of strychnineanid brucine. He suggested a formula which could be usedto interpret in a satisfactory-manner all the chemical aspectsof strychnine.MESSRS. J. AND A. CHURCHILL announce for early publica-

tion new books entitled Tropical MLedicine, by Sir LeonardRogters and Major-General J. W. D. Megaw; The Hair: its(are, Diseases, and Treatment, by Dr. W. J. O'Donovan; anjdSiurgical Emergencies in General Pr actice, by Messrs. W. H. C.Rotimanis and P. H. Mitchinier.WE have received the flrst issue of Rlevistla Espanola di

Tuberculosis, a journal published bi-monthly ab Madrid underthe editorship of Dr. J: Vald6s Lambea, and containingoriginal articles, abstracts from current literature, andreviewvs dealing with tuberculosis.THE second International Congress for Experimneltal Cell

Research will be held at Amsterdam from August 4th to 9th.Further information can be obtained from1 Professor RhlodaErdlmann, Nassaulache Strasse 17, Berlln-Wilmersdorf.

MAY 3I, 1930] LETTERS, NOTES, AND ANSVEVIi. [M.DICAzBtrTA 1031

TIE, Royal College of Physicians of Londlon will be closedOn Satnrday, June 7th, aud Monday, June 9th.SIR JAMES DUNDAS GRANT has been elected an honorary

memilber of the Inter-State Post-Graduate Medical Associationof North America.THi branches of the Society of Medical Officers of Health

have unanimously niominated Professor Haroldl Kerr, medicalOfficer of health for the city of Newcastle-upon-TyDe, forelection as president of the society for the session 1930-31.Dr. Kerr will take office in October.THE freedoim of the city of Cihester has been cotnferred upon

Dr. George Harrison. Tthe same honour had been bestowedlUpOnl hlis great-grandfather and grandfather as well as upontwo of hlis uncles.AN Order, to c:mne into force on July lst, 1930, has been

issued by the Hoine Secretary for securing the welfare ofemployees in factories an(d workshops engaged In the limingand tanning of raw hides anid skins and In processes incidentalto these operations. Occupiers are required to provide anidkeel) in good condition protective clothing of suitable desigtnand material as described in the schedule attachied to theOrder. Such clothiing must ensure that a worker in anyparticular process is effectively protected fron wet anddamp. Adequate arrangemnents must be made for dryingclothes, and separate accommnodation provided for protectiveclothing as well as for garments puit off during workihng hours.Toilet facilities milust include a sufficieut supply of cleantowels, soap, and warm water. Iu time absence of oth rsuitable arrangements a heated nmessroom, separated fromotlher accomniiiodlation, must be provided for the use of ein-ployees remjaining on the premisesdurling the meal intervals;and meanis must be available for warmning food and for boilinigwater. In regard to first-aid treatment, the occnpier mustobserve the requirements laid down for factories In Section29 (1) of the Workmilen's Compensation Act, 1923; and hiemust arrange for a bi-weekly inspection of the fitngers ofworkers who use solutions containiing chromates or salts ofchromium with free aci(l. He must also see that the offlcialcautionary notices referring to the effects ot chrome on theskin and to anthrax are kept posted up in the works. First-al(i boxes must be equipped with a sup)ply of impermeablewaterproof plaster.THEu tenth Congress of the Germnan Pharmacological Society

will be held at Konigsberg from September 4th to the 7th,when the following subjects will be discussed: problemsof inflammation, introduced by Starkenstein of Prague;pharmacological problems of febrile diseases, introducedl byFreund of MIfinster; allergy, intro(luced by Storm vanLeeuwen of Leyden; and problems of the reticnilo-endotbelialsystem, introduced by Schulemann of Elberfeld. Furtheriniformation can be obtaine(d from Professor W. Lipschitz,Pharmakologisches Inistitut, Weigertstrasse 3, Frankfurt-amn-Main.

THHE ninety-flrst Congress of the Society of German NaturalPhilosophers and Plhysicians will be hleld at KMnigsberg fromSeptember 7thi to the 11th, when all departments of medicinewill be represented. Further information can be obtainedfronti the general secretary, Dr. Wiegand, Ostmessehaus,Hansaring, Konigsberg.TIHE twenty-third Voyage d'Etudes Medicales will take

place in the first fortuiglht of September under the directionof Professors Mauirice Villaret of Pal is, Sanjtenoise of Nancy,and Paul Blulnt of Strasbourg. Visits will be paid to healthresorts in Alsace, the Jura, and the Vosges.DURING the present Exhibition of International Hygiene

at Dresden, one day, June 1st, will be devoted to socialhygiene, and addresses will be delivered by well-knownauthorities on child velfare, the care of cripples, tuberculosis,syphlilis, and alcoholism.IN order to stimulate Interest in the fund being raised to

provide Birminglham with a niew hospital centre a businesscitizeni lhas offered a gift of £100,000 provided that the list ofsubscriptions to be published oII June 6th totals £350,000. Itis estimated thiat the cost of the scheme in the next fiveyears will be £1,250,000.A FOLDER giving particulars of yachting cruises by the

s.3r. Kiliarney to the Scottish firths and fjords has beenissue(d by Coast Lines Ltd., and may be obtained from allrecognized tourist agencies.

DIII. E'RNST GFRASSEM, Professor of surgery at Erlanitgen, lasbeenl made an honlorary mnemrlber of tile Germani UrologicalSoc-iety of Berlin, and Professor Victor Klingim-iller of Kielat] hlonorary mrlemnber of the Cuban Dermatological Society.

1D-. J. F. E. BaIDoun is relinqising the post of directorof mle.lical and sanitary services of Ceyio:m Onl his retirementfromx thBe Colonial Medlical S3ervIce o)n July 5th next.Dn. RUI)OLF IVGBU, the3 physiologist, htas been appointed

rectorl Of thle Citristian Albrechts Unliversity at Kiel.

All communications in regard to editorial business should beaddlrlessedl io The EDITOR, British Medloal Journal, BritishMedical Association Hogeus Tavistack Square, W.C.1.

ORIGINAL AR"I'lCLES anid LETTERS forwarded for publicationare understood to be offered to tlle British Medical Journtalalone unless the contatry be stated. Correspondents who wishinotice to be taken of their communications slhould autheniticatetllem witlh their narmes, not necessarily for publication.

Autlhors desirina REPRINTS of their articles publislhed in theBr-itish Afcdic(il Journal miust comurnicate withi tlhe FiniancialSecretary aind Business Manager, British MIedical AssociationHouse, Tavistock Square, W.C.1, on receipt of proofs.

All communications witlh refetence to ADVERTISEMIENTS. as wellas orders for copies of tue Jour-lal, slould be addressed to theFinancial Secretary and Business Manager.

The TELEPHONE NUMBERS of tle B3ritish Mledical Associationand thie Bri-tishl Jeldifcl Journal are MUSEUJMf 9361, 9362, .98t$,anid 9S64 (internal exclhange, four lines).

Tle TSLEGRAPHIC ADDRESSSS are:EDI'TOR1 OF TlHE BhlIU'SH MEDICAL JOURNAL, Aitiology

W'cstecenlt, Lonidosn.FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND BUSINESS MANAGER

(Advertisements, etc.), At-iculate lWcsstcc7t, Loaidors.MIE) ICAL SECRETARY, Mcdisecra Wcstcent, Lonidon.

Th'le addlr-ess of the Irisht Office of the Britislh MIedical Associationis 16, Sotuth Frederick Str-eet, Dublin (telegrami1s: Bacillus,Dublin; telophione: 2550 Duiblin), and of the Scottish Office,7, Dr-uimishietgili Gardens, Edliniburgii (telegramt.i: Associate.Ediibturglth; telephionie 24361 Ediniburgh).

QUERIES AND ANSWERS.

EFFECTS OF PROLONGED ADMINISTRATION OF LIQUIDPARAFFIN.

"M1. HI." writes: A womatn, aged 53, has been taking paraffitinni liq.(1 oz. at bedtime) for three years for chronic conistipationi. Beforecomm-lencing this ter weighit had beeti stationary for years, butshe has Since gaiined 1 to 1& lb. each mouth. Alithough shle feelsfit, shie is disturbede about the increase of veight, and shle hold(stihe patraffiti responsible. Tlhe onxly other ebhage in her btLitsduri-ing this period is the dropping of tenuis, hbich shle playedtvice wveelily in sulmmer, but inot energetically. There is nioevi(lenice of glanidular disturbsace, and no treatment for theinrelealsed fat (wlichl is genierally distributtel) lhas beeu giveni.1 cannot coniceive the possibility of the laraflin beiug responi-sible, tnpless thirouiglh impilaroved digestioni following the marke(dimplrovenlent of the conistipation, buit should( be glad to know ifthere is any evidenlce vhichl xvowuld tend to conivict the paraffini.

* Thuis conitrasts xvitli the questiou of " P. C. F." in theJournilal of March 8thi (p. 478), when the suggestion was made tlhatscII p)rolouged atldminlistration might inhibit growth.

MIUSCULAR SPASMS IN STUMP AFTER AMPUTATION.DR. R. 0. C. THoMsoN (Ilucknail, Notts) asks for suggestions for

thie treatmenit of a ns1ani, aged 40, with ani amputationi thironglhthe thigh, the result of a gutnslhot woutnd( durint the w2ar. liewrites: Tihe patienit hias attacks of spasmodic conitraction of therecttus femoris, witlh twitchinlg of the stump atnd1 spasms of pain.These attacks come ou at varying intervals-sometimiies weelcly,sometimiies after ani initervtl of two or three montlhs, anl(d theyltst at varying uinmber of lonirs. WVlhen thte attack is at itsworst, lie has to lold the stumz1p firmnly to conitrol its novemetnt.I liaxe trie(l morphine hiypodermically; this eases the painsli-htly, btut (loes niot lproduce sleep, anid it leaves him feelinlgvery ill and dizzy. Otnsiopoui has the samiie effect. AllonialItnmiiial, anid sedobrol (70 graiuus of brotmii(le in four hoturs) havenio effect. The after-effects of opinim anLd morphinie are toosevere to juistify its tise.

SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF FAECES.M1.B." (1'auts) ivrites: Cani anyone give me inlformation as tothe signiicauce of the specific gravity of fteces? In a lealtlhychiild of 5 thie motioIns occasiollnljy sinjk like a stonie in water;at other timiies they float normally. No medlicines are beintggiveni, atn(d the colouir of tli&- stools varies little, wlhetlher theyfloat or sink.

NOISES IN THE HEAD.3M. R." writes: A miarrieI womanri, thirty-two vears ago, afterinfluenza, began to complain of nioises ini lher headl, chlieflymuisical, anid sixteei years ago untlerwent, a series of operationsto drain inifected nasal sinuises. Slhe is nlow nameiital vreck,owing to the increase in these lhead nioises, describing tihenis asbeilngtike machinery,hammering, traini rushing tlhrough tunniiel,screeching, etc. Tlhreeaural sturgeonis offer no furtlher alleviation.I oul(d be gratefull for anuy suggestlon as to treatment wlicIhnight miiitigate the imlteu§ity of hier coniditioni and so save lherreason.

FLEA INFESTATION.DR. K. Mr. ANDREW (Parltatonle) svrites: In1 a houlse simi1lar to thlat

describedl by "Pulex "' (Ma&y 10thl, p. 892) we en1tirely got ridl offleas bxy fumig,ating wvithl paraforml, vluichI iS, I thlink, morecertainl thanl sprayting. Aftere losissg allsvindos0vs, and hanglting