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Notes and News

49, GREAT ORMOND STREET

SOME years ago a correspondent in our columns 1 remindedour readers that in treating children it should be borne inmind that " they bear blood-letting badly, with not unfre-quently fatal results ; much caution therefore is required, andthe bleeding from leeches is difficult to check." To our ears,attuned to catch the first whisper of the latest antibiotic,his advice may sound conservative. But it is not only therapythat has changed in the care of children. A hundred

years ago London had no hospital for children. In 1850 the

Royal Infirmary for Children, in the Waterloo Road, foundedin 1816, could still only take outpatients, and as THE LANCETpointed out: " with the exception of a ward at Guy’s, themedical student may * walk ’ every hospital in London, andhave no opportunity of seeing a single instance of infantiledisease." 2 But one man at least was growing impatient.Dr. Charles West, physician to the infirmary, was seized ofthe need to set up a hospital where children, and only children,would be admitted as inpatients. By February, 1852, his

energy and persuasiveness had made it possible to open TheChildren’s Hospital at 49, Great Ormond Street, the housewhich had once belonged to Queen Anne’s physician, RichardMead.To begin with, the hospital had 10 beds; and in the first

month only 8 children were admitted, for there was a greatfear of infection. But Great Ormond Street’s high standard ofhygiene and nursing was born with the hospital, and theproblem of finding patients for the beds soon changed to themore usual one-which still persists-of finding beds forthe patients. From the beginning the hospital has had distin-guished and able backers. Lord Shaftesbury was its firstpresident, and Charles Dickens presided over an early festivaldinner. At Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee the children ofthe Empire themselves provided money to build a new wing,which brought the number of beds to 240. In 1908 Lord Astorbuilt a new outpatient department. And so it has gone on.Sir James Barrie, Lord Southwood, Lord Nuffield, and thepeople of South Africa are others who have contributedgenerously to the past or the future of the hospital. A countrybranch was opened at Tadworth in 1927, and in 1938 KingGeorge VI opened the present modern hospital with over300 beds. Plans for the new Institute of Child Health, anew outpatient department, a model child-welfare centre, anda school treatment centre await the future, for Great OrmondStreet expects to do as much in its next century as it has donein its first.

ANNALS OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE

MEDICINE, like the universe, is constantly expanding.If only we had constantly expanding doctors to accommodateit, things would be easier. As it is we have to split it intospecialties, each of which at once begins to expand on its ownaccount.

During this century what we used to call physiotherapyhas been particularly expansive, and in an editorial in thefirst issue of the Annals of Physical Medicine Dr. HughBurt reminds us that the scope of this renamed specialtynow includes physical reablement and resettlement, as wellas the use of physical agents in diagnosis and treatment.Twenty-five years ago there were in the leading hospitalsa handful of physiotherapy departments ; treatment in themwas passive, palliative, and largely empirical. Most of thepatients attending had locomotor disorders for which nobodyelse in the hospital had been able to do anything much.,. It was a sign of the times," the Editor remarks, "that apatient, when asked what was wrong with him, replied’Radiant heat to the back for twelve years.’ " But timeswere changing; in 1931 the physical medicine group of theBritish Medical Association was established; in 1932 thesections of balneology and electrotherapy of the RoyalSociety of Medicine fused to form the physical medicinesection; and 1943 saw the founding of the British Associationof Physical Medicine. In the same year the first examinationfor the diploma of physical medicine was held.The new journal, the organ of the association, is to appear

as a quarterly. It is in the formal pattern of other annals,and graced with a red cover as warming as a radiant-heatlamp. Two substantial and informative articles open it-one by A. C. Boyle, H. F. Cook, and D. L. Woolf, of the

1. Williams, E. Lancet, 1851, ii, 505.2. Ibid, 1850, i, 601.

Middlesex Hospital, on investigations into the effects of micro-waves, and one by 1. H. M. Curwen and B.O. Scott, ofSt. Thomas’s Hospital, on the treatment of complications ofvaricose veins. Notes, news, and abstracts of publishedwork follow. There are, Dr. Burt reminds his readers, vastfields for clinical and technical research in physical medicine,and the official journal of the association is the proper placein which to record the results. Lord Horder, who took alarge part in founding the association appropriately appearsin portrait on the frontispiece, and in a friendly forewordwelcomes and introduces the Annals.The Editor should be addressed art’45, Lincoln’s Inn Fields,

London, W.C.2, and the publishers (Messrs. Headley Brothers)at 109, Kingsway, W.C.2. The annual subscription is :E1 Is.

TEACHING OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE

A NEW series of film-strips designed primarily for studentteachers includes two that are of particular interest to medicaland nursing schools. The first is on the school health serviceand illustrates the different aspects of the work-inspection,treatment, control of communicable diseases, special formsof education, and health education-with the functions ofnurse, teacher, and doctor. The diagrammatic organisationcharts are particularly clear. The second film-strip is devotedto the education of handicapped children, and providesa clear record of existing practice. These two strips clearlyshow the value of visual aids in liberating the lecturer froma mass of description and enabling him to develop those pointsin which his particular audience is interested. The medicaladviser for both strips was Dr. Denis Pirrie, principal medicalofficer, London County Council ; and they can be obtainedwith teaching notes from Kay’s Carlton Hill Film Studios,72A, Carlton Hill, London, N.W.8, for 15s. 6d. each or 30s.for the two.

University of CambridgeOn Feb. 8 the following degrees were conferred :M.D.—John Lister, A. A. Miles, J. R. Robinson, H. T. H. Wilson.M.B., B.Chir.—* N. R. Lewis, D. B. Murray, E. M. Sproston.

* By proxy.

Royal College of Surgeons of EnglandAt a meeting of the council held on Feb 14,*with Sir Cecil

Wakeley, the president, in the chair, Mr. R. J. McNeill Loveand Prof. Digby Chamberlain were re-elected, and Mr. C. W.Fleming was elected, to the court of examiners. The Hallett

prize was awarded to J. C. N. Wakeley, of King’s CollegeHospital. A Moynihan lectureship was awarded to Dr. L.Mayer, of New York. The award of Prophit research student-ships to Mr. F. Masina and Mr. T. R. Munro was reported.Diplomas of membership and diplomas in public health

were granted to those named in our report of the comitiaof the Royal College of Physicians (Lancet, Feb. 9, 1952,p. 322). Diplomas of membership were also granted toD. W. Ebrahim and B. G. Jackson, and a diploma in tropicalmedicine and hygiene to M. Lwin.

Sir James Learmonth, regius professor of clinical surgeryin the University of Edinburgh, will deliver the Lister orationat the college at 5 P.M. on April 4. The title of the orationis After Fifty-six Years. All medical practitioners are

eligible to attend.Hicycterian Memorial Service.-On Feb. 14, Sir Henry Dale,

o.M., F.R.S., unveiled a tablet at St. Martin-in-the-Fields tocommemorate the fact that John Hunter’s remains restedthere till they were transferred to Westminster Abbey in 1859.Speaking at the service Sir Gordon Gordon-Taylor describedhow Hunter’s remains were traced by Frank Buckland, thenan assistant surgeon in the Life Guards and later anichthyologist. With these two names Sir Gordon associatedthat of George Grey Turner, " another great collector andfervent believer in the value of the museum," who had firstsuggested that the commemorative plaque should be set upSociety of EndocrinologyAt a meeting of this society to be held on Monday, March 24,

at 5.30 P.M. at 1, Wimpole Street, London, W.1, Dr. DwightIngle will speak on the R61e of the Adrenal Cortex inHomceostasis.

International Congress on Analytical ChemistryThis congress will meet at Oxford from. Sept. 4 to 9, under

the presidency of Sir Robert Robinson, O.M., F.R.S. Thehon. secretary is Mr. R. C. Chirnside, F.R.LC., ResearchLaboratories, General Electric Co., Wembley.

428

Royal College of Physicians of EdinburghAt a meeting of the college held on Feb. 5, with Dr. W. A.

Alexander, the president, in the chair, the following wereelected to the fellowship :

C. M. Fleming, M.D. Glasg.; Walter Henderson, M.D. Edin. ;H. E. Seiler, M.D. Glasg. ; 1. H. L. Gillies, M.D. Glasg. ; W. H.Galloway, M.B. Edin. ’

The following were elected to the membership :William Boyd, Irene P. Rowlands, Sidney Stein, Robert Orton,

J. N. Armour, G. W. Reid, V. D. Bayliss, Suraj Prakash, H. M.Forde, Nathan Gordon, Rajeshwar Prasad, Balawant MahadeoKher, Leon Albert, John Gant, Mahadeo Prasad Mehrotra, Jean C.Taylor, Harry Black, A. C. Douglas, P. C. MacGillivray, MohomedAhmed Botawala, Suresh Dhireajlal Store, R. S. M. D. Inch.

Society of Medical Officers of Health : Services GroupThe annual dinner of this group will be held at 7.30 P.M.

on Friday, March 14, at Simpsons-in-the-Strand. Any pastor present serving officer will be welcome. Tickets (25s.)may be had from Dr. G. M. Frizelle, London School of

Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, W.C.I.

Bed-patients Moved by TrailerAt the Rowley Bristow Orthopaedic Hospital, Pyrford, near

Woking, patients confined to bed are now taken to the variousdepartments by a Pyrford ’ trailer. This fits under the bed,which is then jacked up by hydraulic pressure. The trailerand bed are drawn by a Tomlinson pedestrian-controlledvehicle, powered by batteries.

Exhibition of Medical Illustration

The medical group of the Royal Photographic Society andthe Medical Artists’ Association of Great Britain is holdingan exhibition of photography and art in medicine from June 13to 28 at the British Medical Association House, TavistockSquare, London, W.C.I.

EMERGENCY BED SERVICE.—In the week ended last

Monday applications for general acute cases numbered 1195.The proportion admitted was 87-5%.ADDENDUM : Hospital Pj,-ayers.-Those who wish to take

advantage of,,the offer of Nottingham General Hospital to

supply copies of A Collection of Prayers for Use in Hospitals(see Lancet, Feb. 16, p. 375) should send their orders, with thecost of packing and postage, to the printers, Messrs. Derry& Sons, Ltd., Nottingham.

Brigadier R. R. G. Atkins, o.B.E., M.c., late R.A.M.C., has beenappointed commander of the Order of Leopold II of Belgium, andLieut.-Colonel John Smith, o.B.E’., R.A.M.C., officer of the Order ofLeopold. The Croix Militaire (first-class) has been awarded toLieut.-Colonel J. V. Bradley, R.A.M.C., and Major J. K. Willson-Pepper, R.A.M.C.

Births, Marriages, and Deaths

BIRTHS

BROWN.—On Feb. 8, the wife of Dr. J. A. W. Brown, of Chesterton,Stoke -on-Trent-a daughter.

Du HEAUME.—On Feb. 7, at Enfield, the wife of Dr. BrianDu Heaume-a son.

LEvY.-On Feb. 13, the wife of Dr. Basil Levy, of Liverpool-a son.

O’MALLEY.-On Jan. 23, at Dar es Salaam, the wife of Lieut.-colonel A. H. O’Malley, i.M.s. retd-a daughter.

SHAW.—On Feb. 14, at Bristol, the wife of Dr. Stuart Shaw-a son.

TOMLINSON.—On Feb. 9, the wife of Dr. A. J. H. Tomlinson, ofShipley, Yorks-a daughter.

MARRIAGESGRAY—WHITESIDE.—On Feb. 12, in Glasgow, the Rev. John R.

Gray, B.D., to Sheila Whiteside, M.B.HOLLAND—CONSTABLE.—On Feb. 13, in London, Sir Eardley

Holland, F.R.r.p., F.R.C.O.G., to Olivia Constable.MORRIS—PRIDHAM.—On Jan. 12, at Broadway, Dorset, G. C. R.

Morris, B.M., to M. R. D. Pridham.STEWART—KEMSLEY.—On Feb. 9, at Oxford, Henry Stewart,

to Margaret Kemsley, M.B.

DEATHSAINSWORTH.—On Feb. 13, Hugh Ainsworth, M.B. Mane., F.R c.s.,

colonel; LM.s.retd..EAMES.—On Feb. 15, at Shrewsbury, John Ward Eames, M.B. Leeds,

colonel, A.M.S.MORCOM.—ON Feb. 12, in London, Alfred Farr Morcom, M.R.c.s.

Diary of the Week

FEB. 24 TO MARCH 1Sunday, 24th .

LONDON JEWISH HOSPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY3 P.M. (Woburn House, Upper Woburn Place, W.C.I.) Prot,

J.,M. Robson: Chemotherapy of Tuberculosis.

Monday, 25thUNIVERSITY OF LONDON

5 P.M. (University College, Gower Street, W.C.1.) Prof. H. B.van Dyke (Columbia University) : Antidiuretic Effectsof Blood and Urine in Relation to NeurohypophysialSecretion.

HUNTERIAN SOCIETY ’

8.30 P.M. (Mansion House, E.C.3.) Dr. George Day: P.P.s,(Hunterian oration.) ,

INSTITUTE OF PSYCHIATRY, Maudsley Hospital, Denmark HillS.E.5

5.30 P.M. Dr. E. Stengel: Lecture-demonstration.MANCHESTER MEDICAL SOCIETY

9 P.M. (University of Manchester.) Section of General Practice.Dr. Marc Daniels : Tuberculosis and the GeneralPractitioner.

UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH5 P.M. (University New Buildings, Teviot Place, Edinburgh,)

Prof. Marc Klein (Strasbourg) : Steroid Hormones andBehaviour.

Tuesday, 26thUNIVERSITY OF LONDON

5.30 P.M. (Westminster Medical School, Horseferry Road, S.W.1 iProf. R. Milnes Walker : Pathology and Treatment ofPortal Hypertension.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, W.C.25 P.M. Mr. H. H. Stewart : Partial Nephrectomy in the Treat-

ment of Renal Calculi. (Hunterian lecture.)BRITISH POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL FEDERATION

5.30 P.M. (London School of Hygiene, Keppel Street, W.C.1.)Prof. E. C. Dodds, F.R.s. : Research on Ageing.

INSTITUTE OF DERMATOLOGY, St. John’s Hospital, Lisle Street.W.C.2

5.30 P.M. Dr. R. G. Coehrane : Leprosy.WEST END HOSPITAL FOR NERVOUS DISEASES, 40, Marylebone

Lane, W.15.30 P.M. Dr. C. Worster-Drought : Neurology demonstration.

UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH5 P.M. (University New Buildings.) Prof. Tadeus Reichstein

(Basle) : Chemistry of Adrenal Cortical Hormones.(C’ameron lecture.)

Wednesday, 27thINSTITUTE OF DERMATOLOGY ’

5.30 P.M. Dr. Cochrane : Histopathology of Leprosy.MEDICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, 11, Chandos Street, W.1

8.30 P.M. Mr. R. C. Brock : Surgery of the Heart and GreatVessels. (Second of three Lettsomian lectures.)

Thursday, 28thBRITISH POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL FEDERATION

5.30 P.M. (London School of Hygiene.) Prof. M. L. Rosenheim:Lability of Blood-pressure.

INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH, Hospital for Sick Children, GreatOrmond Street, W.C.1

5 P.M. Mr. D. N. Matthews : Plastic Surgery.ST. GEORGE’S HOSPITAL MEDICAL SCHOOL, Hyde Park Corner,

S.W.14.30 P.M. Dr. Desmond Curran : Psychiatry lecture

demonstration.ST. JOHN’S HOSPITAL DERMATOLOGICAL SOCIETY, Lisle Street,

W.C.24.15 P.M. Clinical demonstration.5 P.M. Dr. Cochrane : Leprosy.

Friday, 29thROYAL INSTITUTION, 21, Albermarle Street, W.1

9 P.M. Sir Henry Cohen : The Brain as a Machine.UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

5.30 P.M. Prof. J. F. Danielli, D.sc. : Cell Physiology andPharmacology.

INSTITUTE OF DERMATOLOGY5.30 P.M. Dr. Cochrane : Clinical demonstration-Leprosy,

INSTITUTE OF DISEASES OF THE CHEST AND INSTITUTE OfCARDIOLOGY

5.30 P.M. (London School of Hygiene.) Sir Clement PriceThomas : Surgical Treatment of Patent Ductus Arteriosusand Coarctation.

MEDICAL SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF VENEREAL DISEASES7.30 P.M. (11, Chandos Street, W.I.) Dr. F. R. Curtis: The

Value of G.F.T.

Messrs. Ernest Benn, Ltd., inform us that they have published.under the title of The Crowd, an English translation of Psychologiedes foules by Gustave Le Bon, lately mentioned in our columns(Feb. 9, p. 300).