348

KEITH STEWART THOMPSONM.R.C.S.

Dr. Thompson, consultant pathologist to Selly Oakhospital group, died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital,Birmingham, on Feb. 1.He qualified in 1930 from the London Hospital and, after

holding a post as pathological assistant there, he becamelecturer in the department of pathology in the University ofBirmingham and pathologist to Queen’s Hospital, later takingup his present appointment.

F. L. K. writes:" Dr. Keith Thompson was essentially an enthusiast, who

once he had made up his mind to do something, be it inconnection with his work or his hobbies, tackled the problemwith vigour and was not content until he had achieved his aim.He loved to talk and discuss all manner of subjects and hadthe power of convincing audiences of the correctness of hisviews by his lucid expositions.

" In the last three years he had given most of his time to theproblems of hospital cross-infection, both the physical condi-tions in the wards themselves and the disinfection and sterilisa-tion of all kinds of hospital equipment. His investigations intomaterials and their part in carrying infection involved the studyof manufacturing and laundry processes, and his advice onmodes of sterilisation was often sought. The more he observedthese things the more did he drive himself to find the solutionhe wanted, and he did not spare himself in the effort. In manyways a most modest and self-effacing man, Dr. Thompson didnot allow his name to appear among the titles of the film oncross-infection made in the Selly Oak group of hospitals,though he wrote the script and was the principal performer.As a Home Office pathologist he combined exceptional skilland tact in presenting the medical aspects of many personaltragedies with understanding and sympathy for the relatives.

" Off duty he was a genial companion and a great lover ofthe country life. He was never happier than when he wasclimbing in Snowdonia. A keen photographer of no meanmerit and a lover of good music, he would always welcome hisfriends to his home and entertain them with examples of hishobbies and his lively conversation ".

Dr. Thompson leaves a widow, a son, and a daughter.

Sir GEOFFREY JEFFERSONF. R. F. writes:" It is thirty-six years since I first had the opportunity to

marvel at the gifts of Geoffrey Jefferson-his outstandingdistinction, his clinical judgment, his wide knowledge of

people, well and ill, and his ability to think deeply aboutalmost any subject. Many will not know of the uphill battlehe had in the ’twenties and ’thirties to get a place in which tosit and think, a bed in which to put a patient, or a theatre inwhich to operate. In the later years, too, I used to feel that itwas wrong if I saw him physically exhausted after a longoperating session, when it seemed wiser that he should havebeen sitting in a congenial environment-pondering and

reflecting-for one wanted to see so much the fruits of hislabours.

" It is indeed sad to know that we will never hear again thatmerry chuckle or see that waistcoat ripple which accompaniedthe few words or the sentence which so ably and so wittilysummarised or caricatured the whole situation-be it a clinical

problem, one in committee, or in any discussion. On the otherhand, let us be grateful that we have known him for so long andlet us pay homage to one of the greatest medical thinkers of thiscentury."

Births, Marriages, Deaths

DEATHSBRAILSFORD.-On Jan. 28, at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, after

a short illness Dr. James Brailsford of 20, Highfield Road, Edgbaston,Birmingham, 15.

Notes and News

GENERAL PRACTICE IN SCOTLAND

AT June 30, 1960, the Scottish Medical Practices Committeereports, there were 2638 general practitioners in Scotland(including 1801 practising in partnership) compared with2614 (1753) in 1959. The average number of patients ondoctors’ lists was 1977 compared with 1988 in 1959. Duringthe year 1959-60 23 vacancies were filled after advertisement,and 32 without advertisement; 40 vacancies were not filledand patients were transferred to other lists. One exchange ofpractice was arranged between an Aberdeenshire doctor and aSomerset doctor.

CASUALTY DEPARTMENTS

THOSE who would improve the service given to patients incasualty departments will be interested in two articles byClarkson,! who examines the subject as it affects one of theLondon teaching hospitals. In the first article he discusses thefunction of the department, the source of the patients, thevariety of medical work, and the accommodation and staffneeded to carry it out. The second article describes-perhapscelebrates-the devotion of the whole of the ground floor of amodern surgical wing to this heterogeneous collection ofclinical problems. Clarkson says that the casualty department,even in the largest hospitals, should act as receiving-room for" acute sick ", as well as for accident cases; and it is in this

department (not at the " hospital door ") that segregationshould first take place. He declares, too, that definitive treat- Iment of ambulant patients should be carried out in the casualty ’

department, which should maintain a fracture clinic. A certainamount-admittedly as little as possible-of " general prac-tice " work is desirable, and indeed inevitable. The availabilityof valuable teaching material, as well as the intention to’main-tain a high standard of treatment, call for the frequent attend-ance of a consultant in the department. (A case analysis showsthat 11% of first attendances were seen by a consultant.)The second article, on the accommodation shortly to be

offered to this casualty staff when the new wing is opened,must fill the average casualty surgeon with envy if he comparesthis with his own.

University of CambridgeOn Jan. 28 the following degrees were conferred:M.B., B.Chir.-* P. F. Bates.M.B.-D. R. Bainbridge, * Chin Cheung Chan, * Hung Cheng,

* Marjorie C. Doddridge, * Kenneth Lumsden, Jane M. Robson, * J. H.Thormley, F. W. Webb, E. D. G. Williams.

* By proxy.

University of LondonThe title of Sir William Collins professor of anatomy in the

university has been conferred on Prof. G. W. Causey, in respectof his post at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences.

Prof. Causey, who is 53 years of age, was educated at Wigan GrammarSchool and the University of Liverpool. He graduated M.B. withfirst-class honours in 1930 and gained the F.R.C.S. three years later. Afterholding a surgical registrarship at the Liverpool Royal Infirmary andserving as an assistant-surgeon at Walton Hospital he came to

London to take up a lectureship in anatomy at University College,He was appointed to his present chair at the Royal College of Sur-geons of England in 1952. His published work includes papers on theperipheral nervous system and electron microscopy.The title of reader in anatomy has been conferred on Dr.

A. S. Breathnach, in respect of his post at St. Mary’s HospitalMedical School, and of reader in clinical rheology on Dr. D. G.Melrose in respect of his post at the Postgraduate MedicalSchool of London.

University of BirminghamThe Ford Foundation has made a grant of$440,000 to

support research in the department of anatomy into the

reproductive physiology of monkeys.1. Clarkson, P. Guy’s Hosp. Gaz. Nov. 5 and Nov. 19, 1960.

349

University of SheffieldA conference on accidents and rehabilitation for industrial

medical officers, organised by the department of preventivemedicine and public health, is to be held on April 15. Furtherparticulars may be had from Prof. J. Knowelden, department ofpreventive medicine and public health, The University,Shefneld, 10.

University of GlasgowProf. C. M. Fleming has been appointed representative of

the University on the General Medical Council for five yearsfrom Feb. 1, 1961.The following appointments have been made:Dr. S. Bhandarkar, research assistant in medicine, Western ·

Infirmary; Dr. D. H. A. Boyd, lecturer in materia medica; Dr. DavidCharles, lecturer in gynxcological pathology; Mr. Robert Shields,lecturer in surgery, Western Infirmary.

University of WalesDr. J. D. Lever has been appointed to the chair of anatomy

in the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshirein succession to the late Prof. J. S. Baxter.Dr. Lever who is 37 years of age was educated at Westminster

School, the University of Cambridge, and St. Thomas’s Hospital.After qualifying in 1946 he held house-appointments at Charing CrossHospital, and later served as a surgeon lieutenant R.N.V.R. In 1950 hewent to Cambridge as an assistant lecturer in anatomy and five yearslater became lecturer. He proceeded to the degree of M.D. in 1954,and was elected to a fellowship of Trinity College, Cambridge, in1957. His published work on functional morphology in the endocrineglands includes papers on the adrenal gland and diabetic pancreasand an electron microscopic investigation of the carotid body.

Royal College of Physicians of LondonProf. E. P. Sharpey-Schafer will deliver the Oliver-Sharpey

lectures on March 7 and 9 at 5 P.M., at the college, Pall MallEast, S.W.I. His subject will be venous tone.

World Health DayThe theme chosen for World Health Day for 1961 is Acci-

dents and their Prevention. It will be held as usual on April 7.

Medical War Relief Fund

During 1959-60 E475 was awarded in gifts, including threeeducational grants and four maintenance grants. Most of theeducational commitments of the Fund are now complete, andtwo of the students intend to study medicine.

N.H.S. Committee on Health EducationThe joint committee of the English and Scottish Health

Services Councils on Health Education, of which Lord Cohenof Birkenhead is chairman, is now ready to receive writtenevidence. This should be submitted by May 31 to one of thejoint secretaries: Mr. W. N. Judd, D.F.c. (Ministry of Health,Savile Row, London, W.l), and Mr. A. W. Tait (Departmentof Health for Scotland, St. Andrew’s House, Edinburgh, 1).

Nutrition SocietyOn Saturday, March 18, at 10.30 A.M., at the London School

of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, W. C. 1, thissociety is to hold a symposium on the place of food science andtechnology in the campaign against malnutrition. Furtherparticulars-may be had from the hon. programmes secretary ofthe society, Miss D. F. Hollingsworth, c/o Ministry of Agri cul-ture, Fisheries, and Food, Great Westminster House, HorseferryRoad, London, S.W.I.

National Association for Mental HealthThis year the theme of this association’s annual conference,

which is to be held on March 9 and 10 at Church House,Westminster, London, S.W. 1, is Mental Health is Everybody’sBusiness. The conference is to be opened by Mr. EnochPowell, the Minister of Health, and the speakers will includeProf. A. V. Neale, Dr. W. W. Sargant, Dr. Stanley Smith,Dr. W. A. Heaton-Ward, Prof. R. M. Titmuss, Dr. P. A.Tyser, and Dr. J. P. Horder.

Institute of UrologyA weekend course on medical aspects of renal diseases will be

held at the institute, 10, Henrietta Street, London, W.C.2,from March 3 to 5. Further particulars will be found in ouradvertisement columns.

Research Trust for Royal Free HospitalMr. Peter Samuel, chairman of the Board of Governors of

the Royal Free Hospital, London, has given El 00,000 to form aresearch trust for the hospital and medical school. The fivetrustees are to be Mr. Samuel and his wife, and, ex officio, thedean of the medical school and the chairmen of the medical andfinance committees.

Medical LegaciesThe trustees of the estate of Mr. Alexander Edwards of

Forres have allocated E122.000 to the following Scottish

hospitals: Princess Louise’s Scottish Hospital for LimblessSailors and Soldiers, Erskine, Renfrewshire, E25,000; StobhillGeneral Hospital (paediatric unit) Glasgow, E30.000, ForresHospital, E15,000; Peterhead Hospital (new maternity unit),E15,000; Turner Hospital, Elgin, Morayshire, E26.000. This isin addition to the E80.000 already given to hospitals after thedeath of Mr. Edwards’ widow three years ago.

Prof. Thomas Moorhead left half of the residue of his totalestate of tll0,000 to Trinity College, Dublin, to form the MaiBeatrice Moorhead memorial fund for some purpose connectedwith Dublin University, preferably in connection with theMedical School.

Mr. Bertie Lees Read, clerk to the governors of Guy’sHospital, left E2000 to the Institute of Hospital Administratorsto provide a scholarship in hospital administration, and E5000to the Board of Governors of Guy’s Hospital for hospitalpurposes.

Commercial Development of InterferonIn the annual report of the National Research Develop-

ment Corporation for 1959-60 (H.M. Stationery Office,Is. 6d.) it is stated that the Corporation is cooperating with theMedical Research Council and firms in the United Kingdompharmaceutical industry (Glaxo Ltd., Wellcome FoundationLtd., I.C.I. Ltd.) to secure the development of interferon andto arrange for its commercial exploitation. These plansprovide for the Corporation and the industrial firms to beshareholders in the G.N.R.D. Patent Holdings Ltd., whichwill handle the business arrangements.

Limitation of Claims in Cases of InjuryThe Lord Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Scotland

have appointed a committee to advise them whether legislationis desirable to amend the law relating to the limitation of actionsin cases of personal injury where the injury or disease givingrise to the claim has not become apparent in sufficient time toenable proceedings to be begun within three years from theinception of such injury or disease. The chairman will beMr. Justice Edmund Davies, and the medical members will beSir Charles Dodds and Dr. Andrew Meiklejohn. Com-munications may be addressed to Mr. A. D. M. Oulton at theLord Chancellor’s Office, House of Lords, London, S.W.1.

Dangerous FireworksAt Booth Hall Children’s Hospital near Manchester there is

a regional centre for the treatment of severe burns and scalds.Each year about Nov. 5 grave casualties are caused by fire-works ; and on Guy Fawkes Day last year 11 seriously burnedchildren were admitted, some of whom are still receivingtreatment. The management committee of the hospital havesent a letter to the Ministry of Health, the Home Office, andthe local Member of Parliament drawing attention to the

injuries caused each year by fireworks, and saying that in theirview it would be useless merely to prohibit the sale of fireworksto children. They believe that the only satisfactory course" would be to have properly controlled displays, perhapsunder the supervision of the Fire Brigades ".

350

International Congress of AllergologyThis congress will be held from Oct. 15 to 20 in New York.

Further particulars may be had from Dr. William B. Sherman,60, East 58th Street, New York, 22.

International Cardiovascular SocietyThis society is to hold a congress from Sept. 7 to 9 in Dublin.

Further particulars may be had from the secretary-general ofthe society, Dr. Henry Haimovici, 715, Park Avenue, NewYork, 21.

International Congress of Food Science and TechnologyThis congress will be held from Sept. 18 to 21, 1962, in

London. Further particulars may be had from the hon.

secretary of the congress, 14, Belgrave Square, S.W.1.

The British Postgraduate Medical Federation lecture on thescientific basis of medicine for Thursday, Feb. 16, has been post-poned until Tuesday, March 7, owing to the visit of the Queen Motherto the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine on Feb. 16.

The Excerpta Medica Foundation has appointed Mr. John Davisas manager of their new office in London, at 67, New Bond Street,W.1.

The Ministry of Health’s Hospital Building Note No. deals withaccommodation for nursing staff. Copies (1s. 6d.) may be had fromH.M. Stationery Office.

The Greater London Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service hasmoved to 4, St. Andrews Place, N.W.I. The new telephone numbersare Hunter 2579 and 3120.

CORRIGENDUM: Treatment of Nasal Carriers of Staphylococci.-In the letter by Dr. A. E. Gremeaux (Feb. 4, p. 284) we mis-spelt theproprietary names ’ Tyrothricin’ and’ Soframycin ’.

Diary of the Week

FEB. 12 TO 18

Monday, 13thUNIVERSITY OF LONDON

5 P.M. (University College Hospital Medical School, University Street,W.C. 1.) Dr. Arpad Csapo (New York): Nature Experiments on theMaintenance of Pregnancy.

POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF LONDON, Ducane Road, W.12 24 P.M. Dr. Brian Ackner: Emotional Reactions to Physical Illness.

Tuesday, 14thROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, W.C.2

4 P.M. Sir Russell Brock: Museum, Research, and the Inspiration ofHunter. (Hunterian oration.)

ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE, 1, Wimpole Street, W.15.15 P.M. Psychiatry. Prof. Eugene Popov: Soviet Psychiatry.5.30 P.M. Experimental Medicine and Therapeutics. Prof. A. D. M. Green-

field, Dr. R. F. Mottram: Human Forearm as an ExperimentalPreparation.

BRITISH POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL FEDERATION5.30 P.M. (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel

Street, W.C.1.) Prof. R. A. McCance: Control of Acid-baseStability in the Newly Born.

ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL MEDICAL SCHOOL, W.25 P.M. (Wright-Fleming Institute.) Mr. J. A. Chalmers: Vacuum

Extractor.WEST END HOSPITAL FOR NEUROLOGY AND NEUROSURGERY, 91, Dean Street,

W.15.30 P.M. Mr. I. R. McCaul: Basal Ganglia Surgery.

MANCHESTER MEDICAL SOCIETY8 P.M. (Clinical Sciences Building, York Place.) Surgery. Mr. H. B.

Torrance, Mr. A. G. Riddell, Mr. A. R. Anscombe: Surgery of theLiver and its Circulation.

Wednesday, 15thPOSTGRADUATE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF LONDON

2 P.M. Dr. A. A. Sharp: Defibrination Syndrome.ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE

8.15 P.M. General Practice. Dr. Margaret Dudley-Brown, Dr. H. G.Farquhar, Dr. Ronald Mac Keith: Early Diagnosis of CongenitalAbnormalities.

INSTITUTE OF DERMATOLOGY, Lisle Street, W.C.25.30 P.M. Dr. G. C. Wells: Histochemistry of the Dermis.

INSTITUTE OF DISEASES OF THE CHEST, Brompton, S.W.35 P.M. Dr. E. H. Hudson: Cysts of the Lung.

HARVEIAN SOCIETY OF LONDON, 11, Chandos Street, W.18.15 P.M. Prof. P. M. Daniel, Dr. R. W. Riddell, Dr. Raymond Hierons:

Clinicopathological meeting.

Thursday, 16thROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE

3.45 P.M. Dermatology. Dr. Hugh Gordon, Prof. J. D. Boyd, Dr. HenryHaber, Miss Phyllis George, Mr. A. K. Monro, Mr. C. F. Noon,Dr. Manuel Lederman: Symposium on Malignant Melanoma.

8 P.M. Neurology. Sir Russell Brain: Neurology of Language. (HughungsJackson lecture).

INSTITUTE OF LARYNGOLOGY AND OTOLOGY, 330, Gray’s Inn Road, W.C.15.30 P.M. Dr. N. F. C. Gowing: Role of the Pathologist and Management

of Laryngeal and other Neoplasms.ROYAL SOCIETY OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE, 26, Portland Place,

W.l7.30 P.M. Prof. W. St. C. Symmers, Dr. Ian Murray, Dr. Mary Marples:

Fungus Diseases.BRITISH INSTITUTE OF RADIOLOGY, 32, Welbeck Street, W.1

8 P.M. Mr. B. B. Milstein, Dr. D. A. W. Edwards, Dr. F. R. Berndge:Mechanism of the Cardia.

NUFFIELD ORTHOPEDIC CENTRE, Wingfield-Morris Orthopxdic Hospital,Oxford

8.30 P.M. Dr. W. M. Rigal: Chondrogenesis.MANCHESTER MEDICAL SOCIETY

8 P.M. (Staff House, University of Manchester.) Ancesthetics. Dr. JosephGreenan: Cardio-oesophageal Junction. Dr. J. B. Montgomery:Emergency Obstetrical Anaesthesia.

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

Reid: AEtiology of Bronchitis.

Friday, 17thROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND

5 P.M. Dr. H. B. G. Robinson (University of Kansas): Effects of OperativeProcedures upon the Dental Pulp. (Webb-Johnson lecture.)

POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF LONDON10 A.M. Mr. Rodney Smith: Anatomical and Physiological Considerations

in Hepatic Resection.4 P.M. Prof. J. W. Crofton: Sarcoidosis.

ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE5.30 P.M. Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine. Dr. James Grant.

Dr. E. L. Feinmann, Dr. K. M. Martischnig: Study of ControlMethods in Tuberculosis.

FACULTY OF RADIOLOGISTS4.30 P.M. (Royal College of Surgeons of England.) Radiodiagnosis seer ion.

Dr. Louis Kreel: Nephrocalcinosis. Dr. G. H. Moss: IntermittentSigmoid Volvulus. Dr. R. G. Pitman, Dr. R. E. Steiner, Dr. Z. L.Szur: Radiological Appearances of the Chest in Polycythaemia Vera.

INSTITUTE OF LARYNGOLOGY AND OTOLOGY3.30 P.M. Mr. William McKenzie: Management of Chronic Suppurative

Otitis Media.BRITISH TUBERCULOSIS ASSOCIATION

5 P.M. (26, Portland Place, W.1.) Dr. E. J. Moran Campbell, Dr. PhilipHugh-Jones, Dr. F. Harwood Stevenson, Dr. M. K. Sykes, Dr.T. M. Wilson: Assisted Respiration.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF EDINBURGH, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, S3.30 P.M. Mr. Arthur Jacobs: Reconstructive Surgery of the Urinars

Tract.

Saturday, 18thMCGIBBON LECTURE

2.30 P.M. (Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Queen Street,Edinburgh, 2.) Dr. A. Rae Gilchrist: Radiological Contributionto Cardiology.

Appointments

BACON, A. P. C., M.B. Cantab., M.R.C.P. : part-time consultant in generalmedicine and Geriatrics, Scarborough Hospital.

CONDON, H. A., F.F.A. R.C.S., D.A.: part-time consultant anxsthetist, RoyalNational Throat, Nose, and Ear Hospital, London.

JONES, A. G., M.A. Oxon., M.R.c.o.G.: assistant s.M.o., duties include planmng,organisation, and staffing of the hospital and specialist services, OxfordRegional Hospital Board.

MACNAMARA, JAMES, M.D. N.U.I., M.R.C.P. : chest physician (S.H.M.O.), RoyalVictoria and Northern hospital group, Edinburgh.

PARSONS, H. M., F.R.C.S., D.L.O. : assistant director, audiology unit, RoyalNational Throat, Nose, and Ear Hospital, London.

TIBBS, D. J., M.c., M.B. Lond., F.R.C.S. : consultant surgeon, United OxfordHospitals.

Birmingham Regional Hospital Board:BROWNE, R. A., M.B. N.U.I., D.P.M. : consultant psychiatrist and medical

superintendent, Coleshill Hall Hospital.CLARKE, GORDON, M.B. Manc., F.F.A. R.C.S., D.A.: part-time consultant

anxsthetist, Stoke-on-Trent hospital group.DAVIES, W. H., M.CHIR. Cantab., F.R.C.S. : part-time consultant surgeon,

Herefordshire hospital group.GOULDEN, W., M.R.C.S.: assistant psychiatrist, Monyhull Hospital,

Birmingham.MCQUILLAN, JOHN, M B. Dubl., D.P.M.: consultant psychiatrist and

medical superintendent, Burghill and Holme Lacy Hospitals, Here-ford.

Leeds Regional Hospital Board:DOWNSBROUGH, F. K., M.B. Leeds, D.M.R.D. : consultant in radioios;..

Bradford/Otley district.LAMBERTY, N. A., M.B. Edin., M.R.C.P.E. : consultant in venereal disease’

York/Harrogate area.MACKINNON, DONALD, M.D. Lond.: consultant in pathology, York.RUSTAGE, J. H., M.B. Lpool, D.M.R.D.: consultant in radiology, Halifax

Huddersfield district.TAINSH, J. M., M.B. Edin.: S.H.M.O. in infectious diseases, SeacrMt

Hospital, Leeds.

The Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, LondonFIELD, PAUL, M.B. Lond., F.R.C.S. : registrar in thoracic surgery.FROST, PHILLIDA M., M.B. Lond., F.F.A. R.C.S., D.A.: resident <mMthetK

registrar. -

STEPHEN, JOYCE M., M.B. Lond., D.P.M.: part-time M.O., department &laquo;

psychological medicine.