TUBERCULOSIS IN CATTLE.
2
877 between the number of flies and the incidence of summer diarrhcea. Dr. Hamer refrains from drawing any definite conclusion on this point but he notes that while there is a curiously close agreement between the curve obtained from an estimate of the numbers of flies prevalent and that of the in- cidence of diarrhoea., yet it is not improbable that the true explanation of this "concomitant variation " lies in the ’i dependence of both phenomena alike on the temperature of the soil. They are therefore not necessarily related as cause and effect. The amount of labour which these obser- vations involved must clearly have been very great and Dr. Hamer is to be congratulated on the work which he has done. Such records should strengthen the hands of local authorities in dealing with accumulations of refuse within their districts, though it would appear from the report before us that while the London County Council was laudably endeavouring to carry out its by-laws on the subject some of I the subordinate councils were among the offenders against i the laws of health. ____ THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION : THE MEETING AT WINNIPEG. THE Council of the British Association for the Advance- ment of Science has nominated Professor J. J. Thomson, F.R.S., Cavendish Professor of Experimental Physics in the University of Cambridge, to be President of the meeting of the Association which is to be held at Winnipeg next year. The investigations carried on by Professor Thomson in the Cavendish Laboratory, and by the distinguished men of science who first worked under him and received in- spiration from his researches, laid the foundation for the new views held by chemists and physicists as to the electronic constitution of matter and the remark- able properties of radio-active substances. In 1894 Professor Thomson was awarded one of the Royal medals of the Royal Society and to this was added in 1902 the Hughes medal in recognition of his contributions to the advancement of electrical science, especially in connexion with the phenomena of electric discharge through rarefied gases. Two years ago he was the recipient of the Nobel prize for physics. It is understood that provision will be made by the Canadian Government in the estimates for the coming financial year for a grant of$25,000 (.E5000) by the Dominion Parliament towards the expenses of the associa- tion’s visit to Winnipeg. The city of Winnipeg itself proposes to make a grant of$5000 (.61000). The week of the meeting will probably be from August 25th to Sept. lst, 1909. - OINTMENT BASES. j AN article has recently been published by Mr. Robert Tocher on ointment bases. The official ointments are not in all cases satisfactory. A perfect ointment should be of the consistence of butter at ordinary temperatures, so that it may spread on the skin or on lint by means of a spatula. It should be plastic, free from grittiness, and should not be liable to become rancid. Further, it should mix without decomposition with powders and with oily, aqueous, and spirituous solutions. Mr. Tocher has found that these requirements are met by mixing wool fat and soft paraffin in equal proportions. When anhydrous wool fat is used the basis melts between 40° and 42° C., and when hydrous wool fat is employed the basis has a lower melting point-viz., from 38° to 40° C. The white paraffin ointment of the Pharmacopoeia melts at from 460 to 47° C. For ointments containing 50 per cent. of methyl salicylate Mr. Tocher recommends a basis prepared by mixing equal parts of anhydrous wool fat and yellow wax or hydrous wool fat and white wax. These formulae will doubtless be found of service in prescribing various medicaments in the form of 1 Pharmaceutical Journal, Jan. 25th, 1908, p. 85. ointments. It should be noted that wool fat is the most penetrative of all the ointment bases. On this account it is inferior to the paraffin ointment of the Pharmacopoeia in cases where protection and not absorption is required. TUBERCULOSIS IN CATTLE. A MEETING was held at Norwich recently of much interest to those concerned with tuberculosis in cattle, which was the subject discussed at the annual gathering of the Eastern Counties Veterinary Medical Society. The precise subject for discussion was " Tuberculosis in Cattle so far as the Disease Affects the Milk-supply." Mr. Villar, F.R.C.V.S., of Harrow, in introducing the discussion, pointed out that farmers generally and those in rural districts engaged in the milk trade did not recognise the position almost of periL in which they stood from legislative enactments likely to come into force if they did not bestir themselves to counteract the extreme views put forth by some authorities. According to the speaker there were authorities who had declared that it would be no very difficult task wholly to eliminate bovine tuberculosis in a comparatively short period, provided that the tuberculin test were compulsorily and universally applied and if all reacting animals were forth- with destroyed. Mr. Villar gave it as his opinion that the carrying into effect of such a scheme was to all intents and purposes impracticable. It had been computed by men best qualified to pass judgment that something like 30 per cent. of the dairy cows of this country would react to the test, and the slaughter of such a number of beasts would involve an enormous loss to the community. It was suggested that by the aid of the tuberculin test applied carefully the disease might be diagnosed in cattle with comparative exacti- tude. The destruction of diseased cattle when necessary isolation of other beasts less diseased, and thorough disinfec- tion of buildings which had been occupied by infected animals were the measures of precaution recommended. By methods of this description it was thought that tuberculosis in cattle might be brought under control, but the object would only be attained at the expense of much time and money. The question of expense was the point upon which most stress was laid by the subsequent speakers, the majority of whom held the view that the owner of condemned cattle should not be called upon to bear the whole expense. The scheme of voluntary and legislative control in force in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark appeared to commend itself favourably to many as best calculated to meet the situation in this country. In case of slaughter- ing a diseased animal in those countries 25 per cent. of the value of the beast was paid as compensation to the owner if the carcass was passed for food and 75 per cent. if the carcass was also condemned. A point of great interest brought out at the meeting was that dairy farmers generally appear to appreciate fully the value of fresh air to cows. Several speakers stated that they never housed their cows and that the animals were found to be most healthy in their outdoor life, while all were q uite agree that cleanliness was an essential feature in the management of a dairy farm. A proposition was moved and carried- That this meeting is of opinion that clinical tuberculosis should be scheduled under the Contagious Diseases Animals Act, 1894, and that compensation should be paid in cases of slaughter. It is fairly certain that in the near future measures will be introduced into Parliament drawn up with the view of insuring a purer milk-supply than has been hitherto the rule. A Bill dealing with tuberculous cattle is soon to be introduced by the President of the Local Government Board, and the London County Council has applied for powers to exclude dirty or contaminated milk from the area under its supervision.1 It should not, 1 THE LANCET, March 14th, p. 826.
Transcript of TUBERCULOSIS IN CATTLE.
877between the number of flies and the incidence of summerdiarrhcea. Dr. Hamer refrains from drawing any definiteconclusion on this point but he notes that while there is acuriously close agreement between the curve obtained from anestimate of the numbers of flies prevalent and that of the in-cidence of diarrhoea., yet it is not improbable that the trueexplanation of this "concomitant variation " lies in the ’idependence of both phenomena alike on the temperature ofthe soil. They are therefore not necessarily related as
cause and effect. The amount of labour which these obser-vations involved must clearly have been very great and Dr.Hamer is to be congratulated on the work which he hasdone. Such records should strengthen the hands of localauthorities in dealing with accumulations of refuse withintheir districts, though it would appear from the report beforeus that while the London County Council was laudablyendeavouring to carry out its by-laws on the subject some of Ithe subordinate councils were among the offenders against i
the laws of health. ____
THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION : THE MEETING ATWINNIPEG.
THE Council of the British Association for the Advance-ment of Science has nominated Professor J. J. Thomson,F.R.S., Cavendish Professor of Experimental Physics in theUniversity of Cambridge, to be President of the meeting ofthe Association which is to be held at Winnipeg next year.The investigations carried on by Professor Thomson in theCavendish Laboratory, and by the distinguished men ofscience who first worked under him and received in-
spiration from his researches, laid the foundation forthe new views held by chemists and physicists as to
the electronic constitution of matter and the remark-able properties of radio-active substances. In 1894Professor Thomson was awarded one of the Royal medalsof the Royal Society and to this was added in 1902 the
Hughes medal in recognition of his contributions to theadvancement of electrical science, especially in connexionwith the phenomena of electric discharge through rarefiedgases. Two years ago he was the recipient of the Nobelprize for physics. It is understood that provision will bemade by the Canadian Government in the estimates for thecoming financial year for a grant of$25,000 (.E5000) by theDominion Parliament towards the expenses of the associa-tion’s visit to Winnipeg. The city of Winnipeg itself
proposes to make a grant of$5000 (.61000). The week of the
meeting will probably be from August 25th to Sept. lst,1909.
-
OINTMENT BASES.
j AN article has recently been published by Mr. RobertTocher on ointment bases. The official ointments are notin all cases satisfactory. A perfect ointment should beof the consistence of butter at ordinary temperatures, so
that it may spread on the skin or on lint by means of aspatula. It should be plastic, free from grittiness, andshould not be liable to become rancid. Further, it shouldmix without decomposition with powders and with oily,aqueous, and spirituous solutions. Mr. Tocher has foundthat these requirements are met by mixing wool fat andsoft paraffin in equal proportions. When anhydrous woolfat is used the basis melts between 40° and 42° C., and whenhydrous wool fat is employed the basis has a lower meltingpoint-viz., from 38° to 40° C. The white paraffin ointment ofthe Pharmacopoeia melts at from 460 to 47° C. For ointmentscontaining 50 per cent. of methyl salicylate Mr. Tocherrecommends a basis prepared by mixing equal parts ofanhydrous wool fat and yellow wax or hydrous wool fatand white wax. These formulae will doubtless be found ofservice in prescribing various medicaments in the form of
1 Pharmaceutical Journal, Jan. 25th, 1908, p. 85.
ointments. It should be noted that wool fat is the most
penetrative of all the ointment bases. On this account it isinferior to the paraffin ointment of the Pharmacopoeia incases where protection and not absorption is required.
TUBERCULOSIS IN CATTLE.
A MEETING was held at Norwich recently of much interestto those concerned with tuberculosis in cattle, which was thesubject discussed at the annual gathering of the EasternCounties Veterinary Medical Society. The precise subjectfor discussion was " Tuberculosis in Cattle so far as theDisease Affects the Milk-supply." Mr. Villar, F.R.C.V.S., ofHarrow, in introducing the discussion, pointed out thatfarmers generally and those in rural districts engaged inthe milk trade did not recognise the position almost of periLin which they stood from legislative enactments likelyto come into force if they did not bestir themselves tocounteract the extreme views put forth by some authorities.According to the speaker there were authorities who haddeclared that it would be no very difficult task wholly toeliminate bovine tuberculosis in a comparatively short period,provided that the tuberculin test were compulsorily anduniversally applied and if all reacting animals were forth-with destroyed. Mr. Villar gave it as his opinion that thecarrying into effect of such a scheme was to all intents andpurposes impracticable. It had been computed by men bestqualified to pass judgment that something like 30 per cent.of the dairy cows of this country would react to the test,and the slaughter of such a number of beasts would involvean enormous loss to the community. It was suggested thatby the aid of the tuberculin test applied carefully the diseasemight be diagnosed in cattle with comparative exacti-tude. The destruction of diseased cattle when necessaryisolation of other beasts less diseased, and thorough disinfec-tion of buildings which had been occupied by infectedanimals were the measures of precaution recommended. Bymethods of this description it was thought that tuberculosisin cattle might be brought under control, but the objectwould only be attained at the expense of much time andmoney. The question of expense was the point upon whichmost stress was laid by the subsequent speakers, the
majority of whom held the view that the owner of condemnedcattle should not be called upon to bear the whole expense.The scheme of voluntary and legislative control in force inNorway, Sweden, and Denmark appeared to commenditself favourably to many as best calculated to meetthe situation in this country. In case of slaughter-ing a diseased animal in those countries 25 percent. of the value of the beast was paid as compensationto the owner if the carcass was passed for food and75 per cent. if the carcass was also condemned. A point ofgreat interest brought out at the meeting was that dairyfarmers generally appear to appreciate fully the value offresh air to cows. Several speakers stated that they neverhoused their cows and that the animals were found to bemost healthy in their outdoor life, while all were q uite agreethat cleanliness was an essential feature in the managementof a dairy farm. A proposition was moved and carried-That this meeting is of opinion that clinical tuberculosis should be
scheduled under the Contagious Diseases Animals Act, 1894, and thatcompensation should be paid in cases of slaughter.
It is fairly certain that in the near future measures willbe introduced into Parliament drawn up with the viewof insuring a purer milk-supply than has been hithertothe rule. A Bill dealing with tuberculous cattle issoon to be introduced by the President of the LocalGovernment Board, and the London County Council hasapplied for powers to exclude dirty or contaminatedmilk from the area under its supervision.1 It should not,
1 THE LANCET, March 14th, p. 826.
878
however, be forgotten that, so far as rural districts are con-cerned, the Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Order of 1888when enforced insures to some extent the purity of milk.Unfortunately in many country districts this Order is moreor less a dead letter. Nevertheless, dairy farmers themselvesare beginning to recognise the necessity for putting theirhouses in order as the public seem likely to insist thatwholesome reforms shall be brought about in regard to themethods in vogue of producing, transporting, and dis-
tributing milk. The result of the meeting of the EasternCounties Veterinary Medical Society at Norwich is a healthymanifestation of this spirit, even if we take into accountthe manifest revolt against counsels of perfection in stamp-ing out tuberculosis.
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THE LATE DR. HENRY ROBERT SILVESTER.
THE recent death of Dr. Silvester has removed a manwhose name is very widely known in connexion with themethod of performing artificial respiration which he sug-gested. He was the second son of the late Dr. T. H.Silvester of Clapham and received his education at King’sCollege, London, of which he became subsequently anAssociate. He qualified M.R.C.S. Eng. in 1853, took his
IM.B. at the University of London in the following year,and his doctorate in 1855. In 1861 he became an
honorary medical assistant to the Royal Humane Societywhich in 1883 awarded him the Fothergill gold medal,of the value of 50 guineas, for his valuable researchesand discoveries in the method of inducing respirationin cases of apparent death from drowning or asphyxia,chloroform, and still-birth, and there can be no doubt a verylarge number of persons owe their lives to the successful
application of his treatment, more than 500 cases havingbeen reported to the society during the last ten years. The
I I Silvester method" has appeared in every annual reportfrom 1863 to the present year. He joined the committee in1880 and was a member of that body till his death. He
was a Hunterian scholar in human and comparative anatomyof the Royal College of Surgeons of England and later wasphysician to the Clapham General Dispensary. Besideshis important work on the discovery of the physiologicalmethod of treating apparent asphyxia he published works on" The Physiological Method of Treating Incipient Consump-tion " and " The Nature of the Spleen and Vermiform Appen-dix from an Investigation of the Lateral Homologies of theLiver, Stomach, and Alimentary Canal." He also wrote on
Teratology and contributed to our columns in 1883 an
ingenious suggestion for the prevention of drowning; thiswas that people in danger of drowning should puncture themucous membrane of the alveolo-buccal fold and by self-inflation produce subcutaneous emphysema of the neck andthorax sufficient to buoy them up in the water. He haddemonstrated this principle on small animals but so far aswe know it has not been adopted in human emergencies.Dr. Silvester is survived by his wife, Caroline Frances,daughter of the late Rev. F. Goode; he leaves no children.
MEANS EMPLOYED FOR THE DESTRUCTION OFRATS ON SHIPS.
IN the Bulletin des Sciences Pharmaeologiques for JanuaryM. Edmond Bonjean discusses the various methods thathave been tried for destroying rats on ships. In 1903the International Conference, meeting at Paris, indi-
cated three processes: (1) an admixture of sulphurousacid with a small quantity of sulphuric acid; (2) a
mixture of the monoxide and dioxide of carbon; and
(3) carbon dioxide. Of these methods the first is
destructive to insects and bacteria as well as to the
rodents. At Hamburg the toxic gas consists of carbon
monoxide, 5 volumes ; carbon dioxide, 28 volumes; and
nitrogen, 77 volumes. This process effectually killsthe rodents without injuring the merchandise carriedon vessels but it has disadvantages. It requires costlyapparatus and a prolonged exposure to the gases-not less than 24 hours. Further, it is dangerous to man,while it does not destroy insects. The use of carbondioxide alone has been abandoned owing to its high price.In France preference is given to a mixture of sulphurousand sulphuric acid gases, obtained by the free combustion ofsulphur in air, but M. Bonjean’s experiments have shownthat sulphurous acid alone, in the proportion of 60 to
80 grammes of the gas per cubic metre, destroys rats almostas quickly without exciting so destructive an action uponmerchandise. It is important to avoid humidity in the airas much as possible and to drive out the residual gas afterthe rats have been killed. In actual practice the gas may beproduced by the Marot apparatus, using 70 grammes ofliquefied sulphurous acid per cubic metre, or by the
Clayton or Gauthier-Deglos apparatus, using 35 grammesof sulphur per cubic metre. After two hours the remaininggas is removed by ventilators and the dead rats are burnedor thrown overboard. -
MUNICIPAL DENTISTRY.
IN a pamphlet recently issued by the Medical Officers ofSchools Association on the care of the teeth Mr. 0. EdwardWallis gives an account of the methods that are beingemployed in certain cities of the German Empire to dealwith the question of dental disease in school children. Hevisited the cities of Strasburg, Mulhausen, and Darmstadt.In the first city, which contains about 150,000 inhabitants,the authorities have set apart special rooms on the first floorof the children’s polyclinic. The accommodation consists oftwo surgeries, one with two dental operating chairs andthe other with one chair, besides a waiting-room to
accommodate about 60 children. The work is carriedout by two dentists, the senior of whom receives Z150
per annum and the junior Z115 per annum, both with
an annual rise of .S15. They devote their whole timeto the work, the hours being 8.30 to 12 A.M. and 2.30 to6 P.M. The children in the schools are inspected by thesenior officer who visits each school in turn, giving generalinstruction on the use and care of the teeth. Some idea ofthe amount of work that is accomplished may be gainedfrom the figures for the month of April, 1907, in which 551children were inspected, 831 teeth stopped, and 505 teethextracted. Altogether, since the opening of the school
: dentistry in 1902, no less than 157,000 children have been, examined. At Mulhausen, a manufacturing town with about’
100,000 inhabitants, the accommodation consists of a some.. what small operating-room with one dental chair and.
an electric engine, in addition to a small waiting-room.I The staff consists of one dentist only, who devotes his
whole time to the work and who works only during’ the hours when the children are not in school-viz.,
8 to 9 A.M., 11 to 12 A.M., and 4 to 6 P.M. The dentist is
. paid .E1S0 per annum and no private practice is allowed.’
In addition it is part of his duty to give lectures ondental hygiene to the, teachers. At this clinic last
r year 10,000 children were seen, the average cost work-
ing out at about 6d. per head. At Darmstadt the institu-3 tion is also provided and supported by the municipality,- the work being carried out by a junior practitioner> who is paid at the rate of .630 per annum. Hed is allowed to carry on his own practice and attends everyi day for one hour only. The above details are interesting as> showing the methods which are being adopted in Germany for the treatment of dental disease in school children. Thei question concerning the teeth of the poor of London, althoughI just as important, is nevertheless a far bigger one but there
