NOTES AND COMMENTS.
The Graubuch of the General Hospital of Vienna.—From this very interesting report for 1884 we learn the following: At the end of ‘83 there remained in the hospital 1,672 patients; of these 1,037 were males and 635 females. In ‘84, 23,937 patients were admitted, 14,801 males and 9,136 females. Discharged as cured, 12,532; improved, 4,485; uncured, 2,857. At the end of December, 1884, the number of patients remaining in the hospital was 1,742.
The maximum of sickness among males was reached in January (1,179); among females in May (740). The minimum among males in the month of August (842); among females in September (588).
It is somewhat interesting to note among the victims of pulmonary tuberculosis, the proportion furnished by various occupations. Two hundred and four day laborers, 113 shoemakers, 90 blacksmiths, 76 cabinetmakers, 71 turners, 30 coachmen, 19 butlers, 19 waiters, 8 landlords, 6 musicians, 6 servants, 4 conductors, 2 janitors, 1 stenographer, 1 chorister, 1 turnkey, etc. The proportion of deaths from tuberculosis expressed in percentage of the whole number of deaths was as follows: June, 5.6; April, 4.7; March, 4.4; August, 4.3; May, 4.2; February, 4.1; January, 3.9; October, 3.6; July, 3.2; November, 2.9; September and December, 2.8.
The most rheumatism occurred in May (84), most typhus in September (19), most bronchitis in March (210), the most pneumonitis in April (78), the most catarrh of the digestive organs in July (81).
Winter Prurigo, says Dr. Corlett in a clinical lecture, a common and most annoying disease of the skin in this climate,must be regarded as alocal neurosis. In its treatment internal medication avails but little, excepting in severe cases where the paroxysms of itching occur several times during the four and twenty hours, when hydrobromic acid may be used with marked benefit. It is in local measures, however, that we are effectually able to control it.
At the outset of a paroxysm apply caustic potash in strength varying from x to xxx grains to the ounce of water, to which a drachm of glycerine may be added, after which the following should be added:
In mild cases, by omitting the caustic potash, the following lotions will be sufficient:
Dr. G. E. Paget of Cambridge is to have a K. C. B. bestowed on him, and Dr. William Roberts of Manchester is to be knighted. Dr. Paget is Regius Professor of Physic in the University of Cambridge, and a brother of Sir James Paget, the eminent London surgeon. Dr. Wm. Roberts is Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Victoria University. In neither case can the title of “Sir” enhance the distinguished professional reputation already enjoyed by each of these gentlemen.—London Correspondence N. Y. Medical Record.
At the end of November the Curatorium of the General Polyclinic of Vienna held its first meeting according to its new constitution. President Bezecny and Vice-Presidents Dompropst, Marshall and Neumann-Spallart were unanimously reëlected. The chairman, Baron Bezecny, next greeted the new curators, and stated that the object of the meeting was to raise a largesum of money to erect a small hospital for emergency cases. Upon request of the chair, Prof. Schnitzler gave a brief report of the work of the Polyclinic from January 1 to November 25, 1885. Over thirty-two thousand patients were treated. The number of hearers, almost entirely doctors, during the semester year of ‘84-5, reached the height of four hundred and fifty-four. Among these were one hundred from Austria and Hungary, and almost as many out of the German empire. Then follow from other European States—Russia, England, Sweden and Norway, Belgium and Holland, Italy and Greece. America was represented by more than one hundred attendants; but also Asia, Africa and Australia furnished hearers to the Polyclinic. Prof. Schnitzler then left the subject of the report and moved that it be made the ambition of the Polyclinic to erect a Polyclinical hospital. This motion, after a very brief debate, was unanimously adopted.
On account of the death of Prof. Geo. Hunert, A. M., M. D., the chair of Theory and Practice of Medicine is vacant in the Medical Department of Wooster University in this city. As yet a successor has not been decided upon.
Third Annual Meeting of the Ohio State Sanitary Association.—We regret that the programme of this meeting, which was held in Columbus, O., Feb. 25-26, was not received in time for publication in our last number. A number of practical papers were read, some of which we shall present to our readers.
Drs. Scott, Ashmun and Herrick, of Cleveland, presented papers at the meeting of the State Sanitary Association.
Dr. J. H. Gleeson of 87 Bond street met a sudden death on the evening of February 22, at Gerling & Haber’s drug store, No. 283 St. Clair street. It is reported that Mr. Haber handed him by mistake a couple of ounces of a mixture of carbolic acid and glycerine, which the doctor swallowed and expired in a few minutes. The inquest will bring out the facts.
Dr. Geo. F. Leick is in New York City, where he expects to remain several months.
Dr. A. B. Carpenter, who has been abroad in the hospitals of London and Berlin during the past year, has returned to Cleveland.
Dr. H. G. Sherman, owing to ill health, has gone south for the winter.
The New YorkMedical Journalsays that “it regards the great distinctive service of American medical journalism as shown mainly in its counteracting influence in removing the pedantry shown in the medical colleges, and encouraging the expression of original thought in young men.” Surely, it were a great thing to remove the stupidity engendered by medical schools, and to draw forth the powers of original thought which are dormant in the young doctor. Of the truth of this view we have no question, nor can any editor of any experience or success fail to have many personal experiences in this sort of work. In the very best sense of that term, the medical editor is a teacher; and this, too, in causing others to work for the common good. The education follows from the efforts of the young doctor to learn something of profit or interest to the profession, and then place this before the profession in the most attractive shape. The medical editor, in order to make his journal a success, is compelled to get the best work expressed in the best way. Most of the older members of the profession have never learned to write, and as they become burdened with the cares of a large business, it becomes impossible for them to learn the art of writing. Much they possess of positive value to the profession, but from the defect of not being able to write with comfort, their knowledge dies with them. The medical editor can get little help from them. There are a considerable number of the members of the medical profession who could not write a decent article, if they had any distinct ideas to put in it. Obviously, the medical editor can do nothing with this class. But there is another class of doctors, who have the general culture and the brains, but are too modest to think of writing for the benefit of their seniors.From this class the medical editor draws most of his working colaborers. By encouragement, by personal solicitation, by aid in matters of reference, by stimuli of ambition, of professional pride, by appealing to the sense of his obligations to do for the general profession that which lies in his power, many of this class are brought into active service in medical journalism. Having encouraged to habit of expression, the editor stimulates the habit of original research. Of course, different individuals will be stimulated in different directions. So, at last, the editor will have writers in every portion of the field of the art and science of medical surgery. Hence, it comes about that the editor sends men to work with the microscope, in the chemical laboratory, in the pharmaceutical laboratory, in the physiological laboratory, in the anatomical room, in the hospital, in the dispensary, in the tomes of medical literature of every language and of every age. In short, he has these men at work in every field congenial to them, and such that they can reach it.
In a very real sense, an editor is like a captain of a ship—he shows his abilities not so much in what he does himself, as in what he can get others to do. That there are not more really good medical journals, is due to the fact that there are really few medical men having the power of getting others to work in the fields leading to medical journalism.
When a young doctor has begun to realize that he can talk to the entire medical profession, life and study takes an entirely new aspect. The day of small things is past, and the day of an enlarged and enlarging manhood has come to him. One who does realize this truth will never write a poor article for publication. The poor articles come from quite a different sort of men. These the medical editor gradually weeds out.
Of this direct and indirect influence upon the conduct of medical colleges, and upon medical societies and medical publishers, writers of medical books, and the relations of medical men, we have not time to speak. But in all these things the medical journal is the means by which the process of both good and bad education goes forward. Out of all these educational processes the medical profession is slowly rising higher in its development.
To every young man who would make the most of his powers, we say: think, observe, and write for the medical press constantly. It may be that one article a year is all that any particular person can produce. It may be that longer time will be required, but whether the time be long or short, be sure to begin and keep up the habit of correct thinking, constant study and correct and frequent writing.—Detroit Lancet.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTESCorrected yours to hours on p.195.Corrected Aurelinsto Aurelius on p.206.Silently corrected typographical errors.Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed.Please note that only references within this volume are hyperlinked.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES