_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 a
_local 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:
℞ Menthol ℨss.
Acidi carbolici ℨss.
Sodii benzoati ℨij.
Ung. aquae rosae ℥iij.
Cerae alba q. s. Misce.
In mild cases, by omitting the caustic potash, the following lotions
will be sufficient:
℞ Menthol ℨj.
Alcoholis ℥ij.
Acidi carbolici ℨss.
Sodae benzoati ℥j.
Aquae rosae ℥vj.
Misce.
* * * * *
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 large sum 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.
HOW DOES AMERICAN JOURNALISM AID THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MEDICAL
PROFESSION?
The New York _Medical Journal_ says 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._
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