1
451 D. For each examination of only the Urine and Excreta (for which Mr. Collings sends special postal tins, &c., with full instructions) and report and general advice (see G). Two guineas. We gather under " G " that general advice is given by correspondence, and includes considerable but not full advice, and under " H " that for a guinea there can be had a personal interview lasting 30 minutes, to include " as much practical advice as can be given in the time." At a special fee blood examinations may be made at " patients’ own houses." Under the head of cookery there are offered lessons and " remedial recipes," presumably not administered personally by Mr. Miles, for " the cure of gouty and rheumatic disorders, liver and kidney troubles, anaemia, &c." " Single lesson (4 or 5 recipes for one complaint) 5s." The food provided by Mr. Miles at his restaurant may be wholesome, and some palates may find it agreeable, but such catering does not constitute a scientific training. Many people eat more than is good for them and consume food which they had much better avoid, but we must express without qualification the opinion that anyone whose state of health renders examination of his blood, urine, or fasces desirable had better place himself in the hands of a medical practitioner, and receive such advice as to diet as his case demands. If any of the articles of food thus recommended are to be obtained from the establishment which bears Mr. Miles’s name, then, no doubt, it will be found an excellent place at which to purchase them. The second document does not in any way mention Mr. Miles, but is the advertisement of a meeting for the delivery of " Short Addresses on ’International Importance for Helping Soldiers and Others under Nerve Strain, by Modern Methods of Nursing and Diet.’ " The speakers named are a Mr. Maitra, a Miss Beadon, and a Mr. T. Butt. The qualification of the last named alone is given. He is described as " late Private, Grenadier Guards," and may have had personal opportunities for the observation of nerve strain in soldiers. But the point is that no one without real knowledge of physiology and psychology can have anything to say upon the subject that is worth hearing, and this is not the right time to invite general audiences to listen to any teaching upon so critical a subject as nerve strain in soldiers, save from men and women of the highest equipment. Mr. Eustace Miles could, we think, put his restaurant to better uses. ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE AFRICAN BANTUS. Mr. G. D. Maynard and Dr. G. A. Turner’ have utilised the opportunities afforded them by their connexion with the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association to collate a comparatively large number of anthropological records on Portuguese East African natives recruited for work on the gold, diamond, and coal mines of the Transvaal. The authors give a historical sketch of the various native races, divided into two main classes: (1) the subtropical or East Coast natives, from between the Zulu border and latitude 220 S., and (2) tropical natives, from between the Zambesi river and German East Africa. The first group contains the Shangaans, Mytopis, Inhambaans, and Maputos or Tongas ; the second, the Agoni and 1 Anthropological Notes on Bantu Natives from Portuguese East Africa. By G. D. Maynard, F.R.C.S.Edin., and G. A. Turner, M.B, B.Ch. Aberd., D.P.H. Johannesburg: The South African Institute for Medical Research. 1914. Pp. 36 + 14 plates. Price 2s. 6d. Agawa from the Pete district, the Quilimanes, Mozambiques, and Portuguese Nyassas. Accuracy of detail being out of the question, the authors have attempted merely to give the reader some idea of the nature of the material, and to demonstrate the futility of attempting to regard any tribe as a pure strain, even if only for a few generations; for tribal wars are frequent and the predominant tribe leaves its mark on the inferior race, since all marriageable females. become the property of the dominant race. Other influencing factors in intermingling are the exchange of women among chiefs, the slave trade, and the Portuguese policy of bringing black soldiers from one colony to another and of deport- ing chiefs and their followers from one part to another. Examinations of ihe actual data obtained from post-mortem examinations of natives show very marked differences between the natives from tropical districts and those coming from south of lat. 22° S., and even on subdividing these groups differences are still discernible, though to a less extent. Descriptions and tables of the data obtained follow under the heads of stature, brain weight, skull thickness (in which connexion it is noticeable that no evidence is forthcoming to lend weight to the contention that the native skull is thicker than that of the European), cephalic and cranial indices. scalp measurements, heart, spleen, liver, and kidney weights, and intestinal measurements. Some excellent drawings by Miss 0. M. Vieick depict the faces of various natives typical of their races, and illustrate the facial markings that form a noticeable feature among many Bantu tribes. Outside scientific work of this character by medical men is worthy of all commendation. THE MEDICAL EDUCATION OF WOMEN. ON Thursday in last week a meeting was held in Sunderland House, Curzon-street, London, the hostess, the Duchess of Marlborough, presiding, when the object was to promote the extension of the London (Royal Free Hospital) School of Medicine for Women. The Duchess of Marlborough in opening the proceedings dwelt upon the shortage of medical practitioners already felt in this country, a shortage which must inevitably increase as military exigencies make even greater demands upon a limited supply, and pointed out that the laims of medical women to a wider and more enerous public support were accentuated by the emergency. The view is one that we all support. Sir Donald MacAlister made a statement recently at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the General Medical Council to the effect that for the next few years from 200 to 300 fewer medical men will qualify as medical prac- titioners, and his statement was communicated to the War Office in order that senior medical students serving in the Army in different capacities might be released and enabled to continue their studies. In this way the more immediate shortage may be alleviated, but the position in the years to follow must remain unaltered. The medical curri- culum occupies the student on an average at least six years, so that no reinforcement in our medical schools will be reflected upon the Medical Register until 1920 or so. The shortage would have been inevitable in any case, and in face of contradiction we have frequently said so; the war bids fair to make it acute by increasing the demand and diminishing the supply. This affords a great opportunity to medical women, and there is no

ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE AFRICAN BANTUS

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE AFRICAN BANTUS

451

D. For each examination of only the Urine and Excreta(for which Mr. Collings sends special postal tins, &c., withfull instructions) and report and general advice (see G).Two guineas.We gather under " G

" that general advice is givenby correspondence, and includes considerable butnot full advice, and under " H " that for a guineathere can be had a personal interview lasting30 minutes, to include " as much practical adviceas can be given in the time." At a special fee bloodexaminations may be made at

"

patients’ own

houses." Under the head of cookery there are

offered lessons and " remedial recipes," presumablynot administered personally by Mr. Miles, for " thecure of gouty and rheumatic disorders, liverand kidney troubles, anaemia, &c."

"

Singlelesson (4 or 5 recipes for one complaint) 5s."The food provided by Mr. Miles at his restaurantmay be wholesome, and some palates may find itagreeable, but such catering does not constitute ascientific training. Many people eat more thanis good for them and consume food which they hadmuch better avoid, but we must express withoutqualification the opinion that anyone whosestate of health renders examination of his blood,urine, or fasces desirable had better place himselfin the hands of a medical practitioner, and receivesuch advice as to diet as his case demands.If any of the articles of food thus recommendedare to be obtained from the establishment whichbears Mr. Miles’s name, then, no doubt, it willbe found an excellent place at which to purchasethem. The second document does not in anyway mention Mr. Miles, but is the advertisementof a meeting for the delivery of " Short Addresseson ’International Importance for Helping Soldiersand Others under Nerve Strain, by ModernMethods of Nursing and Diet.’ " The speakersnamed are a Mr. Maitra, a Miss Beadon, and a

Mr. T. Butt. The qualification of the last namedalone is given. He is described as " late Private,Grenadier Guards," and may have had personalopportunities for the observation of nerve strainin soldiers. But the point is that no one withoutreal knowledge of physiology and psychology canhave anything to say upon the subject that isworth hearing, and this is not the right timeto invite general audiences to listen to anyteaching upon so critical a subject as nerve

strain in soldiers, save from men and women ofthe highest equipment. Mr. Eustace Miles could,we think, put his restaurant to better uses.

ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE AFRICAN BANTUS.

Mr. G. D. Maynard and Dr. G. A. Turner’ haveutilised the opportunities afforded them by theirconnexion with the Witwatersrand Native LabourAssociation to collate a comparatively large numberof anthropological records on Portuguese EastAfrican natives recruited for work on the gold,diamond, and coal mines of the Transvaal. Theauthors give a historical sketch of the variousnative races, divided into two main classes: (1) thesubtropical or East Coast natives, from betweenthe Zulu border and latitude 220 S., and (2)tropical natives, from between the Zambesiriver and German East Africa. The first groupcontains the Shangaans, Mytopis, Inhambaans,and Maputos or Tongas ; the second, the Agoni and

1 Anthropological Notes on Bantu Natives from Portuguese EastAfrica. By G. D. Maynard, F.R.C.S.Edin., and G. A. Turner, M.B,B.Ch. Aberd., D.P.H. Johannesburg: The South African Institute forMedical Research. 1914. Pp. 36 + 14 plates. Price 2s. 6d.

Agawa from the Pete district, the Quilimanes,Mozambiques, and Portuguese Nyassas. Accuracyof detail being out of the question, the authorshave attempted merely to give the reader someidea of the nature of the material, and todemonstrate the futility of attempting to regardany tribe as a pure strain, even if only fora few generations; for tribal wars are frequentand the predominant tribe leaves its mark onthe inferior race, since all marriageable females.become the property of the dominant race. Otherinfluencing factors in intermingling are the

exchange of women among chiefs, the slave trade,and the Portuguese policy of bringing blacksoldiers from one colony to another and of deport-ing chiefs and their followers from one part toanother. Examinations of ihe actual data obtainedfrom post-mortem examinations of natives showvery marked differences between the natives fromtropical districts and those coming from south oflat. 22° S., and even on subdividing these groupsdifferences are still discernible, though to a lessextent. Descriptions and tables of the data obtainedfollow under the heads of stature, brain weight, skullthickness (in which connexion it is noticeable thatno evidence is forthcoming to lend weight to thecontention that the native skull is thicker thanthat of the European), cephalic and cranial indices.scalp measurements, heart, spleen, liver, and kidneyweights, and intestinal measurements. Someexcellent drawings by Miss 0. M. Vieick depictthe faces of various natives typical of their races,and illustrate the facial markings that form anoticeable feature among many Bantu tribes.Outside scientific work of this character by medicalmen is worthy of all commendation.

THE MEDICAL EDUCATION OF WOMEN.

ON Thursday in last week a meeting was heldin Sunderland House, Curzon-street, London, thehostess, the Duchess of Marlborough, presiding,when the object was to promote the extension ofthe London (Royal Free Hospital) School ofMedicine for Women. The Duchess of Marlboroughin opening the proceedings dwelt upon the shortageof medical practitioners already felt in this country,a shortage which must inevitably increase as

military exigencies make even greater demandsupon a limited supply, and pointed out that thelaims of medical women to a wider and moreenerous public support were accentuated by the

emergency. The view is one that we all support.Sir Donald MacAlister made a statement recentlyat a meeting of the Executive Committee of theGeneral Medical Council to the effect thatfor the next few years from 200 to 300 fewermedical men will qualify as medical prac-titioners, and his statement was communicatedto the War Office in order that senior medicalstudents serving in the Army in different capacitiesmight be released and enabled to continue theirstudies. In this way the more immediate shortagemay be alleviated, but the position in the years tofollow must remain unaltered. The medical curri-culum occupies the student on an average at leastsix years, so that no reinforcement in our medicalschools will be reflected upon the Medical Registeruntil 1920 or so. The shortage would have beeninevitable in any case, and in face of contradictionwe have frequently said so; the war bids fair tomake it acute by increasing the demand and

diminishing the supply. This affords a greatopportunity to medical women, and there is no