928 DANGEROUS PARAFFIN LAMPS.

remembered that the London School Board gave a qualifiedpermission to inspectors to enter the schools for the purposeof inspecting the children. Of course, no school boardshould have the power to prevent the health authorities frominspecting the children or the buildings under their charge.The clerk to the St. Pancras Board of Guardians wrote tothe London School Board asking for the necessary permissionfor the vaccination officers to enter. The School Board

replied that the local sanitary authority was the properlocal authority " mentioned in the School Board’s resolution. 1The clerk to the guardians thereupon applied to Dr. Sykes,the medical officer of health of St. Pancras, who wrote to theSchool Board informing that body that he had applied to theboard of guardians and thereby, to save time, made appli-cation for permission for the entrance of the vaccinationofficers. The School Board wrote back that the board of

guardians were not the sanitary authority but that the

borough council were. The clerk to the borough council hasreplied that he has no authority, and so the matter standsover until Oct. 16th when the next meeting of the boroughcouncil is to be held. St. Pancras, be it remembered, is thecentre of the outbreak.

___

THE PERIOD OF PUBERTY IN RELATION TODISORDERS AND ANOMALIES OF

DEVELOPMENT.

IN the Journal of the American Medical Association o

Sept. 14th Dr. V. S. Christopher, Professor of Pediatrics athe Chicago College of Physicians and Surgeons, ha;

published a lengthy article dealing with the relation 01

physical mal-development to the liability to disease at th(period of puberty. The investigation included a total oj

6259 children-viz., 2788 boys and 3471 girls-who wenexamined in the Chicago public schools and who were mainlythe children of American parents in comfortable circum.stances. The physical measurements included stature, heightsitting, weight with ordinary indoor clothing, endurance ameasured by the ergograph, strength of grip of the rightand left hands, and the so-called "vital" or respiratorycapacity. A number of tables of the data thus collectedwere constructed and many interesting facts were obtained.Thus, as regards the growth of children it was seen that inthe case of boys the growth-rate slowed down from infancy upto the age of seven years, that from seven to nine years of

age the rate was uniform, and that from nine to 12 yearsa period of quiescence of growth again took place. From

12 to 17 years, however, the growth-rate was rapid andaccelerated. The curve of growth for girls shows a less

well-marked quiescent period from nine to 11 years of age,while the acceleration of growth begins at the age of

11 years-i. e., a year earlier than boys-and is more rapidat first, but of shorter duration than in boys. It is there-

fore shown that there is an exaltation of the vital processesof growth at the period of puberty in both sexes, com-

mencing at 11 years in girls and at 12 years in boys,and that this period of accelerated growth is precededby a period of quiescence. From a minute study of thephysical variations or departures from the normal occur-

ring during the period of puberty, Dr. Christopher con-

siders that while puberty is a period of great exaltationof life processes it is also a period of great individualisa-tion. It is a time when the weak fail and the able forgeto the front." While mortality is low during the epoch ofpuberty morbidity, or the tendency to disease or disorder,is high, the principal ailments being neuroses, psychoses,neurasthenias, cardiopathies, deformities, and ansemias. If

growth takes place with unusual rapidity the capacity ofthe nutritive and assimilative functions is so taxed that the

boy or girl is "on the borderland of physical insolvency, and

1 THE LANCET, Sept. 28th, 1901, p. 859.

any excessive voluntary expenditure of energy may befollowed by morbid symptoms." A rapid and irregularpulse, a, dilated heart, and neurasthenia with a tendency tostooping may thus be developed. In one case, that of aneurotic boy who increased in weight with great rapidity, anepileptic convulsion followed every instance of excessive

exertion-e.g., a 20-mile bicycle ride or a violent game atbaseball. He was practically free from convulsions so longas he refrained from unusual expenditure of energy.

Heredity may assist in the production of the disorders ordefects of this period, but nutrition and rest also play animportant part in the process. Some deformities, such as

round shoulders and scoliosis, are among the results whichmay occur. Manifestations of neurasthenia, fatigue, andcardiac dilatation require for their proper management restand improvement in general bodily nutrition ; and wherestooping and round shoulders occur shonlder’braces maybe employed in conjunction with carefully regulated gym.nastics. Dr. Christopher concludes that special medical

supervision should be maintained over boys and girls duringpuberty and any disorders or anomalies of growth correctedas early as possible.

-

THE DISTRIBUTION OF PLAGUE.A TELEGRAM from the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope,

received at the Colonial Office on Sept. 25th, states that forthe week ending Sept. 21st the cases of plague throughoutSouth Africa numbered 0. The deaths from plague numberedonly 1, and that a native at Port Elizabeth. The area ofinfection remained unchanged. As regards the Mauritius atelegram from the Governor, received at the Colonial Officeon Sept. 27th, states that for the week ending Sept. 26ththere were 33 cases of plague and 23 deaths from plague.As regards plague in Egypt during the week endingSept. 22nd 10 cases and 7 deaths from plague have beenreported throughout Egypt as follows :-2 cases and 2 deathsfrom Port Said. 3 cases and 0 deaths from Alexandria,3 cases and 3 deaths from Mit Ghamr, 2 cases and 2 deathsfrom Benha. 1 case and 1 death at Port Said and 1 caseat Alexandria occurred among Europeans ; the remainingcases and deaths all occurred among the native populationof the different towns.

___

DANGEROUS PARAFFIN LAMPS.

THE dangers of cheap paraffin lamps have been known toeveryone for some years. We demonstrated very clearly inour Commission upon Dangerous Paraffin Lamps whichappeared in THE LANCET of Jan. 4th, 1896, the risks to lifewhich follow upon the use of lamps of certain faultypatterns. The Home Office and the Education Departmenthave now drawn up a number of suggestions for the careand use of lamps. The Education Department have embodiedthe suggestions of the Home Office in a circular which has

been forwarded to managers of elementary schools so that

they may impress the suggestions on their scholars. The

suggestions are as follows ;-1. The wick should quite fill the wick-tube, without having to be

squeezed into it.2. Before using, the wick should be dried at the fire and then

immediately soaked with oil.3. Wicks should be in lengths of not more than 10 inches and should

always reach to the bottom of the oil-container.4. It is well to change the wick after two months’ use.5. See that the chimney of the lamp fits properly and is held suffi-

ciently tightly so as not to fall off when the lamp is used.6. When a new wick or chimney is required it is always advisable to

take the burner to the shop that it may be properly fitted.7. The burner should be taken to pieces and thoroughly cleansed at

least once a month, and all burnt pieces of wick, dead flies, dirt, &e,,should be carefully removed.

8. Never re-fill the lamp when it is alight or near a fire or other light.9. After filling see that the burner is properly fixed on, and if there

is a side filling-hole be careful to screw in the plug.10. Before lighting remove the burnt crust of the wick.11. Be careful not to spill oil in filling and if any is spilt on the lamp

to wipe it off.12. Before lighting see that the slit in the cone of the burner is

exactly over the wick-tube, so that the flame will not touch the metal.13, When first lit the wick should be partially turned down and then

929REORGANISATION OF THE ARMY MEDICAL SERVICES.

gradually raised, but not so as to smoke. When the edge of the flameis orange-coloured the lamp is not burning properly and the burnershould be examined.

14. Do not continue to burn the oil until it is completely extaustcd.It is best to keep the lamp well filled.

15. Lamps which have no extinguisher should be put out as

follows :-The wick should be turned down until there is only asmall flickering flame, care being taken not to turn down so far thatthe wick falls into the oil-container. The small flame may be

extinguished by placing a piece of flat tin or card on the top of thechimney or by blowing across the top of the chimney. Never blowdown the chimney.

16. Never use a lamp which is broken or in any way out of order, ora chimney which is cracked. If any part comes loose, or is out ofshape, or defective it should be taken to a lamp shop to be repairecl.

17. Always place the lamp in a secure place and on a level surface,and never on a rickety table or in any position where it could be easilyupset. Hanging lamps should not be put on insecure nails in the wall.

18. Table lamps should not be carried about more than is necessary.and nothing else should be carried at the same time. Heavy lampsshould be carried in both hands. The greater number of lampaccideats have been caused by dropping a lamp while it was beingcarried.

19. Lamps should not be turned down except for the purpose ofputting them out. If turned low the oil is apt to he unduly heated.

20. Should a person’s clothes become igmted the flames should besmothered with a hearthrug, blanket, woollen tablecloth, or wet towel.

21. Never pour oil on a fire.

These suggestions are all excellent, but the most importantrecommendation of all has been omitted, namely :-No lamp should be used in which the container is made of glass,

china, or any fragile material.Yet another point should be more brought out than it

is in the circular, and that is that the wick-holder, if move-able, should fit tightly either by screw or bayonet-joint.

INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF PHYSIOLOGISTS:TRIBUTE TO SIR MICHAEL FOSTER,

K.C.B., M.P., SECRETARY OF THEROYAL SOCIETY.

As we have already announced a unique tribute of inter-national esteem was paid to Sir Michael Foster by themembers of the Fifth International Congress of Physio-logists assembled at Turin in unanimously electing him tothe office of Honorary Perpetual President of the Congress.In commemoration of this event a plaque bearing a suit-able inscription was presented to Sir Michael Foster

on Sept. 18th, at a special meeting of the Congress.Sir Michael Foster was one of the most active of the originalfounders of the Congress and it is due mainly to his energythat another important international association, the Inter-national Association of Academies, which has taken over

part of the work of the Physiological Congress, has been

established. The tribute is therefore a well-merited one.In connexion with the Congress at Turin the definite

establishment of two other important international institu-tions was announced-one for the control and unification of

physiological and clinical recording instruments and the otherfor the observance of the physiological and therapeuticaleffects of life at high altitudes. The latter has been erected

on the summit of Monte Rosa with the aid of funds suppliedby the Dowager Queen Margherita of Italy. The former hasbeen granted separate housing by the Municipality of Parisin the Pare au Princes in that city. Both institutions will

be placed under the control of the International Associationof Academies. At the concluding general meeting of theCongress held on Saturday, Sept. 21st, it was unanimouslyresolved that the next Congress should be held at Brusselsin 1904, under the Presidency of Professor Heger.

WE commend to the notice of our readers an addressdelivered by General Ian Hamilton to the students ofSt. Thomas’s Hospital Medical School on Wednesday last,on the occasion of the annual prize-giving. If the re-

constituted Royal rmy Medical Corps is greeted in such aspirit by other distinguished combatant officers its popularitywill be much increased. An abstract of the address will befound on p. 933.

-

MR. WILLIAM WALDORF ASTOR has sent to the chairmanof the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to

Children a cheque for P,10,000, which sum is to form the

nucleus of a fund for the acquisition of premises adequatefor the transaction of the society’s business.

THE Gresham Lectures in Medicine will be delivered in

Gresham College, Basinghall-street, London, t.C., on Oct.

8th, 9th, 10th, and llth, at six o’clock, by Dr. SymesThompson, Gresham Professor of Medicine, who has takenfor his subject " The Tuberculosis Congress."

WE have received the report of Mr. Brodrick’s Committeeupon the Army and Indian Nursing Service. The personnelof the Committee is the same as that which has had the

Army Medical Service under consideration.

THE usual demonstrations of cases at the National Hos-

pital for the Paralysed and Epileptic, which had been dis-continued owing to the recent difficulties, will be resumedon Tuesday, Oct. 8th, at 3.30.

THE new buildings of the Post-Graduate College at theWest London Hospital will be opened on Oct. 14th at

5 P. 1B1., when an address will be delivered by Sir WilliamMac Cormac.

REORGANISATION OF THE ARMYMEDICAL SERVICES.

WE have received for publication the Report of Mr.

Brodrick’s Committee appointed to consider the Reorganisa-tion of the Army Medical Services. The Committee consisted

of the following members :-Mr. Brodrick, M.P. (chairman),Colonel Sir Edward Ward, K.C.B, Permanent Under-

Secretary for War (vice-chairman), Major-General Sir G. de C.Morton, Colonel Sir James Willcocks, Sir Frederick Treves,Sir William Thomson, Surgeon-General Hooper, LM.S.,Lieutenant-Colonel A. Keogh, R.A.M.C., Mr. G. H. Makins,Mr A. D. Fripp, Dr. H. Tooth, Professor A. Ogston, andDr. E. C. Perry, with Major H. E. R. James, R.A.M.C., assecretary. The report of the Committee is as follows :-

SCHEME FOR THE REORGANISATION OF THEARMY MEDICAL SERVICES.

ADVISORY BOARD.

1. The Royal Army Medical Corps shall be under the

supervision of a Board to be termed the Advisory Board forArmy Medical Services and constituted as follows :—

The Director-General. A. M. S. , Chairman.The Deputy-Director-General, A.M.S., Vice-Chairma,n.One officer, Royal Army Medical Corps, with special

knowledge of sanitation.One officer, Royal Army Medical Corps, with special

knowledge of tropical diseases.Two civilian physicians appointed by the Crown on the

recommendation of the Secretary of State.Two civilian surgeons appointed by the Crown on the

recommendation of the Secretary of State.One representative of the War Office appointed by the

Secretary of State.One representative of the India Office appointed by the

Secretary of State for India.The Matron-in-Chief, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial

Military Nursing Service (for nursing service only).2. To be eligible for appointment upon the Advisory

Board a civilian physician or surgeon shall be required tohold or to have recently held a post on the acting staff of aleading civil hospital in England, Wales, Scotland, or

Ireland, and to be not more than 55 years of age upon firstappointment.

3. A civilian physician or surgeon upon the AdvisoryBoard shall hold office for a period of three years, renewableupon expiration of the term of his appointment, but subjectto the proviso that he shall vacate his seat on the Board upon