Volume 46 · Issue 07 · 1932

The Wassermann test for the serodiagnosis of syphilis introduced some twenty-five years ago, has been subjected to repeated comments on the grounds of the complexity and the duration of the procedure and various attempts toward simplification have been made from time to time. In 1926 Kline (1, 2) proposed a microscopic precipitation test which bas proven to be simple and reliable. During the last few years he has made several modifications of the orginal test, aNFecent one of which consists in the use of defibrinated blood instead of serum (3).

With the extensive distribution of schistosoma japonica througbout the Yangtze Valley we would expect to find it associated with many other pathological conditions. In this paper we desire to report several cases illustrating this association and to raise the question of their interrelationship.

The occurrence of subcutaneous emphysema following trauma is not uncommon. Meade and Stafford {J), from the study of the literature, were able to record more than one hundred cases of subcutaneous emphysema complicating childbirth. Subcutaneous emphysema was also observed as a complication to influenzal broncho-pneumonia by Berkley and Coffen (2) in eleven out of 1701 instances. Recently, Ballon and Francis (3) have published a comprehensive survey of mcdiastinaI and subcutaneous emphysema. The developrnent of this condition in cases of traumatic wounds of the chest wall with fractured ribs, following thoracentesis of empyema, as a result of passing bronchoscopes or after thoracoscopic work is very well known and we personally saw many such cases.

On the 5th August (J31 a Chinese gentleman who gave his age as 43 came to the O. P. D. of the C. M. S. Hospital. Yannanfu. He was suffL'ring from an acute exudative dermatitis of the face which had the distribution of I.upus Erythematosis. This was treated with Calamine lotion and when seen the following day the condition was much improved. He was not seen again until Nov. 7th when he again came to the O. P D. He was then complaining of difficulty in walking and of numbne3s of both lower limbs. He wai admitted into hospital and on examination was found to be suffeting from definite organic lesions of the cerebro-spinal system. He gave a history which appears to Imve an important bearing on the diagnosis though at first the writer did not think so. He stated that his facial condition had got better bat there had remained some prungo and after a time some friend had suggested to him the desirability of having salv_rsan treatment-the therapeufic refuge far so many ills in moclern Cbina. He had therefore had three injections into the veins of the forearm. The first of these was without any untoward effect but the second given by the same Chinese pracLitioner in September praduced a few days later a gcneralised rash which the patient said was hke measles:. He had gone to another practitiouer for third injection. This made him very ill. He was confined to bed with high fever which lasted four days. There was vomiting during this time.

The following case seems sufficiently unusual to be worthy of record. The patient. a young woman, came to the Swatow Mission Hospital in October 1931. complaining of a lump in the abdomen of several months duration. She stated that she had suffered occasional pain of a colicky nature some time ago, but lately had been quite free of pain. She did not give a very concise history. but on being questioned after operation. denied that she had ever suffered any really severe pain. Menstruation was regular.

The relative frequency of cases of Pernicious Anaemia in China is something I have no opportunity to ascertain. In Szechwan I know the disease to be rather rare and since I can find no trace of a case being reported I think it worth while to report one occurring recently under Dr. Anderson's service which came under my observation.

Taenia solium has long been known to be a universal menace and was formerly one of the common parasites encountered in Germany, France, Portugal and other adjacent countries, but, through the enforcement of sanitary laws and inspection of meat, the incidence has been remarkably reduced.

The acute vascular disturbances of the brain have long formed a point of special interest of clinicians and pathologists.

Our readers will be interested to know that the first conference since the amalgamation of our medical associations will be held in the new Lester Institute buiIding in Shanghai from September 28 to October 5, 1932. After the Japanese invasion, officers of our Association have been experiencing the greatest difficulty in finding a suitable building to hold the conference. Some of the avaiIable big buildings have been taken over for the housing of the wounded and war refugees and most of the other buildings are inadequate for use as a meeting place for our delegates and the display of technical and scientific exhibits without which a general conference would not be complete.

We publish elsewhere a communication by the Medical Director of the Health Organization of the League of Nations on the public health intelligence service that is available for the health administrators or heads of scientific institutions in this country.

Malaria is one of the most widespread infectious diseases in China. In Nanking, Soochow, Hangchow, Wukong and other districts along the Yangtze VaIlcy the discase is prevalent during the warm season. Since the recent flood disaster it has spread over a much greater area than before. The resulting economic loss from this disease has there- fore made it necessary to immediately invesitigate its endemicity in the country and to take steps towards its control.