Volume 47 · Issue 04 · 1933

In this paper it is proposed to present a brief study of cholecystitis as it bas been seen at the Soochow Hospital. Very little has been published previously from China on this subject. While the series of cases here presented is small it does not by any means represent the total number of cases that have been seen at this clinic. Cases seen in the outpatient department are not included, or those diagnosed clinically in the hospital in which operative procedures were not carried out. Cholecystitis is not an uncommon disease among the Chinese. Graham (1) says that it is the most frequent cause of dyspepsia, which statement may well hold true for China although there are as yet insufficient records from which to draw definite conclusions. It can, however, be stated that cholecystitis has been observed in all of its: forms among the Chinese.

The urinary bladder is sometimes the seat of pain which cannot be relieved by conservative measures. This pain is of sympathetic origin and, like other pain of that origin, may be relieved by interrupting the sympathetic pathways.

The open flapless method of amputation dates from antiquity but was largely abandoned following the advent of sutures and asepsis. This primitive method, strangely enough, was re-popularized during the world war when it found application especially in the treatment of compound comminuted fractures and gaseous gangrene. At first, the reversion met with a great deal of opposition, but, chiefly due to the efforts of M. Fitzmaurine Kelly (1), this method was adopted gradually by an increasing number of surgeons, so that at present it is the most favored type of amputation in these cases.

War surgery distinguishes itself from other medical disciplines by the fact that its study is not possible in a steady and uninterrupted way, because fortunately wars are not permanent in the world. Therefore, war wounds can be studied only occasionally and not in constant research, as other diseases. We feel that every contribution of cases may be of some value and therefore venture to publish our material, although it is small.

The name "nodosites juxta-articulaires" was applied by Jeanselme (23) to a condition the clinical and histological pictures of which he studied and described thirty years ago. The term signifies the peculiarly characteristic location of the nodules near joints. The lesions are also known as Jeanselme or Lutz-Jeanselme nodules, subcutaneous fibroid syphilomas, fibroil gummata, and as subcutaneous nodules of various causes such as frambesia and rheumatism. Clinically it is an entity, but the etiological factors are varied.

Although supravital staining of tissues is a comparatively new technic, its importance has been already recognized especially by those engaged in hematology. It is the purpose of this paper to show the part played by this technic in advancing our knowledge in cytology, and to point out its advantages and its shortcomings.

During the last three months of 1931 the Henry Lester Institute of Medical Research maintained a Clinical laboratory in Hankow which worked in connection with the various hospitals established in that city for the flood refugees. This afforded exceptional opportunities for the examination of the intestinal parasites of man in Hankow and the surrounding country districts from which the refugees came. The material on which this report is based was furnished by patients admitted to hospital from these refugee camps.

Haematuria in malaria is apparently a very rare condition. Haemoglobinuria in pernicious malaria and in blackwater fever are quite common in some tropical and subtropical localities. In reporting this case, an effort was made to find this condition among the urinary disorders of malaria as reported by Manson, Castellani and Chalmers and Jefferys and Maxwell.

There is apparently some relationship between chichen pox and herpes zoster, and it has been suggested that the virus of the two diseases are identical. The writer had not till this summer come across cases supporting this view, but the following ones, allowing for differences of opinion as to diagnosis, seem to support it. Unfortunatelly, as they occured at a busy season and nothing unusual was at first though of them, the motes of the cases were far from detailed. They occurred in the school for Foreign children in Chefoo this last summer.

Needling is a form of Chinese treatment that is still carried on throughout the whole of the interior or China. The offending part is needled and the patient hopes to be cured by the process. In some of the large cities this form of treatment is considered obsolete, but not so with the general populace. Some say that the theory of the treatment is to put a hole in the offending part and let light in which in turn drives out the evil spirit that is causing the disease. Needless to say, a great deal of harm results. The following case is a good illustration of one of the possible results.

It is satisfactory to note from the third report of the National Quarantine Service just issued the remarkable progress that has been made in consolidating the maritime quarantine work during this most critical period in which the country finds itself. Unlike similar reports published elsewhere, it is a very readible and heavily documented volume of some three hundred odd pages and besides giving a comprehensive survey of health conditions in Chinese ports in particular and the orient in general,it also contains a number of original scientiFic articles which will place it in a class by itself of value for future reference.

From time to time attention has been drawn by interested and disinterested parties to anomalies prevailing in the pharmaceutical profession in this country. On February 15, 1933, as a result of airing their views in the Shanghai Press, eighteen qualified pharmaceutical chemists, representing six different nationalities, have formed the "Shanghai Pharmaceutical Association". We learn that the association which is open to all Licensed Pharmaceutical Chemists on production of their diplomas or certificates has been established for the purpose: (1) To Bring together all pharmaceutical chemists of any nationality, (2)To be a centre of action, information and advice in all matters pertaining to the profession, (3) To ensure for members the advantages and protection their scientific attainments give them the right to claim.