Volume 49 · Issue 04 · 1935

That diphtheria is a prevalent disease in China, is indicated by Gear's report (2) of a recent survey of hospital patients in this country. In the first half of the year 1933, out of a total number of 208,045 patients seen in 17 leading hospitals scattered in the different sections of China, there were 277 or 1.3 per miIle cases of diphtheria. which had a higher hospital incidence than either scarlet fever or measles. To control this disease, it is a very important measure to start a nation-wide active immunization campaign by preparing a suitable antigen, which, ideally, should possess the following qualities (i) rapid induction of permanent immunity in a nigh degree; (2) freedom from unpleasant reactions; simplicity of administration; and (4) low cost. In 1931, the writer (6) made in Shanghai a comparative study of toxin-antitoxin mixture and anatoxin (toxoid), and found that while the latter was much more effective than tho former in inducing the immunity to diphtheria as measured by the Schick test, it produced more severe reactions, especially in adults.

Since Schwartze (1) first reported a case of otitis externa as being caused by aspergillus, various kinds of fungus have been found to cause aural disease. Sporothrix was isolated from the external ear by Bahre and Hansen(2) and streptothrix by Martin (3). Cann and Hollis (4) demonstrated the presence of actinomyces in a case of external otitis and Chisolm (5) and Gill (6) found several strains of mucor, aspergillus and penicillium in a series of cases of ear infections. According to Hatch(7) and Fort (8) otomycosis is rather common in the tropics, especially in India and southern Florida. On the European continent, reports of the disease are infrequently seen, and in China there has not been a single case reported.

The need for a simple, safe method of sterilization without necessitating laparotomy with its attendant risks and long convalescence, seems especiaIly great in China. Birth control methods obviously cannot be taught to the coolie woman nor even to many of those of the better class. We have been daily confronted with cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis and cardiac disease as well as gynecological conditions which contraindicate future pregnancy. Most of these patients refuse laparotomy but are entirely willing to submit to vaginal operation.

The main object of this paper is to encourage my less timid colleagues to use this reaIly God-sent anaesthetic whenever opportunity presents itself. I am sure if laymen could only be assured of its efficacy they would one and all insist on its use more frequently than hitherto.

The first experiment with "Evipan Sodium was done in Germany in the autumn of 1932 and so encouraging was the result that up to now there are twenty five thousand cases reported with only one death attributed directly to its use.

Christophers (1926) reported three species of Anopheles colIected by Prof. W. S. Patton from T'aian and Tsinan of Shantung. Hindle and Feng (1929) made experiments with the anopheline mosquitoes and malaria in Tsinan and found that both A. (M.) pattoni and A. (A.) hyrcanus var. sinensis are susceptible to the infection of P. vivax but the former is the more favourable host. Feng (1931) gave some further observations and records of the Anopheles in other parts of the province. Apart from the above there seems to be no other investigations of these insects in Shantung.

Owing to its simplicity, artificial pneumothorax has become the main weapon of phthisiologists. Thanks to the perfection of technique and the employment of complementary measures in ineffective cases, the complications have been greatly reduced and its efIiciency enhanced. At present, artificial pneumothorax remains the first choice in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, perhaps with the exception of extensive old cirrhotic lesions in which some authorities recommend thoracoplasty immediately and of the lower lobe lesions in which a few authors prefer phrenicoexairesis.

The presence of viable and infective Leishmania donovani in the oral and nasal secretions of thirteen out of fourteen patients suffering from Kala-azar (1,2) has led us to alter our concept concerning the resistance of this parasite to bacterial contamination. The accepted belief that Leishmania donovani is a delicate organism and that it cannot survive in the presence of common bacteria was challenged by our studies on patients suffering from kala-azar. The experiments reported in this communication were designed to test more specifically the exact relationship which exists in vitro between Leishmania donovani and some of the common bacteria with which they may be associated in the mammalian host.

The problem to which I want to call your attention to-night is a vast one, how large no one knows for certain, but in South China at least it is one of the major health problems. It is commonly estimated that there are a million lepers in this country but it is as impossible to know how many suffer from this infection as from the kindred dis- ease of tuberculosis which in many ways it closely resembles. Especially is this the case in its widespread incidence, its furtive onset, its special attack on children and its liability to recurrence, as well as in the close similiarity in the nature of the infective organisms.

Cowell (1) noted a considerable variation in calcium content between the outer and the inner leaves of the cabbage plant. His analyses were calculated on a wet basis. We have undertaken to determine the extent to which this difference is to be observed in other leafy vegetables.

The introduction of pentavalent organic antimony compounds in the treatment of kala-azar was undoubtedly an advance in chemotherapy. It must, however, be admitted that an ideal specific for kala-azar has not yet been found and search for such must continue. Of the various organic antimony compounds introduced within recent years, two, namely urea-stibamine and neostibosan, have been given a thorough trial in the Peiping Union Medical College Hospital, and it is for the purpose of showing their respective merits as well as their shortcomings and of indicating the direction in which improvements must be sought that the following report is submitted.

Leprosy laws dealing with the treatment and handling of lepers have been so frequently characterised, in every land, by their archaic nature and their truckling to popular superstition, without any regard to medical progress or scientific knowledge, that anything new in this line can be welcomed with acclamation. That progressive ideas should emanate from Canton is hardly surprising in view of the history of recent decades and the astonishing thing is that such legislation should have been so long delayed, and ancient and cruel laws allowed to persist till now.

A large percentage of medical practitioners working in China must frequently be faced with problems connected with the removal of foreign bodies from the tissues.

Dr. Kerr was born on November 30th, 1824, in Adams County, Ohio, U.S.A. The grandfather said, "We will call his name John" and he prayed that the child might so follow the Savior that the world would be made better by his life. When he was but five years old his father died and he was taken into the home of his uncle in Virginia where he remained until he was fourteen. Here he went to school, a happy, industrious boy, kind and generous; always ready to do a favor for others. He always stood high in his studies. His generous nature and sense of justice led him to take a firm stand against slavery as he saw it practiced about him, At the age of sixteen he entered Denison University and during his course of study decided to become a physician, entering Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and graduating in 1847.