Page:The Journal of Tropical Medicine, volume 6.djvu/214
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THE JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE.
[ June 1, 1903.
Y 1 7 : V-spot with the angle more obtuse than that seen in Filaria nocturna is present, but it is difficult to say if a tail spot is or not. In stained specimens a break in the continuity of the central column of cells anterior to the position of the V-spot is seen. They have no sheath, and locomote freely over the slide on which one examines them. Their numbers in the peripheral blood vary, being equally numerous, however, by day as well as by night, that is, they observe no periodicity. The four cases in Table I. demonstrate this.
In determining the number of filarial embryos in the blood at any given time, it is of the utmost importance that the same quantity of blood should be used each time, and it may not be out of place here to give the technique employed. A pipette graduated to 5 cmm. may be used, and this quantity of blood, after being sucked up, is blown out on to a slide, spread out, and allowed to dry. The hemoglobin is washed out by placing the slide for a minute-or so in water, and after this the film is fixed in alcohol and ether, stained with fuchsin or hematoxylin, and the number of filarie present accurately counted.
By this method an examination of the blood from the viscera and large vessels of the thorax in cases that have died reveals the fact that the special seat of selec- tion of the parasites is apparently not in the peripheral blood but in that of the heart, lungs, aorta, and other large vessels. They are never found in the spleen, and only rarely in the liver and pancreas (see Table IJ.).
(To be continued.) > Correspondence.
To the Editors of the Journau oF Troprcan MEpicrne.
Srrs,—In reading the article ‘‘ Medical Officers in British Protectorates,”’ in your issue of October 15th, it struck me that a few notes on the medical service that I was attached to might be interesting.
A medical man on joining this service usually receives 200 dols. per mensem as salary (the exchange at the present day being 1s. 7}d. per dollar), and on account of the unstable condition of the dollar, the Company are at the present moment paying all its Officers at 1s. 10d. to the dollar,
Free quarters with plain furniture are provided, and there is a travelling allowance of 2 dols. 50 c. per day when away on duty from place of residence.
There is no pony allowance, and in some stations the distances to travel are very long.
The duties for the above-mentioned salary are as follows: Attendance at the Gaol, Barracks and Hospital, and upon all officials, their wives, families and servants. Attendance in Court and at Coroner’s Inquest when subpcened by the Government. Conduct post-mortem examinations when called upon to do so. Visit the Leper Station (where such exists). Examine all steamers arriving from infected ports; superintend the disinfection of steamers when necessary, and visit the quarantine station. Superintend vaccination. Collect the reimbursements from the hospital for the Government. 'T'ake meteorological observations and send in quarterly reports and monthly returns, in addition to numerous other kinds of clerical work. As Health Officer, sit at the Sanitary Board Meetings, Examine any sample of water, milk or food sent by any official, as well as attend upon the Government cattle. To sum up, a Medical
Officer is: Physician, Surgeon, Accoucheur, Public Health Officer, Meteorologist, Analyst and Veterinary Surgeon.
There is no written promise of increase of salary, an increase is hardly known. Private practice is allowed, and the former system of charging the Medical Officers 15 per cent. on ordinary practice and 50 per cent. on contract practice is no longer continued.
It does not follow that the senior medical officer draws more pay than his junior, for at the present day the junior is receiving more, if not double, the salary of his senior.
Passage out has to be paid by the successful candidate to these lucrative posts, but is refunded after three years’ service ; the agreement is usually for five years.
There is no pension. Furlough is granted after 5 years’ service, viz., two months on full pay and fourteen months on half pay at 3s. per dollar. Since 1899 eight medical men have resigned.
I am, Dear Sirs, Yours faithfully, ‘“‘ ONE OF THE HicHT.” January 9th, 1903,
[The above letter does not refer to employment in a Crown Colony.—Eb. |
Hew Drugs, Ke. ? ‘“TaBLoip” Bromipps Compounp.—Messrs. Bur- roughs, Wellcome and Co., have prepared a useful tabloid with the following formula :—
R. Sodium Bromide grs. ii. Strontium Bromide ae Ai grs. li. Ammonium Bromide a Ss ic Ee
} 1 Sodium Arsenate gr. so:
A combination of the bromides is believed by many to be more efficacious than when any one bromide is given separately.
“TABLOID” Corren Mint :—
R. Sodii Bicarb. grs. ii. — ‘194 grammes. Ammonii Carb... +.) Of. == 008 5 Hxt. Coffe es -.- SY. hi — 0a Cerri Oxalabis es ee ee a= Oc i Ol. Menth. Pip. q:8. 4" Agus:
Messrs. Burroughs, Wellcome and Co. have intro- duced this tabloid, which consists of a combination capable of affording marked relief in gastric and hepatic disturbances. Its medicinal action is somewhat similar to that of “ Tabloid” ‘“Soda-Mint,” as it contains the same proportions of sodium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate and specially fine oil of peppermint as are present in that preparation. In addition, however, each product contains coffee extract and cerium oxalate. This modification increases its range of usefulness. It retains the properties of “Tabloid” “Soda Mint” as a neutralising agent and diffusible stimulant, and is used for the relief of flatulence with acidity, and the insomnia arising therefrom. It is also prescribed in the nausea of liver derangement. The presence of cerium oxalate renders this preparation of special service in treating the vomiting of pregnancy ; and the coffee extract acts as a nerve stimulant.
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