Appointments
1
354 confirmed smokers once they have contracted the habit. Backsliding was common, and for the usual reasons-a domestic tiff, the sudden illness of a close relative, con- vivial occasions, a holiday, and so on. A few members who had failed to curb their craving, but who were anxious to stop, were offered hypnotherapy. Under hypnosis they were able to recall the disagreeable sen- sations of their first smoke. The posthypnotic suggestion that tobacco would continue to have this effect seems to have worked successfully over the period reviewed. Clearly there is no royal road. As with other addictions, the greatest hopes for progress must rest on the next generation. Surprisingly, of the 22 teenage children of the anti-smoking clinic, only 1 smoked, which suggests that the young are more responsive to anti-smoking propaganda and more capable of resisting the lure of the weed. The experiment, nevertheless, was worth while. The organisers believe that a mixture of group therapy, medication, and individual interviews should be tried for subsequent clinics. Infectious Diseases in England and Wales Appointments Barlow, A. M., M.D. Manc., M.R.C.P. : consultant in pathology, Huddersfield and Storthes Hall Hospitals. DUNSMORE, ROMOLA D., M.B. Lond., F.R.C.S. : consultant E.N.T. surgeon, Doncaster and Rotherham hospital groups. EMANUEL, R. W., M.A., D.M. Oxon.,M.R.C.P.: consultant physician, cardiology department, Middlesex Hospital, London. FIRTH, HELEN, M.A., M.B. Cantab., F.F.A. R.C.S., D.A., D.OBST.: consultant in anaesthetics, Ilkley and Otley and Hichroyds hospital groups. HYAMS, D. E., M.B. Lond., M.R.C.P. : consultant in geriatric medicine, United Cambridge Hospitals and East Anglian Regional Hospital Board. LEwIS, H. B. M., M.R.C.S., M.C.P.A. : regional director (consultant), North East of Scotland Blood Transfusion Service. McKENZIE, PETER, M.B. Glasg., M.R.C.P. Glasg., D.P.H. : consultant physician in infectious diseases, in charge of the infectious disease wards at Belvidere Hospital, Glasgow. MEIKLE, J. A. K., M.B. Edin., M.R.C.P.E., F.F.R., D.M.R.D.: consultant radio- logist, Perth and Perthshire area. OKOLSKI, S. T., M.B. Polish Sch. Med. Edin.: senior casualty officer, Mans- field and District General Hospital. STEVENSON, JOHN, M.B. Glasg., M.R.C.P.E., M.R.C.P. Glasg.: consultant physician in charge of the infectious diseases unit at Ayrshire Central Hospital, Irvine. THOMPSON, NOEL, M.B., B.D.s. Durh., F.R.C.S. : consultant plastic surgeon, Middlesex Hospital, London. WAKEFIELD, G. S., M.B. Lond., M.R.C.P. : consultant neurologist, Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London. WINSTOCK, DONALD, M.B., B.D.s. Lond., F.D.S. R.c.s.: consultant dental surgeon, Middlesex Hospital, London. In England Now A Running Commentary by Peripatetic Correspondents OUR new instruments are to be satin finished, thus relieving our eyes of the strain and dazzle induced by the traditional mirror polish. In this the wheel has turned a full circle, for our most venerable instrument, a lithotrite of great antiquity, has a finish which reflects no trace of light. Like some ancient bell-buoy moored on a sandbank, it has come to terms with the elements and its smooth, brown, slightly pitted surface is impervious to further corrosion. It is indeed an instrument of a former age, created by some master lithotrite-maker of the past. The elegantly fluted handle, the delicately curved and twisted spokes of the wheel, and the ornamental catch tell of a time when beauty and utility walked hand in hand. It was born into a world of plush-lined, leather-covered, silver- mounted cases, and looks cold and forlorn in its corner of the glass instrument cupboard. As though by mutual consent, a space is left between it and our modern stainless-steel impedi- menta, and there it lies, brooding on past glories and the days before the chloroformist and lithotomist began to discourage the art of litholapaxy. Its history is unknown, but it is an instrument of which Lord Lister would, and possibly did, approve. What stones it must have crushed between those elegant jaws, and what opportunities must have been taken and missed thereby. In the capable hands of Dr. Peter Blood, Judge Jeffreys’ stone might have yielded to it, and many a stout Westcountryman might have been saved from the gallows in the Bloody Assize. It is in vain that we search for any evidence of its date and origins. The former might well be determined by a radioactive carbon test, for the springiness of the carbon-steel shaft is a delight after the dull and solid purity of its stainless successors. But is this really necessary ? Surely, on the shaft, in the position of the ubiquitous Government broad arrow, traces of the letters S.P.Q.R. can be made out. * ,. ,. Camels, as another great writer may well have already remarked, is curious creatures. Before I came to my particular corner of the Middle East I knew, of course, that they were large, hornless, ruminant, long-necked, cushion-footed quad- rupeds with (Arabian) one hump or (Bactrian) two humps. I was acquainted with references to them in literature: Saki, for instance, described a predicament in which one of his characters found himself as being one which " like Town in August or the bite of a camel " might with a little care and forethought have been avoided, and I have long been fond of that quaint little rhyme which records the vain love of a camel for the Egyptian Sphinx and suggests that its habitually lugubrious expression may be due to unrequited affection. Be all this as it may, it was in the happy expectation of ample opportunities to form a closer acquaintance with these animals that some years ago I took up a new post in the Middle East, only to be rather disappointed. Indeed it was many months before I saw one at all, and then only because the beast had lost it way and found itself in our residential area. It was dusk and I was without my spectacles, and to tell the truth it was only when I got no answer to my inquiry whether it knew where a certain lady was that I looked more closely and realised it was not her husband. I was embarrassed by this mistake, which could never have happened in daylight, as I should certainly have noticed the tail. What I really wanted to know, however, was whereabouts on the beast the native Arab rides-on the hump, or in front thereof, on the neck. Again it was some time before I found out it was the former, though, curiously, all the riders I actually see are clinging insecurely to the rump, resembling nothing so much as a motor-cyclist who has been jerked by some outsize pot-hole back on to the pillion of his machine, whence he tries desperately to retain control. Now that little piece of
Transcript of Appointments
354
confirmed smokers once they have contracted the habit.Backsliding was common, and for the usual reasons-adomestic tiff, the sudden illness of a close relative, con-vivial occasions, a holiday, and so on. A few memberswho had failed to curb their craving, but who wereanxious to stop, were offered hypnotherapy. Under
hypnosis they were able to recall the disagreeable sen-sations of their first smoke. The posthypnotic suggestionthat tobacco would continue to have this effect seems tohave worked successfully over the period reviewed.
Clearly there is no royal road. As with other addictions,the greatest hopes for progress must rest on the nextgeneration. Surprisingly, of the 22 teenage children ofthe anti-smoking clinic, only 1 smoked, which suggeststhat the young are more responsive to anti-smokingpropaganda and more capable of resisting the lure of theweed.The experiment, nevertheless, was worth while. The
organisers believe that a mixture of group therapy,medication, and individual interviews should be tried forsubsequent clinics.
Infectious Diseases in England and Wales
Appointments
Barlow, A. M., M.D. Manc., M.R.C.P. : consultant in pathology, Huddersfieldand Storthes Hall Hospitals.
DUNSMORE, ROMOLA D., M.B. Lond., F.R.C.S. : consultant E.N.T. surgeon,Doncaster and Rotherham hospital groups.
EMANUEL, R. W., M.A., D.M. Oxon.,M.R.C.P.: consultant physician, cardiologydepartment, Middlesex Hospital, London.
FIRTH, HELEN, M.A., M.B. Cantab., F.F.A. R.C.S., D.A., D.OBST.: consultant inanaesthetics, Ilkley and Otley and Hichroyds hospital groups.
HYAMS, D. E., M.B. Lond., M.R.C.P. : consultant in geriatric medicine,United Cambridge Hospitals and East Anglian Regional HospitalBoard.
LEwIS, H. B. M., M.R.C.S., M.C.P.A. : regional director (consultant), NorthEast of Scotland Blood Transfusion Service.
McKENZIE, PETER, M.B. Glasg., M.R.C.P. Glasg., D.P.H. : consultant physicianin infectious diseases, in charge of the infectious disease wards atBelvidere Hospital, Glasgow.
MEIKLE, J. A. K., M.B. Edin., M.R.C.P.E., F.F.R., D.M.R.D.: consultant radio-logist, Perth and Perthshire area.
OKOLSKI, S. T., M.B. Polish Sch. Med. Edin.: senior casualty officer, Mans-field and District General Hospital.
STEVENSON, JOHN, M.B. Glasg., M.R.C.P.E., M.R.C.P. Glasg.: consultantphysician in charge of the infectious diseases unit at Ayrshire CentralHospital, Irvine.
THOMPSON, NOEL, M.B., B.D.s. Durh., F.R.C.S. : consultant plastic surgeon,Middlesex Hospital, London.
WAKEFIELD, G. S., M.B. Lond., M.R.C.P. : consultant neurologist, RoyalNational Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London.
WINSTOCK, DONALD, M.B., B.D.s. Lond., F.D.S. R.c.s.: consultant dentalsurgeon, Middlesex Hospital, London.
In England Now
A Running Commentary by Peripatetic Correspondents
OUR new instruments are to be satin finished, thus relievingour eyes of the strain and dazzle induced by the traditionalmirror polish. In this the wheel has turned a full circle, forour most venerable instrument, a lithotrite of great antiquity,has a finish which reflects no trace of light. Like some ancient
bell-buoy moored on a sandbank, it has come to terms with theelements and its smooth, brown, slightly pitted surface isimpervious to further corrosion. It is indeed an instrument ofa former age, created by some master lithotrite-maker of thepast. The elegantly fluted handle, the delicately curved andtwisted spokes of the wheel, and the ornamental catch tell ofa time when beauty and utility walked hand in hand. It wasborn into a world of plush-lined, leather-covered, silver-mounted cases, and looks cold and forlorn in its corner of the
glass instrument cupboard. As though by mutual consent, aspace is left between it and our modern stainless-steel impedi-menta, and there it lies, brooding on past glories and the daysbefore the chloroformist and lithotomist began to discouragethe art of litholapaxy.
Its history is unknown, but it is an instrument of whichLord Lister would, and possibly did, approve. What stones itmust have crushed between those elegant jaws, and whatopportunities must have been taken and missed thereby. Inthe capable hands of Dr. Peter Blood, Judge Jeffreys’ stonemight have yielded to it, and many a stout Westcountrymanmight have been saved from the gallows in the Bloody Assize.It is in vain that we search for any evidence of its date and
origins. The former might well be determined by a radioactivecarbon test, for the springiness of the carbon-steel shaft is adelight after the dull and solid purity of its stainless successors.But is this really necessary ? Surely, on the shaft, in the positionof the ubiquitous Government broad arrow, traces of theletters S.P.Q.R. can be made out.
* ,. ,.
Camels, as another great writer may well have alreadyremarked, is curious creatures. Before I came to my particularcorner of the Middle East I knew, of course, that they werelarge, hornless, ruminant, long-necked, cushion-footed quad-rupeds with (Arabian) one hump or (Bactrian) two humps. Iwas acquainted with references to them in literature: Saki, forinstance, described a predicament in which one of his charactersfound himself as being one which
" like Town in August or thebite of a camel " might with a little care and forethought havebeen avoided, and I have long been fond of that quaint littlerhyme which records the vain love of a camel for the EgyptianSphinx and suggests that its habitually lugubrious expressionmay be due to unrequited affection. Be all this as it may, itwas in the happy expectation of ample opportunities to form acloser acquaintance with these animals that some years agoI took up a new post in the Middle East, only to be ratherdisappointed. Indeed it was many months before I saw oneat all, and then only because the beast had lost it way and founditself in our residential area. It was dusk and I was withoutmy spectacles, and to tell the truth it was only when I got noanswer to my inquiry whether it knew where a certain ladywas that I looked more closely and realised it was not herhusband. I was embarrassed by this mistake, which couldnever have happened in daylight, as I should certainly havenoticed the tail.
What I really wanted to know, however, was whereaboutson the beast the native Arab rides-on the hump, or in frontthereof, on the neck. Again it was some time before I found outit was the former, though, curiously, all the riders I actuallysee are clinging insecurely to the rump, resembling nothingso much as a motor-cyclist who has been jerked by someoutsize pot-hole back on to the pillion of his machine, whencehe tries desperately to retain control. Now that little piece of
