nurses' accommodation at a municipal hospital

273

in the tissues in the path of the current depends ontheir resistance, and in practice it is found that theskin and fat are disproportionately heated, so thatit becomes almost impossible to heat deep-lyingtissues without overheating the skin. In the short-wave diathermy machine, likewise, there are twometal electrodes ; but they are not in contact withthe skin. Moreover, the current alternates at 10 to20 millions per second. The essential differencebetween the two methods, Messrs. Watson and Sonspoint out, is as follows :-With the normal diathermy " a definite potential

is applied at two points of the body and is distributedproportionately to the resistance in the path of theelectrodes. With the short-wave diathermy a definitepotential is induced at various points in the path betweenthe electrodes.... By suitably positioning the patientthe maximum fall of potential may be arranged to coincidewith the position of the part which it is desired to heatto the greatest extent, enabling a large current to flowin this region, without in any way overheating the skin....It is possible, therefore, by this method, to arrange for acomparatively even distribution of current in any partof the body or, for that matter, practically the whole ofit. It is also hoped that with improvements in techniqueit will be possible to arrange for intensive local heatingin certain areas."Of the two machines described, the Sunic " Novo-

therm I " consists of a short-wave radio frequencygenerator working at wave-lengths between 15 and30 metres (20 to 10 million cycles per second). Thiscan be used with two large electrode plates in position,or with small plates for local treatment. For thelatter, it is suggested, short-wave diathermy has somany advantages over normal diathermy that itwill probably go far to supersede it; and the " Novo-therm II " is designed to meet the new need. Itworks at 12 million cycles per second and is so

arranged that the patient may be treated in bed,on a couch, or in a chair. The advantages claimedfor these two machines include " constant outputwith different patients and different electrodes, anda definite tuning control."Further work is being carried out with apparatus

for treatment with " ultra-short " waves (2 to 7metres). Particulars may be had from Messrs.Watson and Sons at Sunic House, Parker-street,London, W.C. 2.WATER SHORTAGE AND WATER STORAGE

THE water-supply of the country continues to causeanxiety ; even in January we find the daily pressillustrating and discussing the inconvenience andworse caused by the shortage. The chief waterengineer of Manchester has urged his fellow-townsmento tighten their taps, fill their baths only half full,and economise on their allowance of water for cleaningcars and washing crockery. In the past a drought insummer has generally been made good in the followingautumn, but the Scottish department of health tellsus that the water in reservoirs is still falling, while inmany areas the yield of water from springs has notbeen appreciably increased by the winter rainfall." Even if we have a period of long continuous rains,"says the Local Government Chronicle, " supplies willnot reach normal for many years." And it goes on :"The present shortage is evidence of the slownesswith whi ch local authorities act. For though theweather last year was entirely unexpected it has beenrealised for a considerable time that serious stepswould have to be taken for conserving and extendingthe water-supplies of the country. The LocalGovernment Act of 1929 contained provisions directedto this end ; and it is surprising both that they werenot more drastic and that they have been so littleused."

It does not appear that anything has been done,so far, to meet the situation which has arisen andwhich will continue for some time and may recur. Itis by no means unlikely that we have started on acycle of dry seasons ; at any rate we have no right toexpect a succession of wet ones. Small local author-

ities cannot be expected to do much by themselves,they have neither the knowledge nor the moneyneeded for the execution of satisfactory schemes ;nor is it desirable that the question, which is anational one, should be considered piecemeal. Inhis timely lecture at the Royal Society of Arts onWednesday, Mr. Alan Chorlton, M.P., president ofthe Institution of Mechanical Engineers, remarkedon the curious detachment in the development of apublic water-supply. There are, he said, to-day notless than 1100 separate undertakings, still leavingsome six millions of persons with no piped supply atall. A study of the map reveals a mosaic of discon-nected entities ; in industrial districts the mains notinfrequently cross in passing out to some village ontheir borders. Yet the relative smallness of thecountry and the density of its population rendersit peculiarly suitable to some scheme of commonworking. We are blessed by nature with an amplenatural supply of water, and the need to-day inindustry is for greater consumption rather than forthe restriction which is being urged upon us fromall sides. Mr. Chorlton would extend the grid system,so well described by Fortinus when Rome had itsdaily supply of 100 million gallons, and only matchedin our own time by the uniform control under theMetropolitan Water Board. We do not know wherein the future the increase in water-supply will beneeded ; trade declines in one district to expand inanother. If only for this reason some interconnexionof undertakings is imperative to meet abnormalconditions, with storage reservoirs to meet conditionsof peak demand. With such adjustments it wouldbe not unreasonable to count on a daily rationper head of 50 gallons, even it we could not emulatethe 100 gallons not unusual abroad.The survey which the Ministry of Health is making

should be expedited, some natural grouping of districtsprepared, and the arrangements appropriate to eachdistrict considered in consultation with local author-ities. In some cases tapping of passing large mains,with or without the adoption of Mr. Chorlton’s gridscheme, may afford the best solution. In others thewater of rivers may be stored and purified, thewater being distributed either by gravity or by Mr.Douglas Worger’s automatic system. Inmanyvillagesthe mere provision of a stand tap with a constantsupply of drinkable water would be a great boon, ora local supply from any purifiable source could bestored and made available by building a water-houseas suggested by Mr. J. H. Coste. No such source ofwater should be neglected, and an early step shouldbe the cessation of pollution of any stream which hasa fairly steady flow, and is not yet hopeless. It isno use to talk of the needs of industry and theunavoidable pollution of rivers, if the population iseither to die of thirst or be forced to such a lowstandard of cleanliness that the products of industrybecome mere luxury.NURSES’ ACCOMMODATION AT A MUNICIPAL

HOSPITAL

AT a recent meeting of Bradford city council,Mr. William Leach stated that the accommodationfor nurses in St. Luke’s, the municipal general hospital,was " inferior to that provided in jails and commonlodging houses," that they had to sleep in curtainedcubicles, with no doors or windows, and that theventilation was foul. Dr. J. J. Buchan, medicalofficer of health, did not dispute these statements,agreeing that the health committee would certainlynever pass similar plans for a common lodging house.He added that of the 226 nurses, 56 are providedwith bedrooms at the home, while the remainderoccupy curtained cubicles. The beds are occupiednight and day and there is no privacy for the tenants.Many of these girl had stuck to their job simplybecause of the excellence of the training given atSt. Luke’s. Asked if any of the nurses had complainedabout the accommodation, Dr. Buchan replied : "226."Plans are now being prepared for a new nurses’ home,estimated to cost between 26,000 and f30,000.