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cases," says Dr. Fielding-Ould. Under these circum-stances, it seems hardly fair to the bacteriologists toexpress the view, which you endorse, " that bac-teriology in this connexion has lagged somewhat inthe rear instead of taking, as it should, a rightfulplace in the forefront of the battle." There is nofield of medicine which has been tilled with greaterassiduity and success by bacteriologists—chieflyworkers in the Royal Army Medical Corps. If Dr.Fielding-Ould will consult some of the pre-war numbersof the Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps, hewill find accounts of similar outbreaks of fever inIndia and elsewhere, which, for completeness andaccuracy of detail, clinical, bacteriological, andserological, are models of scientific exposition.

In circumstances where hæmo-culture and bacterio-logical investigation of excreta and serological exa-mination of blood cannot be undertaken useful infor-mation can be obtained by the application of Marris’satropine test. In a group of cases such as thatdescribed by Dr. Fielding-Ould, this test is capableof giving a definite answer " Yes " or " No " to thequestion " Are these infections of the enteric group offevers ? " It is, indeed, surprising that this simpleclinical test is so little used since the war in theelucidation of obscure fever. It is not even mentionedin some of the most recent editions of standardEnglish text-books of medicine. It takes time forthe value of a discovery to be discovered.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully,R. P. GARROW.

Health Office, Chesterfield, Dec. 26th, 1922.

JUSTIFIABLE FŒTICIDE.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-With reference to the letter on this subjectin THE LANCET of Dec. 23rd, 1922, it can be taken forgranted that no doctor will destroy a living foetusunless he be driven to it in order to save the mother’slife. Surely the authorities of the Roman CatholicChurch take a short view of the matter. Theyapparently do not recognise that in allowing themother to die by neglect of a craniotomy they are still not saving the child, for a dead mother means adead unborn child. Thus there is the certainty oftwo deaths as against one.While domiciliary conduct of labour continues to be

in vogue, it will frequently be impossible to interferein those extreme cases of pelvic contraction in anyother way than by means of a craniotomy, unlessa hospital or nursing home is available within reason-able time and distance. All this is a strong argumentin favour not only of institutional treatment oflabour cases, but also of antenatal care of pregnantwomen, whether the confinement is to take place inhospital or in the private house.

I think it may be confidently stated that adequateantenatal care of private cases is a comparatively rarething.-I am, Sir, yours faithfully,

A. E. CHISHOLM,Assistant Gynæcologist, Royal Infirmary, Dundee.

Dec. 28th, 1922.

THE INFECTIOUSNESS OF DIPHTHERIA:A QUESTION.

To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—A nursing association here has engaged the

services of two private British nurses for a stated ’’,period of years. The nurses came out on the under-standing that they should have a flat managed bythemselves as their residence. The association hasbeen unable to supply them with a private flat, andhas instead given them rooms in lodgings where theylive as guests.

It happens that one of the nurses has been in chargeof a diphtheria case, and during the period of attend-ance she has several times gone to her lodgings whilstfree from duty. The landlady has protested on the

ground that the nurse may carry infection to thehouse, and the association is in favour of upholdingthe landlady’s contention and of in future prohibitingthe nurse from visiting her residence during the timeshe is in attendance on an infectious case. The nurse,on the other hand, argues that she has a perfect rightto visit her residence, since she takes all reasonableand possible precautions against the carrying ofinfection, and further that she ought not to be deprivedof making whatever use she likes of her leisure hours,such as the receiving of friends in her home, providedshe has adopted all possible measures against theconveying of infection.

I have been asked to arbitrate between the contend-ing parties. Can you let meknow what is the rule inBritain in such circumstances, as I think that judgmentin this case must be based on precedent, not ontheoretical considerations ? P

I am, Sir, yours faithfully,Madrid, Dec. 29th, 1922. IGHSTOTUS.* * In case such a position should arise the original

intention of providing a flat for the nurses was wise.The situation above described is practically unknownin this country, where nurses either have privatelodgings or live in common with other nurses.

Under the circumstances mentioned it wouldappear not unreasonable to ask that the nurse

should not take infectious cases.-ED. L.

Obituary,JOHN JAMES PRINGLE, M.B., C.-M. EDIN.,

F.R.C.P. LOND.,CONSULTING PHYSICIAN TO THE SKIN DEPARTMENT,

MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL.

A WIDE circle of friends, both within and withoutthe medical profession, will mourn the loss of Dr.Pringle, whose death at Christchurch, New Zealand,early last month, will come not altogether as a

surprise.John James Pringle was born at Lannhall, Dum-

friesshire, in 1855, the third son of Andrew Pringle, ofLannhall and Borgue. Educated at Merchiston CastleSchool, Edinburgh, he graduated in medicine andsurgery at the University of Edinburgh in 1876,continuing his studies in Dublin, Vienna, Berlin, andParis, and taking the M.R.C.P. Lond. in 1884. Sevenyears later he was elected a Fellow. His first appoint-ment was that of resident physician at the EdinburghRoyal Infirmary. After coming to London he joinedthe staff of the Middlesex Hospital as medical registrar1883-84 and assistant physician 1885-95. In 1888 hewas appointed physician to the skin department andlecturer on dermatology. He was also physician tothe Royal Hospital for Diseases of the Chest 1884-91.During the war he became hon. consultant for skindiseases to the military hospitals in London. Hishelp was constantly in request at meetings and con-

gresses. He was secretary to the DermatologicalSociety of London for a number of years and actedas secretary-general to the Third International Con-gress of Dermatology held in London in 1896 ; atdifferent times he presided over the DermatologicalSection of the Royal Society of Medicine and of theBritish Medical Association. He was also a corre-sponding member of the Société Française de Der-matologie, of the Wiener and Berliner DermatologischeGesellschaften, and of the Societa Italiana di Der-matologia. His contributions to dermatologicalliterature were many and are to be found in Allbutt’sSystem, Quain’s and Fowler’s dictionaries, and inspecial journals. He edited the well-known Portfolioof Dermochromes.

Pringle raised the dermatological department at theMiddlesex to a high degree of efficiency. He was afirst-rate teacher and had the faculty of creatinginterest in his subject among those he taught, who wereattracted by the keen questioning to elicit a history,