1050

in an artificially produced discharge ; but does oneexpect invariably to find discharge, or to demon-trate gonococci in such a case I The complement-fixation test was not done. I do not suggest that itwould decide the diagnosis, but it would be usefuladditional evidence.The possibilities of treatment with prontosil are so

very attractive that work with it is to be welcomed,but care in assessing results is very necessary. It willbe in the mind of all that on the introduction of

arsphenamines in the treatment of syphilis undueoptimism and low standards of cure led to the accept-ance of inadequate amounts of treatment, withresults whose full effects are still to be seen in laterecurrences of syphilis in those " cured " in earlieryears. This consideration, together with the longlist of previous " specifics" for gonorrhoea mustundoubtedly urge extreme caution, and stringentstandards of cure in determining the value of evensuch potent substances as prontosil.

T ,m Sir vrmra fa.itlifnilv

R. C. WEBSTER.Municipal Clinic, Salford, Oct. 20th.

X RAY KYMOGRAPHY

To the Editor of THE LANCETSIR,-I notice with regret that in your annotation

of Oct. 9th (p. 859) you state that kymography hasnot so far been used in this country. Actually Idevised a kymographic apparatus some twelve monthsago and installed it in the radiological departmentof the London Chest Hospital where it has proved ofconsiderable value in the investigation of many chestconditions. It is particularly of use in the differentialdiagnosis of aneurysm and new growth, and in theexamination of obscure cardiac conditions.

I am. Sir. vours faithfullv.FRANKLIN G. WOOD.

Harley-street, W., Oct. 26th.

MY POST-BAG

To the Editor of THE LANCETSiR,-M.P.S. asks if I am attracted to any products

at all. Of course I am. But should he ask if I amattracted to any products in particular the reply is,I am not. The fact that I am familiar with thenames of (let us say) one brand of elastic dressing,of the active principle of digitalis, of kaolin poultice,of petroleum jelly, of posterior pituitary extract,and so on, I attribute more to the practice of thehospital in which I was educated (and so presumably

to the efforts of travelling representatives) than toany printed propaganda at all.And to answer his other question ; I can bear any

advertisement without resentment. The fact that Iam personally a keen student of all his and his col-leagues’ announcements does not prevent me fromrecognising that few have like pursuits. I havenever met a medical man, in practice or out of it,who does not throw in the wastepaper basket alladvertisements of whatever kind, as soon as theyare revealed as advertisements.My gentle thrust at these methods is really caused

by two considerations : firstly, What a waste ! HasM.P.S. not seen the corner of every doctor’s dis.

pensary which is full of these wretched bottles andjars and boxes ? ‘ Has he ever heard of any of thembeing used 1 Can he imagine that anyone wouldconsider a trial on such a quantity of any value atall ? î Does he think that any practitioner has thetime to try larger amounts and to control theseagainst standard preparations ? It can hardly bepossible that he does, and so he lets his firm in forthe colossal cost of sending out oceans or millions orclouds of his liquids or tablets or powders, in thehope that one or two may catch on. It reminds oneof the anemophilous trees or of the lobsters !My second point, that it is a misjudged expendi-

ture, is rather strengthened by M.P.S.’s remark thathe thinks postal advertising " from the doctor’s

point of view the most convenient and time-savingway of drawing attention to a product." Can he

really think so ? ‘ True, the makers of garden orna-ments and bulbs, of bassinettes, of groceries, of winesand cigars, of ..., and of ... , think so too ; but whendoes he suggest that we should read them ? 1 Mustwe have an hour and a half for breakfast (with thesurgery filling up) or must we have a sort of children’shour at 4.30, with tea and a stenographer ’?

I am, Sir, yours faithfully, Oct. 22nd. POSTMAN’S FRIEND.

To the Editor of THE LANCET

SiR,—Your correspondent Postman’s Friend canrelieve himself of the bulk of his propaganda mail bywriting to the central addressing companies whichinclude : the Chadwick-Latz Co., the AddressingCo., and the B.I.A. (British and InternationalAddress-ing). The remainder, representing a few firms only,can be suppressed by writing to these firms individually.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully,Gordon-square, W.C., Oct. 23rd. M.B., B.S.

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE

Reassembly and ProrogationPARLIAMENT reassembled on Oct. 21st after the

summer recess, when a debate took place in bothHouses on foreign affairs, and was prorogued byRoyal Commission until Oct. 26th. The King’sSpeech, which was read by the Lord Chancellor,recorded’the provision of facilities for recreation andhealthy outdoor activity, more especially for theyounger members of the community, and the greatlyimproved provision made for securing the safetyand health of factory workers.

The New Session

On Oct. 26th the new session of Parliament wasopened by His Majesty the King in person. In thecourse of the Gracious Speech from the ThroneHis Majesty said :-My Ministers are anxious that energetic steps shall

be taken to complete the measures for the protection of

the civilian population against air raids. A Bill to putthe necessary arrangements on a statutory basis will bebrought forward for your consideration.My Government have announced their intention to

assist the production and to increase the consumptionof milk and to facilitate the improvement of milk distribu-tion. A Bill to this end and further proposals for the wel-fare of agriculture will be submitted to you. A compre-hensive publicity campaign is being undertaken to ensurethe fullest use of the public health services and to encouragetheir expansion. The policy of improving housing condi-tions will be energetically pursued.My Government will further develop their social policy

by introducing legislation to enable meals to be suppliedto boys and girls attending junior instruction centres;to provide medical care for young persons who have leftschool and entered employment ; to reduce the age limitfor the award of pensions to blind persons ; to enablefurther information to be obtained for the study of thepopulation problem ; to amend the financial provisions