1318 T

was obtained from nux vomica 120 years ago. Opium,one of the items in the Ebers papyrus, was not dis-

placed by morphine until the middle of last century.Cinchona bark was known to the Incas of Perubefore the Spanish conquest in 1540, but quininewas not introduced to medical practice until nearlythree hundred years later. Valuable too are thechapters on chemical drugs and synthetic products,treated historically. In the chapter on sophisticationthe author recalls the part played by THE LANCETin the passing of the Adulteration of Food Act of1860. Nine years earlier analyses published in ourcolumns had shown that " nearly all the most usefuland important articles of the materia medica weregrossly and systematically adulterated, often to anenormous extent." At that time, the author remarks,America was obliged to appoint inspectors to examinethe imports of drugs and to order the rejectionof consignments which were sophisticated. The

only criticism of a book so full of information andusefulness is the choice of illustrations.

The Truth about VivisectionBy Sir LEONARD ROGERS, K.C.S.I., LL.D., M.D.,F:R.C.P., F.R.C.S., F.R.S., Hon. Treasurer,Research Defence Society. London : J. and A.Churchill. 1937. Pp. 182. 5s.

IT is clearly the doctor’s business to know onwhat basis his profession rests and to defend it withvigour and knowledge. His answers to a patient’sinquiry on the subject should be well informed andoutspoken ; for antivivisection propaganda is aimedat the very root of all orthodox medical belief and

practice. This excellent little book can be com-

mended therefore not only to the general public butalso to medical men, many of whom will (or should)wish to be informed of the present position of vivi-section. It would be hard indeed to find anyoneso well qualified to explain it, both by high distinc-tion in medical research and by devotion to thecause of truth, as is Sir Leonard Rogers. His accountis logical, fair, and interesting, and should convinceany reasonable and intelligent reader of the necessityfor experiments on animals. All the stock argumentsof the antivivisectionists, most of them well outworn,are answered, and the whole business of licensingand certification is accurately explained. It is unfor-tunate that whereas the antivivisection societies havelarge sums of money (a total annual income of aboutE40,000) entirely devoted to clamorous and not tooscrupulous propaganda, practically no effort or moneyis devoted to the defence of research. The reasonis that those who believe in medical research areeither wholly occupied in its pursuit or else regardits position as so impregnable as to need no defence.There are some too, perhaps, but we think not many,who, so long as they can enjoy the fruits of researchwhile evading any obloquy attached to it, are contentto be indifferent or to hedge. Education, Sir Leonardconcludes, is the only remedy. If the teaching ofelementary physiology formed a part of generaleducation (as very sensibly urged by Dr. L. P.Lockhart 1) it would soon be apparent to everyonethat the antivivisection campaign is wholly mis-chievous and against the common good, and the occa-sional doctor who thinks fit to lend his name to suchpropaganda would not be able to get away with it.

1 Lancet, Nov. 20th, 1937, p. 1177.

NEW INVENTIONS

A CLAVICULAR SLING

THE sling (Fig. 1) is one which I have foundparticularly useful in conditions, such as fractureof the clavicle and dislocation of the acromioclavicularjoint, where it is necessary to elevate the point of theshoulder. The ordinary triangular sling when used

to exert pressure pulls the neck forwards and isuncomfortable and inefficient; when applied by theSt. John Ambulance method it is more effectivein raising the shoulder but equally uncomfortable.The sling I have devised takes the weight on thesound shoulder, the loop passing under the normalaxilla being adjusted quite loosely. The same sling canbe used for either arm. Daily abduction of the shoulder-

joint can be done by the masseur by supporting thepoint of the elbow and undoing the two larger buckles.For fractured clavicles and dislocated acromio-

clavicular joints I use in conjunction with the armsling the brace illustrated in Fig. 2. It embodies nonew principle, but is more comfortable than the twohandkerchiefs method or the padded back-splint.

FIG. 2

The belt round the waist prevents the brace fromslipping upwards.The sling and brace are made by Mr. G. W. Baker

of the Wingfield-Morris Workshops, to whom I amindebted for suggestions in their construction.

D. C. CORRY, M.D. Lond., F.R.C.S. Eng.,Assistant Surgeon and Surgeon with charge of

Fractures, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford.