We wish to call attention to the fact that the M.S.S.
has four country hospitals to supply with Residents. These are Warrnambool, Kyneton, Bairnsdale and Wangaratta.
The choice of these hospitals rests with the men in the honor list who have not got a metropolitan hospital, in order of merit, and these men should, as soon as the results are published put themselves into communication with the M.S.S.
July, 1915. THE SPECULUM. 175
It often happens that the first four on the list do not want, or cannot take, these appointments, so that if all men who would take a country hospital would apply at once, the positions would soon be allocated. And they are all good hospitals, too.
Fifth Year men should make a strong note of this, and apply early. But the Committee want a guarantee from applicants that they will take the positions if appointed.
That is only fair, as the awarding of these appointments entails a lot of work, and there have been disappointments in the past. All Fifth Year men are urged to seriously consider these appointments, and, by applying early, to facilitate the work of the Committee.
* * *
Books and journals are still being treated with dis- respect by students, who are reminded that the Committee have in hand a proposal to lock all library cupboards.
* * * *
Full details of the new arrangement to expedite the work of men desirous of going to the front are not yet to hand, but we confidently expect the Faculty to do the best for the Student, the Professor, the Defence Department, and the Public.
* * * *
Men in the present Fifth Year have arrived at the con- clusion that their knowledge of the " Physiology of the Nervous System " is, to say the least, scanty, and it was with the object of remedying this deficiency that the M.S.S.
approached Dr. S. V. Sewell for a series of lectures on
" Clinical Applied Physiology of the Nervous System."
Dr. Sewell gladly consented, with the result that members of the M.S.S. had the opportunity of attending six lectures on the subject, and the M.S.S. wishes to record its sincere appreciation of Dr. Sewell's characteristic kindness. We must congratulate him on his recovery from his recent illness, and in the same breath join in his welcome to his brand-new daughter. We believe that the young lady gave the Babinski reflex quite early in her career, but we are assured that it is only temporary, and she is now free from all suspicion of any pyramidal involvement.
* * * *
In our last issue we had occasion to severely criticise the work at the Children's Hospital, and the alteration in the curriculum, by which the value of the work was prac-
176 THE SPECULUM. July, 1915.
tically nullified. Since then we have heard the opinions of others who have completed their term there, and they are all unanimously of the opinion that the alteration was for the worse.
However, the honoraries are worthily attempting to make up the defect, and it is with pleasure that the M.S.S.
records its appreciation of the efforts of Dr. M. McM.
Officer and Dr. Rowden White, who spare no pains to impart to us as sound a knowledge of diseases of children as it is possible to gain in the limited time at their disposal.
The excellent practical teaching, and the opportunities for actual practical work which Dr. Officer gives, and the untiring patience which Dr. Rowden White exhibits in his valuable clinics, stamp them both as true friends of the students, and they set an example which many others at the other hospitals could follow with great benefit to the future medical practitioners.
* * *'
The framed portraits of Major Zwar and Major Dun- hill have been presented by the M.S.S. to the libraries of the Melbourne and St. Vincent's Clinical Schools respectively.
Major Dunhill, we regret to hear, has been invalided home to England. We wish him a speedy return to health, and success in his new sphere.
* * * *
Amongst those who have departed for the front in various hospitals are Drs. Stawell and Strong.
Dr. Stawell, always a keen friend and wise adviser to students as a whole, showed his thoughtfulness by making arrangements with Dr. Jamieson for the presentation to the Society of the set of books mentinoed above. Lieut.-Col.
Stawell (to give him his new title) will by this have reached England, and we hope shortly to hear from him.
Dr. Strong is going to France in the R.A.M.C., and he again has added one more to the many acts of kindness to students. The M.H. library has been presented with a large number of volumes of the " International Clinics "
and the " Practitioner." As evidence of the practical inter- est which he takes in our work, it may be mentioned that Dr. Strong, learning through these columns of the poor arrangements in Therapeutics, and our lack of sufficient training in that subject, gave a series of lectures in the M.H. Pharmacopoeia and Therapuetics in general, which were greatly appreciated.
July, igis. THE SPECULUM. 177
Every student will join with us in wishing both Drs.
Strong and Stawell a successful, and, if possible, pleasant time, and a safe return.
The latest and (we hope) last departure from St. Vin- cent's Hospital for that vague place, " The Front," was our genial and popular friend, "Andy" Brenan, who has for the last few years (inter alia) filled the position of Pathologist at the hospital. He left with the best wishes of every stu- dent, patient, and medical man (also nurse) with whom he came into contact, and we feel sure that there will be none in the 3rd Australian Base Hospital who will do better work or acquire more popularity than Captain A. J. Brenan.
* * * *
The Devil shaped a sordid soul!
Mud was the very essence of it.
It reached the Earth—crept to its hole!
The Devil shaped a sordid soul
Which squawked—and Man acclaimed it—Cole!
Thus unto them was raised a Prophet ! The Devil shaped a sordid soul,
Mud was the very essence of it!
* * * *
For an explanation of the above we refer our readers to the daily rags," who, in their miserable grub-eaten, money-making souls, delight to besmirch the fair name of the medical student and the fledgling medico, and, as a means to that end, publish at full length the fatuously inane remarks of our friend," Coroner Cole.
* * * *
Owing to the close proximity of the Special Exam. in November, contributors are asked to have their copy in within the next month, to enable the Committee to issue the next " Speculum " expeditiously, and to turn their attention to the " grind, grind, grind," which alone will enable us to bluff the examiners, and so free our martial souls for the sterner duty ahead.
There was a pleasing response to our appeal for more practical interest and for more contributions, but there is still tons and tons of room for improvement. For the next number particularly we would urge on all members of the M•S.S. to stir their literary genius into activity, and to make the next " Spec." the best of the year. As a slight stimulus
178 THE SPECULUM. July, 1915.
we might here state the fact that there are three prizes for Speculum " workers—
£2/2/- for the best worker.
£1/1/-, for the best article.
£ 1/1/- for the best article by a 1st or 2nd Year man.
Get busy, and have some competition!
As Books, Books, Books seem to clothe the entire horizon of most medical students, we beg to draw attention to a new advertiser in our columns, Mr. E. L. Heyne, of the Medical Agency, who will he pleased to see students at the Equitable Buildings. He is getting a large stock of books on hand, and is making arrangements for credit and discount, which will be welcome in these war scarred days.
Mr. Heyne is already well known to most students.
Mr. Alan Newton, Melbourne Hospital.
July, 1915. THE SPECULUM. 179
Year Notes.
FIFTH YEAR. _
Rapidly approaching the end - of " attendances " ! Sing a song of Jaundice ! Yellow in the eye !
Abdominal incision—cholee-do-chot-o -my ;
Five and twenty gallstones—bile- began to flow,
Flowed all over Murray's neck, and dirtied Murray's mo.
Murray used bad language—wasn t that a shame?
Patient got up from his table—murmured " Mine's the same."
Sister said to Murray, " Now I think you'd better stop ! "
Now wasn't that a funny thing to happen at an Op.!
Sing a song of marriage—marriage a la mode, Up-to-date precautions—what do they forbode?
No maid in the garden, hanging out the clo'es, All the world a graveyard—General Repose!
FOURTH YEAR.
War, and the need for doctors, provides us with plenty to discuss at present. At a meeting of the Fourth Year, held at the M.H., recently, twenty-one members handed in their names as being willing to sit for final exams. even as early as May, 1916, should the faculty think such an effort on their part is desirable. Practically all the others at the meeting voted for finals in August, 1916, but many of these have since agreed that they would be willing to sit in May, should exams. be held then. Such an offer shows a very creditable spirit, for special exams. would undoubtedly entail considerable sacrifice on the part of those who y prepared to sit for them ; not only will they have to do twenty months' work in half the time—which, of course, means foregoing their long vacation—but they will be debarred from sitting for honour exams., and con- sequently from the chance of becoming residents at metro- politan hospitals. However, when all sections of the com- munity are making such tremendous sacrifices, we can claim little credit for doing what appears to be our duty.
We desire to thank Dr. Alec. Fraser for proving such a helpful chairman to us at the above meeting.
Our debt of gratitude to Dr. Felix Meyer is not dim- inishing. His demonstrations at the W.H. have proved
18o THE SPECULUM. July, 1915.
of great value to us, and now he has promised us a con- tribution to our " Speculum," which ought to well repay studying.
Messrs. Littlejohn and Davies are back with us, look- ing as though active service agreed with them. What Sus doesn't know about the sidelights of Cairo isn't worth knowing. " Egyptian style," for half piastre, must have been worth seeing. We have heard nothing of our other year mates at the front ; however, no news is good news, and we hope to hear gallant things of them later on.
THIRD YEAR.
Dickie's speech, in which he voiced the views of him- self and his staff, was balm to our troubled spirits. As a consequence, none of us are likely to be laying down the scalpel for the bayonet till after August, at any rate. Some of our members have difficulty in laying it down for meals now-a-days !
" Familiarity breeds contempt." An exception must, however, be made in the case of the nail brushes in the D.R. We handle them with respect and caution, lest we lose some skin. It is, perhaps, due to our proficiency in histology—that potent stimulus to the imagination—that we can descry a few sparse bristles on them. Like the Scotchman in sheepie's yarn, we are " hardy devils " !
Dr. Lister has taken up his duties in the D.R., and is
" buzzing about on correct lines."
Mac is about to publish a new text-book, entitled
" The Whole of Anatomy on a Visiting Card."
Do mew get " you-knows "? Ask Rita—she knows.
Apomorphine moves in a mysterious way. Quite recently a dog of the Tertiary Daschund species demon- strated this fact to us. Displaying a deep interest in science, he submitted to an injection of the drug. The result was extraordinary, and quite satisfactory. The brethren were deeply moved, and desired an encore, but the animal was too exhausted by his soul-stirring effort.
Some of the fraternity are inquiring into the quantity of apomorphine contained in the local metropolitan ale.
We regret very much the loss of Dr. L. H. Wright, whose services have been commandeered by the Defence Department.
THE SPECULUM. 181 July, 1915.
Once more we welcome back Dr. Lamble from the hands of his medical advisers.
Overheard at lecture :-
Prof.: Mr. G , is this structure movable or immov- able ?
Mr. G.: Yes, sir !
We believe that an eminent psychologist, Liggle, is unable to innocently enter into a game of mixed doubles since the acquisition of so much Anatomical knowledge.
According to " Ossy," " beri beri " is a tropical dis- ease, nevertheless it makes its appearance in Melbourne every year—generally about August. Ask any of our year
—most of us have it already !
AVilkie informs us that he has not failed to pass a tube for years now, and he never employs an anaesthetic.
We congratulate Le S. on getting his year. He has gone to the war. We trust he will return with his mind disabused of the idea that an abnormal prolongation of the riedel lobe is necessarily due to tight lacing.
We are only having three lectures a week in Anatomy now. The ladies are wondering how they are going to get those socks finished !
Al id's demonstration to the fair lady and her dark partner were much appreciated. It would give Mo(o)re satisfaction if he were to announce which is the one.
Why did " Robby " change his seat? What's in a name ? Also, how did Charlie get an " intro."? It is rumoured that the latter has offered to edit a new column for the " Spec.," entitled " Chats O'er the Washtub ! "
The war-pervading spirit has now gained a footing in the dissecting room, and martial law, with its impartial tread, has been introduced. We have noted with satisfac- tion the edifying spectacle of Dicky's promotion from Chucker-Out to Commander-in-Chief. He has selected one of our distinguished representatives as his Chief of Staff, and appointed five other individuals as " Lieu- tenants," to preserve " order and tidiness " in the dissect- ing room. The ". Coots " are in somewhat of a " Hayes "
as to what is in store for them, but " Freddy " refuses to permit any of his subordinates to " Budge " downstairs, either for a smoke or drink. Woe unto him ! Dame Rumour also saith that under the new regime, Trem., Duffy and Co.
have to mind their P's and " Kughes " very carefully.
____inoummeiummnmij.g,illirm■rilllor-
..w i0OlIlli
1IF I
THE SPECULUM. July, 1915.
In addition to the above-mentioned " Lieutenants," it is proposed to appoint a Chaplain and some subordinates.
We are pleased to be able to record that Fidgety Fit- chett, our Philosophical Philanderer, is now quite capable of distinguishing between a Third Year Med. and a Demonstrator, and hence may be provisionally regarded as having attained to years of discretion. He has recently made himself conspicuous at 9 a.m. every day by invading the Prof.'s private sanctum, and emerging therefrom with a miscellaneous collection of Anatomy Treatises, to the great astonishment of the sundry casuals who happen to be abroad at that unaristocratic hour. Discussion is ram- pant as to the meaning of the unswerving devotion with which he treats these ponderous tomes, and one commen- tator has suggested that it may be due to the laudable desire to fill the aching void of the Second Year Meds. for Spalteholz's atlases, the theory being that, in an attempt to copy the domestic fowl, our worthy contemporary is trying to reproduce a set of Spalteholz's by " sitting on them " all day' long. Another theory is that it is found far more beneficial to besmudge the Prof.'s books than one's own. But " who can tell ? "
The cloisteral calm of the dissecting room was dis- turbed one day recently by the arrival of a party of our Japanese Allies from the warships. They quickly made themselves at home, and seemed vastly impressed by our skill with the knife. Eh, what ! One of them, bolder than his fellows, strolled over and displayed pardonable interest in Julie's part, to wit, the leg. He quickly withdrew, how- ever, and our Religious Editor is " speculating " as to whether it was the blush of maidenly modesty that dis- turbed him, or the somewhat uproarious manner in which the Second Year demonstrated their approval of his choice.
To Rita, sweet child with the spats, We would eagerly tender congrats.,
If she donned the high heel, Oh ! what joy we would feel,
We'd like you so; " Sweet "—" Cheeky brats ! "
A budding young surgeon, called Syd., So 'tis said, he's a full-blooded Yid,
He was seen down the Frank.
With some ladies ( ?)—of rank,
But we dare not suggest what he did (or what he got) !
July, 1915. THE SPECULUM. 183
There was once a student called " Eddie,"
For exams. he was never quite ready, Though he'd sit by the hour
And his text-books devour,
Prof. Berry's tips put him in bed-ie. (Rotten.) 0 ! Fitchett, you heavenly boy,
Did the nasty men give you " ahoy "
When to Dicky you went, 'Cause his Spalteholz he'd lent—
Oh, why must you always annoy?
Doctor Foster went to Gloucester In a shower of rain,
But when he got there the model was bare, So he did all his " surface" again!
"CAPTAIN."
SECOND YEAR.
There has been nothing particular of note during the second term, except that we have lost about a dozen of our number, who have taken the King's " John Dillon."
They have our sincere wishes for glorious careers and a safe return. All candidates for the much-coveted eight prosectorships are now well down to strenuous work, while all are constant visitors to the Brick room, which is the House of Bone.
About the middle of June some Japanese officers and cadets from the warships then in Melbourne paid us a call.
Moving amongst the white-coated throng, they soon picked out the celebrities. A few of them engaged in conversa- tion. Har..old Cant ....tear, our famous runner, who endeavoured to explain that the cadavers (see Rules and Regulations of the Department of Anatomy) were kept hard and sweet in " form ..a..lin and other pre..serv..ing re..
agents," and were not boiled, as our Allies suggested. J.
Clifford gave a demonstration on the Brain, which lasted exactly three minutes, as the lecturer was unable to con- N'eirtt B.N.A. terminology into pidgin English. Jayeffok, with only one medal, and the Grand Admiral of the Fleet,
chest,
,,some other high personage with a string of them on his occupied a corner of the room, bowing and scraping to one another. Jayeff afterwards explained that the gent.
on approaching made a stately bow. He returned the corn-