312 NOTES, COMMENTS, AND ABSTRACTS.

TREATMENT OF ITCHING DERMATOSES.

ACCORDING to M. Friedlander/ Lebedjew was the first totry intravenous injections of a 10 per cent. sodium bromidesolution in pruriginous affections, and his results led to ascientific enquiry in Vienna, where the advantages of themethod were confirmed. Ekzebrol, which is a 10 per cent.solution of strontium bromide in 20 per cent. glucose solution,was the direct outcome of these investifgations, and isprepared for the market by the firm of Tosse (Hamburg.)The drug is administered exclusively by the intravenousroute, and during the injection gives rise to a feeling ofwarmth, which spreads rapidly over the whole body, andof which the patient must be warned. Friedlander has nevernoted any ill-effects, and in one or two cases without promi-nent veins he has even ventured to inject the drug deeply intothe glutei. This route, however, is painful, and the patientsdid not submit to more than two injections. The usualprocedure is to administer a 10 c.cm. ampoule three timesa week.

The results are described as variable. Sometimes thepruritus was controlled after three injections, in other casesas many as 16 had to be given before the symptomdisappeared. Ekzebrol, it is stated, can be used both inprimary general pruritus of unknown or obscure setiology,and in that which follows or is associated with psoriasis,lichen ruber planus and eczema. Failures of course occurwith this, as with all other methods, if the cause cannot beascertained and removed.

PUBLIC HEALTH IN KENYA.

A REPORT on the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya,recently issued, states that the land area is 221,800 squaremiles in extent, and the water area, which includes thelarger portion of Lake Rudolf and the eastern waters of theVictoria Nyanza, 4011 square miles. Mount Kenya, afterwhich the colony is named, is 17,040 feet in height, and iscapped by perpetual snow and ice. There are no markedseasonal changes such as winter and summer. At highaltitudes the diurnal variation of temperature is high, beingas much as 30°F. in some places, but the mean temperaturevaries little from month to month. The range of temperaturebetween different parts of Kenya is very wide. At Lamu,on the coast, the mean shade temperature is 80 ° F. At Mom-basa it is 77°F. In Kisamu, on the Victoria Nyanza it is72’5°F. In the Rift Valley and highland areas the meantemperature is normally between 58OF. and 65°F. The rain-fall is generally well distributed. Precipitation variesconsiderably with the physical configuration of the colony.According to a census taken in 1926, the number of Euro-peans in the colony was 12,529, of Asiatics (excluding Arabs),30,583, and of Arabs 10,577, whilst the estimated Africanpopulation in 1927 was 2,847,632.

In the section of the report devoted to public health itis stated that after the visit to the colony of Dr. J. B. Orr,of the Rowett Research Institute, in 1926, in connexionwith the proposed pasture investigation, the subcommitteeof the Civil Research Committee decided to extend the scopeof the investigation to problems of human as well as animalnutrition. With funds provided by the Empire MarketingBoard, two special research officers have been employed inthe country, not as independent investigators, but workingin closest collaboration with the local people. During 1927two new centres, namely Kitui and Teita, were opened inthe Native Reserves. A medical officer of health has beenappointed to Nakuru, on account of the considerable develop-ment which is taking place in the township, and also becauseof the urgent necessity of instituting sanitary measures atthis centre of the grain trade. Besides his duties at Nakuru, themedical officer has been responsible for both Eldoret andKitale. The first appointment of a medical officer of healthto a Native Reserve took place in the latter half of the year,and has proved a complete success. Local native councilshave taken an increasing interest in health matters, andlarge sums of money are being voted by the councils formedical and other objects. On the coast useful measuresare being taken against hookworm infestation. The willingcooperation of the people holds out great promise of definiteresults. Throughout the Reserves generally work is beingorganised, so that information about diseases, and instruc-tion in simple hygiene, is given, as well as treatment, whileat the same time information about the pathological con-dition of the population is being collected. The countryhas been free from epidemics of serious disease. Plaguerequires watching, but no outbreaks of any magnitudeoccurred during 1927. Small-pox was introduced intoNairobi from India, and uneasiness was caused from thefact that cases came under notice from a considerable area,extending as far out as the Fort Hall Reserve. Original

1 Derm. Woch., June 6th, p. 810.

cases had remained concealed. Probably owing to thewholesale vaccination campaign conducted two years ago, theoutbreak did not assume any magnitude. The epidemic ofmalaria experienced in 1926 did not recur, possibly owing tothe fact that the rains generally were on the short side. The

problem is to be tackled energetically in Nairobi; theGovernment made av Table a sum of £20,000, to be expendedduring 1928, the municipality and railway authoritiessharing in the expense. The International Sleeping Sick-ness Commission, part of whose labours were conducted inKenya, has completed its work. It was possible during1927 to conduct a comprehensive population survey of thelake shore. Over 200,000 individuals were examined, andonly 380 cases of trypanosomiasis were detected, thesemostly being found in three well-defined areas. In onesmall location, consisting of a population of 800 odd, over100 cases were found. Measures to deal with the mostthickly infested areas are being undertaken. The smallarea referred to as being especially heavily infected is to beevacuated. Other steps will include clearing of the lakeshore and the construction of watering-places. All caseswhich were found were adequately treated, in order torender them non-infective.

Progress of the scheme for the provision out of loan fundsof hospitals in various parts of the country has not been asrapid as was hoped, but a small hospital at Kiltui is practi-cally completed, while work has been commenced on a

hospital and other medical buildings at Kakamega Station.AN INGENIOUS TRUSS.

THE " Colquhoun " truss for hernia consists of a steelspring, to which is fitted a pneumatic appliance consistingof a back pad situated at the centre of the spring, with airconnexions communicating with the front pad or pads,which cover the site of the hernia. The pads are inflated bythe wearer to the extent he finds most comfortable ; thevalve is then closed, and the pressure in the applianceremains even. The back pad serves a double purpose:(1) it substitutes a soft air cushion for the hard spring, and(2) transfers the pressure to the front pads in conformitywith the movements of the wearer. The pads are con-

structed to include some of the well-known product " Sorbo."While rendering them practically immune from puncture,this does not interfere with the automatic movement of theair, and makes it possible to use a much softer pad than canbe employed with nearly all steel spring trusses. Thesoftness of these pads allows them to conform readily to thecontour of the body, while the action of the spring, combinedwith the automatic pressure exercised, gives a soft yet firmholding. This pressure, which owing to the construction ofthe spring occurs only directly under the pads, has a naturallifting tendency on the front pad or pads, instead of a directinward action. Any cough or sudden movement is resistedfirst by the air cushion and then by the spring of the truss.Owing to the special construction, it is claimed that perinealstraps are unnecessaryThe principle on which this appliance is designed is

distinctly ingenious, and the truss should prove comfortableto wear. It is manufactured by the Uterpress Co., 65,Atlantic-road, Brixton, London, S.W., and a patent hasbeen applied for.

NEW WOMEN’S WARDS AT GRAVESEND.-TheMarchioness of Carisbrooke last week opened new women’swards at the Gravesend and North Kent Hospital.

PRESTON ROYAL INFIRMARY.—The sum of :610,000has been allocated to the building fund of Preston RoyalInfirmary by the trustees of the estate of the late AldermanT. Parkinson, who was thrice mayor of Preston.

NORTHAMPTON GENERAL HOSPITAL.—Mrs. J. G.Sears, of Collingtree Grange, Northamptonshire, has given£5000 to the Northampton General Hospital, £3000 of whichis to be allocated to the purchase of radium.

A NEW OR.THOPwDrc HOSPITAL.—A new hospitalfor cripples was opened on August 3rd at Harlow Wood,near Mansfield, on a site given by the Duke of Portland.There are two wards of 40 beds each, and the total cost ofbuilding and equipment was £35,000.

NEW HOSPITAL AT BOGNOR.—It is proposed toerect at Bognor a county hospital to commemorate theKing’s convalescence in the neighbouring hamlet of Aldwick.A site, together with a promise of £5250, has been given byan anonymous donor, and a committee has been appointedto further the scheme.