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OBITUARY

STANLEY MELVILLE, M.D. Brux., M.R.C.P. Lond.RADIOLOGIST TO ST. GEORGE’S HOSPITAL

WE much regret to learn the death on April 6thof Dr. Stanley Melville. He had not been in goodhealth for some time and had suffered from anginousattacks, while injuries received and bravely enduredin the course of his professional work had subjectedhim to much pain.

Stanley Melville, born in 1868, was a Liverpoolman and was educated in his native city and at

University College, London. He took the Englishdouble diploma in 1893, and returning to Liverpool

, held many appointments in connexion with the RoyalInfirmary, being assistant in the ophthalmologicaland throat departments, house physician and residentmedical officer in the lock wards. He held appoint-ments also at the Liverpool Northern Hospital, andwas for a time demonstrator of anatomy in UniversityCollege, Liverpool. He came to London in the early’nineties, took the M.D. Brux. degree, and practisedin the neighbourhood of Earl’s Court, while he alsostudied for the Bar and was admitted at Lincoln’sInn.In 1898 he began to take a deep -interest in the

new science of radiology, and made such a goodname for himself in the practice of his specialty that

DR. MELVILLE

CPhotograp7a by RUS8ell

he was appointedradiologist insuccession to theWest LondonHospital, to St.

George’s Hospital,and to the Bromp-ton Hospital forDiseases of theChest. He workedassiduously, withpersonal reason toknow the risksincurred in thoseearly days ofradiological prac-tice, for he incurredserious burns of thehands, while hiswritings on his sub-ject, the result ofpersonal know-

ledge, soonattracted attention.He was the authorof the Diagnosisof Intrathoracic

New Growths from the Radiological Standpoint,and contributed to this journal and other medicalperiodicals articles upon radiography, especiallyin relation to diseases of the chest. He now threwhimself actively into the movement in this countryfor the better protection of X ray workers, and in1921 became joint secretary of the British X Rayand Radium Protection Committee-the first ofits kind in any country. In 1928 the British " recom-mendations on protection " were adopted inter-

nationally at the Second International Congress ofRadiology at Stockholm, and Melville was appointedwith Mr. G. W. C. Kaye, D.Sc., superintendent ofthe physics department of the National PhysicalLaboratory, joint secretary of the InternationalProtection Committee.

Melville never spared himself in national and

international movements for advancing radiologicalactivities. He was, in his time, president of theElectrotherapeutics Section of the Royal Society ofMedicine, president of the Radiological Section of theBritish Medical Association, secretary of the BritishInstitute of Radiology, and secretary-general of theFirst International Congress of Radiology held inLondon in 1925. His was, indeed, the guiding handfor many years in the educational activities of theBritish Institute of Radiology, particularly in relationto the diploma in medical radiology and electrologyof the University of Cambridge. He acted as examinerin radiology at both Cambridge and LiverpoolUniversities. He was one of the founders of theSociety of Radiographers and its first president. Afew days before his death he had accepted nominationas hon. medical editor of the British Journal ofRadiology by the council of the institute. He wasappointed chairman of the British delegation to theforthcoming Fourth International Congress of Radio-logy at Zurich next July, and had been singled outby the executive as the British authority to contributeto a discussion on the radiodiagnosis of pulmonarytuberculosis.

Calls upon Melville’s services were numerous, for,in addition to his positions at St. George’s and theBrompton Hospital, he was at different times consulting radiologist to the Midhurst Sanatorium, theVentnor Hospital for Consumption, the RoyalNational Orthopaedic Hospital, and the Grosvenor

Hospital, for Women, appointments from which hederived his extensive knowledge of the value of X raysin the diagnosis of lung diseases. This was the subjecton which his final public address was made as presidentlast year of the British Institute of Radiology,incorporated with the Rontgen Society. This addresshe concluded with the admission that he had at firstregarded the X ray diagnosis of pulmonary diseasewith considerable doubt, but had grown with hisexperience to be thoroughly optimistic as to its futureutility. He was also consulting expert to the Ministryof Health, in which capacity he rendered ungrudgingassistance both to the central bureau and to localauthorities.

Melville’s great characteristic was service--serviceto his patients, his science, the State, and his friends.For all these he spent freely his powers, and wasrewarded by the high regard of his fellow-men. Hewas a man of great personal charm, natural dignity,and unfailing courtesy. He held strong convictionsand never hesitated to challenge a situation or policywhich in his judgment was unsound or untenable,and would not serve the best interests of radiology.He maintained an enviable cheerfulness despite hisdamaged hands which frequently caused him muchpain. His loss will be acutely felt by his manyfriends. The closing months of his life were cloudedby the death of his wife, his beloved companion ofmany years. He died from heart trouble after a week’sillness in a nursing-home in Wimpole-street, and deepsympathy will go out to his family now doubly bereaved.

Sir Humphry Rolleston, who in more than onedirection of important work was Melville’s colleague,writes : " British radiology has suffered a severe blowin the sudden death of Stanley Melville who, thoughlong an ailing man, always presented a cheerfuluncomplaining front to painful disabilities, evilstrokes of fortune, and the prolonged illness of hischarming wife, the companion of his advance fromgeneral practitioner in Nevern-square to the position

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he attained in the radiological world. Few of the

pioneers of radiology in this country have done somuch to secure its development on proper lines, toestablish the status, provide adequate education,promote scientific work, and set up a qualificationin the form of a diploma for radiologists. Whiledoing much for skilled technical assistants or radio-graphers he was active in bringing about a satisfactoryunderstanding of the relative provinces of medicallyqualified and of other radiological workers. Theestablishment of a diploma in medical radiology andelectrology (D.M.R.E.) at Cambridge in 1919, and thenecessary teaching and examinations, were his con-stant care. After the death in 1921 of his friendand colleague, Dr. W. Ironside Bruce, from aplasticanaemia, Melville’s energy and whole-hearted devotionbrought into being the X Ray and Radium ProtectionCommittee, the first in the world, which though toolate to save him from serious damage has been aservice of incalculable value to present and futuregenerations of radiologists. This alone marks himout as one who should not lightly be forgotten.Quietly and effectively he had long worked for theestablishment of the British Institute of Radiology,incorporated with the Rontgen Society, and it is asatisfaction that he lived to be its president. Melvilledevoted the best energies of his life to promote thedevelopment of radiology without ever puttinghimself forward, hinting or asking for reward, butthose who really knew the man recognise that theradiological world has lost a great soul."

CHARLES PORTER, M.D. R.U.I.LATE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR JOHANNESBURG

Dr. Charles Porter, who was for 23 years healthofficer for Johannesburg and had seen it developfrom a mining camp to a university town of morethan 200,000 inhabitants, died on March 7th at

Muizenberg, Capetown, where he had gone on holiday.Born in Cork in 1864, he was educated there andlater in Dublin, and at University College, London.In 1880 he won an entrance scholarship in the civilengineering school of the Queen’s College, Cork,but soon transferred to the medical faculty with theintention of graduating for the Army or IndianMedical Service. In 1889 he graduated in medicine,with honours and exhibition, at the Royal Universityof Ireland. His eyesight proving a bar to militaryservice he continued his studies, holding resident

appointments at maternity and fever hospitals inCork, and taking a certificate in mental diseases andthe diploma in public health at Cambridge University.In 1890 he was appointed assistant medical officerof health for East Kent, and from 1893-98 he wasM.O.H. for Stockport. The six annual reports issuedto his council during that time are a record of his

grasp of the social aspects of hygiene at a timewhen official public health was concerned ratherwith drains and nuisances. Under his stimulus thecorporation of Stockport was one of the first, if notthe first, to grapple practically with the question ofmaternal education. In 1900 Stockport teachersmet the sanitary committee and agreed to arrangefor the instruction of the elder schoolgirls in the

feeding and management of infants, using as a

guide the booklet drawn up by Dr. Porter and suppliedby the sanitary committee. A health visitor wasappointed to visit each school occasionally to supple-ment by demonstration and otherwise the instructiongiven by the regular teachers. This work was developedfurther by Dr. Porter’s successor, Dr. Meredith

Young, when he was transferred to Shropshire as

its county medical officer. Called to the Bar atGray’s Inn in 1898, he was frequently employed aswitness in local government and parliamentaryinquiries relating to water-supply and seweragepurification schemes. In 1901 he became a vice-

president of the Society of Medical Officers of Health,and in the following year he left for South Africa.

His earliest work of importance for Johannesburgwas to draft a petition on behalf of the town councilfor the extension of the boundaries of the town, andhe received special commendation for his executionof this task. The following year saw him advocatingthe establishment of a university in the town. Forthe rest he was fully occupied with the organisationof an efficient public health department in a rapidlygrowing community, the huge insanitary area of

Burghersdorp providing a problem none too easyof solution. In turn he put through schemes forthe purification of the city’s water-supply, for diseaseprevention, child welfare, control of milk-supply,and disposal of refuse and sewage. He was consultingadviser to the Rand Water Board from its inception,a member of the Public Health Council of the Union,specialist adviser in military hygiene to the UnionDefence Force, and a member of numerous Govern-ment Commissions relating to education, hospitals,mining regulations, prisons, and housing.

THE LATE MR. DAVID LEES

WE have receivedfurther tributes tothe strongcharacter andwide knowledge ofthe late David Lees.Especially thework which he didin combating theeffects of venerealdisease havebrought out testi-monies to his

energy and far-

sightedness. At hisfuneral in Edin-

burgh a largeattendance wasrepresentative ofthe medical profes-sion an d of thepublic movementsin whose activitieshe had shared.

MR. LEES

[Photograpk by Bacon

HERBERT ERNEST CUMMING, M.D.,C.M. McGill, M.C.

WE regret to record the death of Dr. H. E. Cumming,which occurred on March 17th at his house inHereford. Born in 1888 at Ottawa, Cummingreceived his medical education at McGill University,where he graduated as M.D., C.M. in 1913. He wasprominent in university circles, both as an ablestudent and a fine athlete, and at the outbreak ofwar had just completed holding the house appoint-ments at the Montreal General Hospital. For fineservice in France during the war he received theM.C., and at the conclusion of hostilities came toLondon as house surgeon to St. Peter’s Hospital forgenito-urinary diseases. In 1919 he took the Englishdouble diploma and shortly afterwards went into

general practice at Hereford, where his death will bemuch regretted.

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ARCHIBALD BYRON MACALLUM, F.R.S.EMERITUS PROFESSOR OF BIOCHEMISTRY, MCGILL UNIVERSITY

WE regret to learn the death on April 5th, inLondon, Ontario, of the distinguished physiologistProf. Macallum.Archibald Byron Macallum was born in 1858 in

the Canadian city where he died. He was educatedat Toronto University, had a successful career as astudent, and was appointed immediately on graduationto the teaching staff. He was for three years lectureron physiology in the medical school, and in 1891became professor of physiology in the University.Seven years later he was appointed the first professorof biochemistry, a chair which he held till 1918,completing an association with the Toronto medicalschool which had lasted for nearly thirty years. In1920 he was appointed professor of biochemistry inthe University of McGill, a position which he helduntil 1929, being appointed emeritus professor on hisretirement. During the interval between the twoprofessorships, which occurred at the close of the war,he was active in the institution of the Canadian

Industrial Research Council and became chairman ofthe organising body at Ottawa; his energy and resource-fulness made a success of the movement, and hisretirement from that position was attributed to

political reasons. He then transferred his services tothe sister university in Montreal.

Prof. Macallum’s literary activity was considerable,and he had much to write about that was foundedupon his own personal researches. Such papers asthose read before the Royal Society on the distribu-tion of potassium in animal and vegetable cells, andon the nature of the silver reaction in animal andvegetable tissues, read before the Society in 1905,showed his extreme ability in conducting difficult andelaborate investigations as well as the power of statingconclusions clearly. He was elected F.R.S. in 1906,and from that time forward his contributions toBritish and Canadian and American scientificliterature stamped him as a leading thinker andactor.Macallum married Minnie Isabel, daughter of the

late John Strachan Bruce, of Cornwall, Ontario, bywhom he had three sons.

CORRESPONDENCE

DETERRENT MATERNITY FEES

To the Editor of THE LANCET

SIR,-At a time when maternal mortality isdiscussed so freely in both medical and lay papers,and when it is acknowledged that antenatal care andmanagement is in great part the means for theprevention of this lamentable mortality, it seems

strange to me that the Lindsey county council shouldpursue a course which has the effect of acting as adeterrent to patients and their doctors from applyingfor treatment.A patient of mine, a primipara, in the ninth month

of her pregnancy, was desperately ill with pyelitis.I applied to the county M.O.H. to have her removedto a hospital. She was taken there at once andtreated most successfully and returned home in 18

days very pleased with herself and her baby. A fewweeks afterwards she came to me in great distresswith a bill she had received from the county council.The items on the bill were :

1 s. d.Maintenance .... 8 13 8

Operation...... 3 3 0Ambulance...... 3 6 0

15 2 8

The husband is a wage-earner who receives .E2 10s.per week, and they still owe for their furniture. Hehad Riled in a form giving his means and liabilities,and received a request from the M.O.H. for thepayment of the sum mentioned, being the cost tothe council of his wife’s treatment, by instalmentsif he preferred. It seems to me a case of giving withone hand and taking away with the other, and ifpoor patients know that bills of this size are to besent to them it will be very difficult for doctors topersuade them to take advantage of the serviceprovided by the county council.

If a woman has any symptoms of fever after aconfinement she is cared for free of charge, and I amvery strongly of the opinion that antenatal consultantand hospital treatment should also be free of charge.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully,Scunthorpe, Lines, April 4th. W. S. HALL.W. S. HALI

MASTOPATHIA

To the Editor of THE LANCET

SiR,-In your leading article (p. 744) on Masto-pathic and Chronic Mastitis occurs the followingstatement

" Lenthal Cheatle and Cutler separate two distinct

proliferative conditions, mazoplasia,’ described as an

exaggeration of physiological activity with epithelialdesquamation, spontaneous disappearance at the meno-pause and no tendency to neoplasia...."Exactly what we say is that the only neoplasia wecan definitely associate with the process is the forma-tion of fibro-adenomata belonging to the typeencountered at puberty and in the early years of life.

It is perfectly true to say that, during many yearsof examination conducted upon whole microscopicalsections from normal and abnormal breasts, we have nomorphological evidence whatever that the desquama-tive epithelial activity of mazoplasia changes into

epithelial neoplasia. It is on this evidence that wedo not consider the condition to be a precancerousone, nor one on which papillomata, nor any otherkind of epithelial neoplasia, are superimposed.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully,Harley-street, W., April 6th. G. LENTHAL CHEATLE.

To the Editor of THE LANCETSiR,-May I call attention to words bearing on this

subject in a book I published in 1911 entitled the" Disorders of Post-natal Growth and Development."Evidence was there given for the view that manychronic diseases which favour the declining periods oflife bearing the termination " itis " and ranked asinflammation are in reality exaggerated forms ofsenile degeneration. The idea then so commonlyheld that degeneration is solely passive and atrophicis, of course, not in accordance with the facts, and ifanyone is still of this opinion the histological studiesof the tissues of aged dogs subsequently published byGoodpasture and Wislocki,l and by L. W. Smith,2and afterwards confirmed by an examination of thechief organs of 100 aged men and women by myself,3 3

1 Jour. Med. Res., 1915, xxxiii., 455, and 1918, viii., 127.2 Ibid., 1919, xi., 51.

3 Tumors and Cancers, 1915, p. 259.

G. LENTHAL CHEATLE.