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1984 UWOMJ Volume 54, Number 2, January 1984 Western University

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• to This, the second issue, is part of tant today. The response has been we need your contributions and Co-editors our continuing effort to provide an limited Are there no problems in support Thanks for your continu­ Subscriptions: Lila Georgevich interesting and informative maga­ health care today? Should doctors ing effort and we hope 1985 will Meds '87 Rep.: Cathy Hall zine both for staff and students. extra-bill? Should doctors strike? be a good year for all of you. Meds '86 Rep.: Neil Levitsky The 1ournal offers covered What about State Medicine as in Kathy Elsworthy Next deadline: Second week in health related speeches, the fmal England? How is the doctor­ RA. Zimmer February! installment of an interview with nurse, doctor-patient, or nurse­ Dr. Charlie Drake, as well as patient relationship? Should para­ looking into the past with the medics be allowed to administer " Travelling Doctor of the more than just basic life-saving Andes." There is ample student techniques? Should medical edu­ news for those interested with the cation be free or paid later like a OPINIONS AND REPLIES workings of the Hippocratic Coun­ mortgage? The list could go on. TO THE EDITOR: cil and the UMEC. The next issue Letters may be printed anony­ would be well stocked if it could mously as long as the editors are include some staff news. notified of the true author. Specifications: - 60 stroke line We would like to thank the stu­ We encourage students to inter­ - double spaced dents for an enthusiastic response view staff that they fmd interest­ -type written to our pleas for stories, news, ing. We really need more photos Opinions: - 1500 word limit photos, graphics, and opinions. It from any other year other than Replies: - 500 word limit is hoped, that when the first edition Meds '87. Start clicking those gets to staff, they will also par­ cameras. Any letters failing to meet these requirements will not be ticipate in this shared venture. We published appreciate the submission by Dr. The next two covers will be up Send c/ o Faculty of Medicine. Soltan on Genetics at Westem for contest to those aspiring artists The Opinion File was set up to that the editorial board judges to allow staff, students, and any be the best. We are interested in health care professional reading more cartoons, some poems and this to voice their opinions and to short stories. respond to others on issues irnpor- For this magazine to be viable,

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Clinical Symposia Reprints Ernst &Whinney Reprints of more th an 70 editions of this well known medical publica­ EIU 560 Wellington Street, Suite 401 tion; original form at and illustra­ London, Ontario N6A 3R4 tions, contain no advertising. EXECUTIVE NEWS EXECUTIVE NEWS EXECUTIVE NEWS EXECUTIVE NEWS EXECUTIVE UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL the council might want to sponsor, always looking for ways in which please speak to your class presi­ to benefit a larger variety of medi­ EDUCATION COMMITTEE dent. The Hippocratic Council is cal students. by Rob Sales, Meds '87 HIPPOCRATIC SOCIETY This committee (UMEC) over­ approving the past minutes, the by Rob Semmier, seas all aspects of undergraduate Chairman's remarks, discussing & Lisa Cavalier, Meds '87 education. It is chaired by Dr. student requests such as admis­ Most of you are rather unfamiliar can participate in. The Society Silcox who is the assistant dean of sion to MD/MSc programs, award­ with the Hippocratic Society since also acts as a body by which the undergraduate education and is ing (recommending) scholarships most of its members are from medical students as a whole can responsible to the Dean and exe­ and prizes, and approving marks other classes and many of its communicate with faculty (through cutive council. The executive submitted by the respective facul­ activities probably go unrecogni­ the UMEC committee), other committee or council holds the ties. No changes in marks are zed by most class members. The groups and organizations (e.g. final say concerning the medical made and for those who fail, sup­ following description will hope­ Nursing, Rehabs and community school's research, postgraduate, plementals are granted (not gua­ fully enlighten your knowledge of groups). and undergraduate activities. In ranteed) after a discussion of their the Society and spur your interest The events that the Society is other words, UMEC is not the performance or compassionate to get involved in its activities and involved in organizing include the final say but rather a subcommit­ grounds for requesting a sup­ possibly join the council in the Health Sciences pub, Tachycar­ plemental. Student input is always tee of the executive council future. dia, Meds Formal, Meds Relay beneficial since faculty sometimes (chaired by the Dean). The Society is designed to pro­ Marathon, a sports day, sleigh UMEC is composed ofthe coun­ forget how easy it is to bomb out vide a medium to interact all four rides, a third and fourth year on a multiple guess exam. cil co-ordinators of all the depart­ years of Medicine. It does so by Christmas party, the Meds Jour­ UMEC is not out to get the stu­ ments involved in undergraduate providing a means of communica­ nal and other unchartered events. dent and is really a group of education. The Hippocratic coun­ tion between classes and by creat­ The Society, also offers awards devoted individuals who wish to cil has a representative (Jane ing events that the different classes for high academic standing in Gloor-Vi<» President Academic). produce the best-trained doctors All four class presidents attend as around I would like to emphasize vehicles of student input (Tracey that all matters discussed are in ,.. '88, Rob '87, Ivar '86, Rooney strictest confidence and that is ) '85.) The students are active par­ probably why we know very little ticipants but the experience of about what it does. I hope this faculty does pull a lot of weight. overview depicts UMEC as a UMEC is meeting 12 times this governing body with the students' LONDON OSTOMY year. A typical meeting involves interest in mind. CENTRE LTD. HIPPOCRATIC COUNCIL 425 First St., London, Ont. by Paul Hardy, President 455-2300 TOLL FREE 1-800-265-1093 As you may know, the Hippoc­ see some inter-meds athletic events. ratic Council is the medical stu­ Keep your ears open for a squash Now supplies-PROCTOR & GAMBLE ATIENDS dents' council at Western. Many tournament and a cross-country as well as: ski day to name a few. This year is student activities are planned • Sancella Incontinent • Squibb Uri-Hesive through and often financed through the first year of the Hippocratic System (pads & System the council. Council sponsored MCALC. The net panties) • Bardic Leg, Bags & The main source of revenue is Medical Computer Assisted • Mark One Incontinent McGuire Urinals Tachycardia. Other funds includ­ Learning Club is working on stor­ Pants • Uro Sheaths ing assistance from the Dean's ing some information from ana­ • Chesebrough-Pond's • Down's Pubic Pressure Office help out. tomy, pharmacology and ICC on Uridrains & Leg Bags Urinals This year so far has seen several magnetic disk. The data would be • Hollister Incontinent • Weimer Urinals council sponsored social events. retrievable in a variety of forms System Pubs during the Introduction to using a computer. Members of the Medicine Week seemed to be Hippocratic Council also sit on a CALL US AS WELL FOR THESE quite successful. The annual third number of comittees. These in­ OSTOMY APPLICANCES and fourth year Christmas Party is clude ones composed of students Atlantic Perma-Type United Surgical Translet being organized by the capable from Western, students from ot­ Coloplast Reliaseals Stomahesive Marlen " regulars". We look forward to her schools, faculty and interns Golly-See Is Squibb Sween many other pubs throughout the and residents. This Journal is in Dan sac Torbot Hollister year and the Meds Formal in part fmanced by the council. May. If you would like to inquire about SIDNEY E. TEBBUIT Registered Nurse Not all activities endorsed by the any Hippocratic Council events, Enterostomal Therapist @ Hippocratic Council are social in please talk to your class president. nature. Again this year we hope to Also, if you have any ideas that undergraduate courses. The Treasurer: Soumya Gopinathan the main party centre being the years and will be a place we can all Society is supported by funds Meds '85 Arlberg Inn Uust look for the call our second home. from Western's University Stu­ Secretary: Jackie LeF ebve GOLDSTEIN BAR or Fozzy). WewouldliketothankMeds '88 dents' Council and there is a cen­ Meds '86 The most exciting news (from for their similar enthusiastic atti­ tral bank account at the USC for Community Relations Director: the executive's point of view) is tude and for replacing us as the the Society. Lisa Cavalier Meds '87 the securing of a room large junior members of the medical The following is a list of rep­ Athletics Rep (female): Karen enough to be a MEDICAL STU­ school. Remember that we are resentatives of this year's Hippoc­ Freutel Meds '85 DENT COMMON ROOM. more than willing to give advice on ratic Council. Feel free to talk to Athletics Rep(male): Bill Tilhnan I'm sure the common room will how to get maximum return from any of them about suggestions or Meds '86 become a useful addition to the maximum effort. opinions you may have on events University Student Council Rep: medical school. It will enhance Until next time. or organizations as you travel the Ken West Meds '85 interaction among the various road of Medicine. Meds Journal: Kathy Elsworthy President Paul Hardy Meds '86 Meds '87, Rudy Zimmer Meds WHATS UP WITH MEDS '87 VP Academic: Jane Gloor '87 by Sally Scruples Meds '86 Our representative on the Hip­ VP Executive: Bob Butler Meds pocratic Council is our class presi­ Well it's almost December and professors do not switch from '87 dent, as all class presidents are a most of us in Meds '87 are just fluent English to fluent Prussian VP Social: Theresa Koppert part of the council. beginning to realize that Christ­ midsentence, we sometimes feel Meds '86 mas is only a month away. Where they may as well have. On a posi­ has the time gone? Only the tive note, many of us have found MEDS '86 by Neil Levitsky faculty knows. By now we are that the course material this year, recovering from the feeling of although copious, is very relevant The class of 1986 is hard at work fear a tiny inanimate object can being very closely related to a and yes, even interesting. Unfor­ again this year, only this time we strike into a clerk's heart just by punching bag-they (the faculty) tunately, we have also found that are no longer in classes; we are emitting a persistent beeping kept knocking us down, and we what we learned last year really spending all our time as junior noise. I have discovered that turn­ (incredibly) kept bouncing back. does matter, but that most of what members ofthe patient-care teams ing the beeper off will not solve the However, as all things must come little we did learn seemed to at the various hospitals. Unfor­ problem. Seriously, though, I to an end, so did that, thankfully. miraculously dissipate over the tunately, we can do very little think that by being on call we are To alleviate insanity (or perhaps summer months. together as a class, as everyone is all gradually gaining ability and create it), Meds '87 sponsored Back to class events, the intro­ spread out in different rotations confidence in handling common many class events during Septem­ duction for Meds '88 ended with around the city. Even so, we have problems. ber and October. At the top of the the Fanshawe picnic, where as had a few parties and have started list was the introduction for Meds Meds '87 chugged to victory, ex­ planning for Tachycardia. All in all, it appears from speak­ '88; our representation of a typical perience proved once again that No matter what the rotation, I'm ing to my classmates that the com­ professor of medicine, com­ one of the benefits of a year in sure everyone can relate to certain mon feeling is that clerkship may pliments of Igor, was hauntingly medical school is learning how to basic themes of clerkship. The be rough at times, but it sure beats familiar, and although most of our really drink beer. first of these is scut. Since most of sitting through dry, boring lectures the time we are too junior to be every day. We are glimpsing what given much responsiblity, we are medicine is really all about, and kept busy doing the tedious every­ getting satisfaction from helping day work that no one else wants to real live patients. Also, we are get­ Our three do. The next problem is cal~ and ting a better idea as to what the dif­ its resultant sleep deprivation. Of ferent areas of medicine involve, course, there is always the juggling so that we can start thinking about 111ajor around of the call schedule so our long-term goals. It seems ter­ that everyone can have the days ribly early to start thinking about co111111it111ents off that they need (or some of post-internship plans, but before them). Beepers are a scary part of we know it, we will have to be clerkship; it is amazing how much applying for internships. To the past: the continuation of high standards of MEDS '87 by Rob Sales achievement The Class of '87 returned to country running or something). To the present: providing excellent begin second year with a renewed The computer club is continuing feeling of enthusiasm. Our enthu­ the summarization of ICC and products with siasm has not been dampened by some first year students are work­ service to the the barrage of exams which were ing on anatomy (I think?). The medical community. made easier by having the summer Journal is in full swing attempting to practice 'trivial pursuit'. Ser­ to produce the elusive four issues To the future: investing in iously though, the exams were in one year. The Merrymakers research for the well spaced and merely dictated have Tachycardia well under con­ further preservation our study schedule for the first two trol with a complete script (cheap of health and life. months (thank you Pharmacology at $2); the main characters have for freeing up Thanksgiving been chosen and rehearsals have Weekend). already begun. (The fact that 46 Weare The presence ofMeds '87 should individuals auditioned for main be felt at Western considering the roles is testimony to the fact that Geigy number of activities certain class the spirit of Meds '87 is alive Pharmaceuticals members are involved in. Our and well!) athletic teams are cleaning up as The Second Annual Ski Trip is usual (several 'turkeys' for cross- being held at Blue Mountain with The next event was the Health surprise visit from Boy George a full moon out?). Is he really that the faculty, most of our class Sciences pub, and while most ofus and his (her?) feathered fowl, as much of an animal, Janet? members decided to attend clas­ walked in on two feet, quite a few well as a special look at the real That brings us to November ses again. However, even this has had to be rolled home at the end of Bill McCauley(perhaps there was where to alleviate the worries of its disadvantages. Is there a dis­ the evening. ease called Blue Sliditis? Our il­ As exams progressed we began lustrious president had a large to show increasing the signs of proportion of our class convinced stress. A certain member of our that it does exist Perhaps more class decided that the one dollar disturbing is the trend of rashes of bill changer in the medical scien­ asthma presented to Health Ser­ ces cafeteria would not accept a vices the day after the asthma lec­ twenty dollar bill (he proposed ture; tachycardia, the day after the that it was similar to a B cell, it cardiac lecture, and obscure dis­ would recognize the twenty as a eases such as Whipples disease foreign antigen and, therefore, the day after G.l. pathology. reject it). But to his woe found that On a more serious note, the light all you got for twenty dollars was at the end of the turmel was the four quarters-illustrating that assignment of our clerkship rota­ during stress our intelligence is so tions, but looking at the condition markedly reduced that even a of the Meds '86 clerks, one can't stupid machine can rip us off. help but wonder what we are (Studying for Micro, Keith?) really getting ourselves into. After the micro exam the female A few people deserve special members of our class decided that mention ... First off, Tom Janzen, there was no substitute for the who has so far managed to run a REAL thing. .. chocolate. Our first football pool, hockey pool and lot­ annual chocolate indulgence was tery pool; watch out, next we' ll be the ultimate in hedonism, proving buying swamp land in Florida, at a to be very satisfying. (Eat your good price, of course! hearts out, guys!) On the movie scene we were At the end of our exams many of privileged to have an appearance us decided to show our true selves by our own ghost buster. Some at the LPH Halloween party. people in our class still smell a lit­ Some of the representations were tle musty, Dave-what was in that surprisingly true to life, with cannister? Cathy Hall as Mrs. Roper, Pete The last mention should go to the Daniels as an aborigine, Steve member of our class who recently Martin as Bill Tillman. Others earned the title Dad-To-Be. He were less true to life; for example, has already warned Tom that Lee Ann Wills as a nun and Ken there will be no betting on the sex, Parker as a priest. There was a time or date!

Oktoberfest Photos by Meds '88 I I '84

Med student is subjected to unusually cruel experiments Ark II freedom fighters save him and make the 6 o'clock news but.. at that! Photo by Marek S. SPORTS ROUNDUP-MEDS '87 by Kent Bauman Despite being swamped by ex­ October 28th marked the day of ams this fall , many of us still man­ our class' frrst Winter Golf Clas­ aged to fmd the time to participate sic, held at the Fanshawe Golf in our favorite sports. Club. After eighteen holes of play, Meds '87 once again maintained Kevin MacKirmon led the field their perfect record in touch foot­ with an 80. Norm Kalyniuk shot ball. In two seasons of play they an 83 to fmish second while Rob have failed to score a single point. Hammond placed third to 88. At Many team members are already the other end of the spectrum was worried that they may not be able Keith Thompson who shot a 11 0; to sustain this level of excellence that's right, 1 10 over par to finish for a third season. with 180. It is believed that this Due to the experience gained in score was due to a lack of com­ the summer league, the Meds '87 munication, as the tournament of­ fall baseball team actually man­ ficials failed to explain to Mr. aged to reach the first round of the Thompson that, in golf, unlike bowl­ playoffs. However, by the second ing, the idea of the game is to ob­ game, the effects of the Halloween tain as low a score as possible. It DR. R.' S new caddy. Public Advertising. MEN'S SPORTS-MEDS '88 by Chris Tebbutt, Meds '88 Without exaggeration, the male undoubtedly make their mark in athletic representation ofMeds '88 is the respective leagues. looking as awesome on the play­ Presently, we are involved in ing field as they are in the His­ squash and vollebyall, while bas­ tology lab. Seriously, though, our ketball is looming large in the near showing so far this year has been future. Should participation and quite admirable. Our Pancreatic athletic excellence continue as they Secreations football squad defied have to date, it is quite obvious to the odds makers by roaring into the this athletic rep that Meds '88 will intramural championship playoffs. be a dominant force to be reck­ Hockey and hockeyball teams are oned with at Western in the 80's. now in mid-season form, and will

party at LPH the night before be­ should also be noted that Mr. gan to surface and the team lost a Thompson accomplished this feat real " cliffhanger" and was forced in a mere thirteen holes. to withdraw from the tournament The men's ball hockey team has Meds '87 once again demonstrat­ been playing well and has advanced ed the running supremacy that to the second round of the playoffs earned them the course record in despite the handicap of having Mark the Meds Marathon relay last "The Sieve" Brown playing net. spring. In the Turkey Run (Wes­ The girls' basketball team also tern's Intramural croos-country race) played well and had an excellent both the men's and women's team season. They lost by two points in won their respective divisions. Not­ the championship match. able mention goes to Dr. Peter Other sports that are still in pro­ Haase, the honorary team captain, gress include volleyball, ice hock­ who was the first faculty member ey, and, of course, the weekly foot­ to finish the race. Dr. Haase placed ball pool for the armchair athletes "So when I got on to the 15th green, I managed to get back onto the sixth in the men's division. in our class. lith ..." K. Thompson Ph t b M 0 OS y arek S. these types of experiments after the sexually dimorphic nucleus THE JAMES A. F. STEVENSON since in this species, differentia­ (SON). The SON which is nor­ tion of the reproductive system mally larger in the male than in MEMORIAL LECTURE occurs before birth. Taking ad­ the female can be shown to be by Pierre Landry and Dean Chittock Meds '88 vantage of this fact he showed altered significantly by its hor­ that if a male was castrated with­ monal environment during a cri­ with regard to reproductive func­ in 3 days ofbirth it would exhibit tical time period; taking on a more On Thursday, October 25, 1984 tion and behavior. the female pattern of sexual be­ " male" appearance in perinatal­ the annual Stevenson Memorial It was just this type of research havior (lordosis). This behavior ly castrated male rats. Lecture was held here at Uni­ which set the focus of Dr. Gor­ is not seen if the castrated male is Dr. Gorski pointed out that in versity Hospital This lecture ser­ skfs lecture entitled "Sexual Dif­ given the androgen testosterone the human, a relationship between ies was established in 1972 to ferentiation of the Brain: Possi­ within 4 days aftep birth. In con­ gonadal hormones and sexual honor the memory of Professor ble Mechanisms and Implica­ trast, the females _that are given behavior and identity is less ob­ James A.F. Stevenson who was tions." In this talk he addressed androgens just after birth are seen vious but that a better understand­ chairman of the Department of the idea of a possible difference to behave more as males. This ing of this process may better Physiology at the University of existing between the anatomical point was demonstrated eloquent­ enable us to make more appro­ Western Ontario from 19 51 to structure of the male and female ly with the aid of a short film in priate decisions in cases such as 1970. brain. Dr. Gorski then went on which several of these treated newborns that have ambiguous The guest lecturer for this year to say that the brain, like the rats behaved rather" peculiarly'' genitalia or whose genetic sex was Dr. Roger A. Gorski Chair­ reproductive system, is inherent­ when presented with a receptive does not coincide with phenoty­ man of the Department of Ana­ ly female (sorry guys); if not ex­ mate. pic sex. tomy at the University of Cali­ posed to gonadal hormones at a The main thrust of Dr. Gor­ Dr. Gorski proved himself to fornia, Los Angeles. critical period in its development, it ski's lecture however was based be a superb lecturer who man­ Dr. Gorski is an eminent scien­ remains so regardless of genetic on the fact that in the adult rat aged to captivate and stimulate tist in the investigation of the sex. This he demonstrated to be brain there exists a definite mor­ our imagination while he spoke influence of sex hormones on the true for the rat but he cautioned phological difference between on this controversial yet fascin­ development of the central ner­ that the same could not easily be male and female. This difference ating subject His name will grate­ vous system. His research has shown for the human. is best seen in the medial pre­ fully be added to the list of dis­ been focused on the effect of these Dr. Gorski explained that the optic nucleus of the anterior hy­ tinguished Stevenson Memorial hormones at the time of birth rat is a useful animal to model pothalamus and hence was coined Lecturers.

BEHIND THE SURGEON'S MASK (PART II}

it's hard for me to see major tech­ it' 11 be done by some form of mi­ me is prevention. Certainly in the Dr. Charles G. Drake was born nical change- that is in hand work. cro-manipulation and incredibly case of automobile accidents. It's in Windsor, Ontario in 1920 and Surgeons work with their hands magnified vision. now possible to package people in graduated from the F acuity of and with tools. Every recess of the Journal: Do you see that coming the automobile and have them sur­ Medicine at the University of brain and the interior of spinal in the next 20 years? vive high velocity crashes. How­ Western Ontario in 1944. He in­ cord have been explored The fu­ Drake: Well, things advance so ever, the public doesn't want to terned at Toronto General Hos­ ture as I see it will probably be in rapidly, it's hard to know. It's hard accept it It might be an uncom­ pital and did his neurosurgery re­ the tools. I remember when I was for me to see that or what it will fortable ride, sitting backward sidency with Dr. Kenneth Mc­ brought up in the days we oper­ mean. Take the brain tumour, the The problem with brain trauma is Kenzie. In 1954 he returned to ated without any additives to our glioma of brain; surgeons haven't that everything happens in those U.W.O., Dept of Surgery as the vision and then the loops came done anything of significance in few 1/ 1OOOths of a second that the first neurosurgeon in the London along, which are little magnifying modifying the natural history of brain is gliding, swirling and rotat­ area lenses you put on your glasses, that disorder in the past 100 years. ing around in your head (the brain Drake's reputation as and in the late 60's the surgical The future is going to be in the is a colloidal gel). one of the world's top neurosur­ microscope. When I first used control of neoplasia in the brain, We now have the means to re­ geons is based largely on his re­ loops, promoted them around the not of surgical excision of the tu­ vascularize the brain in the pre­ markable contributions and skill world - I was called a "mesosur­ mour. The benign extradural tu­ vention of stroke. We haven't in aneurysm surgery. He has been geon" and now we're called " mi­ mours like the meningiomia are been able to modify the completed and still is a true pioneer in this crosurgeons". but nevertheless pretty well done now. I'm sure stroke significantly, although there is field the mircroscope opened up a whole there'll be some changes. But I some hope. However, the long The Journal interviewed Dr. new world of surgery. don't see any major technical ad­ term treatment of stroke will be in Drake in July 1984 to try and gain Journal: Do you have to have vances. prevention and control of another some understanding of the man very fine control to do microsur­ The congenital disorders of chil­ one by modification of circulation. behind the surgeon's mask. gery.? dren, I don't know how they can If the carotid becomes severely Drake: No. You get onto it, get be modified, once done, wfire faced stenosed, you can remove it and Journal: What directions, new used to it That's what I mean, in with it I'm sure they will develop give them a new pipe. Or if its developments, do you see in neur­ the future it will be the tools that better shunts for hydrocephalus. I obstructed somewhere you can't osurgery in the next 10-20 years? will change. I've heard people talk suspect that the child with the my­ get at it, you can do a bypass. We Are things going to change much? about nanosurgery (I 0-9) and pi­ elomeningiocoele will always be don't know the real efficacy of it Drake: Every surgeon that's said co surgery (I 0-1 0). It won't be the paraplegic. yet That's under study. But the this has been wrong in the past but surgery as we know it If it is done, Trauma- the future in trauma to technique is there. HELEN CALDICOTT SPEAKS IN TORONTO by Mike Gaspar up." She carne to regard the planet cestors of the Russian people and ing IT) are seriously destabilizing. Meds '88 as a terminally ill patient, infested hence that the USSR is the ' na­ These weapons could be destroyed with nuclear weapons that have tural' enemy of the West This in 3 or 4 minutes in a tactical ex­ Few people, I trust, need to be view seems to be a widely accept­ convinced that nuclear war is a been " metastasizing, like a can­ change with the Soviets, and in a ed fundamentalist doctrine. Caldi­ bad thing. Most of us understand cer." She has dedicated her life to crisis situation the 'use or lose' pursuing the only form of medi­ cott believes that his religious com­ attitude could easily prevail. The that man has the capacity to des­ mitments are basically the reason troy himself and creation many cine suitable to such a disease, that Russian SS-20s are, of course, why Reagan had no inhibitions times over. Most of us have at of preventive medicine. equally vulnerable. In addition, about calling Russia "an evil em­ the diminished reaction time is re­ least a vague sense that things are Her personal triumph over de­ pire" in an early press conference, sponsible for renewed pressure for getting worse rather than better. nial has left her a very angry wo­ or why he pronounced before the a launch-on-warning system for And most of us are able, under man "Ronald Reagan has legiti­ British Commons that the West the European theatre, that is, a most circumstances, to follow a mized hatred in America!" , she would " reduce the Soviet Union computer-controlled command net­ logical progression of facts to a cried at one point Yet her invec­ to the ash heaps of history." She work which could launch missiles logical conclusion and then to de­ tive is not the random sniping of reminded the audience that Rea­ without human mediation. This termine appropriate action. other activists; it is a gut response gan has also publicly stated on would greatly increase the risk of If so, why is Dr. Helen Caldicott to real experiences. E artier this eight occasions since taking office war due to miscalculation or elec­ such a popular person? Why did I year Caldicott met with President that he believed Armageddon was tronic glitch. There have been li­ have to share a lecture hall with Reagan at the invitation ofhis daugh­ nigh and that we were the last gen­ terally hundreds of such errors in over 600 people when I heard her ter Patty, who feared her father's eration on earth. recent years involving the SAC speak at the University ofToronto ignorance of facts about nuclear and NORAD computers, one of on November 14? She attributes arms. This ignorance became ob­ Jacob Bronowski, the British phil­ the gap between knowledge of and vious to Caldicott shortly into the osopher of science to whom this which brought us to within 13 min­ actual belief in the nuclear threat interview. Reagan was rarely able lecture was devoted, warned ofthe utes of war in 1979. to " psychic numbing" or " manic to support his arguments with facts perils of using the quest for abso- In the final analysis, Dr. Caldi-

denial", a form of that defense and made some startling blunders lute truth and knowledge as a basis cott did not seem optimistic about mechanism which permits an in­ when he attempted to do so. She for geopolitical policy. Those who the prospect of meaningful arms dividual to carry on with life as reported his belief, for instance, saw his ' Ascent of Man' series are control and eventual reduction. Her though immortal despite the cer­ that only intercontinental ballistic not likely to forget the image of call to action was offered not so tain knowledge of death. It is es­ missiles carried nuclear weapons Bronowski ankle-deep in the mud much as a program to save the sentially why, she says, that the when, in fact, 20-30% of U.S. outside ofAuschwitz , quoting Oli­ world as it was as a means of re­ economic prosperity of the U.S., warheads are deployed on B52s ver Cromwell: "I beseech you, in conciling the individual to his own and not the runaway arms race, and tactical weapons like the Persh­ the bowels of Christ, think it pos­ fears and feelings of impotence. was the focal concern of the last ing II. While she cited Reader's sible you may be mistaken!" Dr. As a physician, Caldicott knows presidential election. ("We' ll all Digest, her impression of the en­ Caldicott praised the philosopher that members of the health pro­ be driving to the next war in a late counter was summarized as follows: at some length and claimed that fession are in a unique position to model car.") " I left the meeting in a state of both he and the philosopher-paci­ understand and deal with these As a paediatrician in Australia, clinical shock. I wanted to run up fist Bertrand Russell had had a fears and feelings. She therefore Dr. Caldicott was very concerned to people in the street and shake major influence on her life. makes a special appeal to those in with cystic fibrosis and did con­ them and tell them what I had just medicine to see this issue as a ma­ siderable work with children who seen! " The bulk of her talk was devoted jor health concern and to become knew they would not survive to to communicating a sense of ur­ involved in it out of responsibility adulthood. Her perspective on nu­ Probably what disturbs Caldicott gency regarding the need to cam­ to their patients. If personal action clear weapons issues has been most about the President is his paign for disarmament At least achieves nothing else, it should at shaped by this clinical experience. devotion to fundamentalist Chris­ part of the reason that some peo­ least offer the satisfaction of know­ While serving on the faculty of tianity. The Book of Revelations ple can't become concerned about ing that your concern for man, his Harvard Medical School she de­ teaches that in the end times a tribe the threat of nuclear war is the culture, and his planet is sufficient­ cided to quit the medical profes­ called the Magog will rise against perception that deterrence is work­ ly great to have warranted a stand sion to lecture full time on the health Israel and that Israel and her allies ing; we have, after all, lived in against the danger of annihilation. effects of nuclear war. " I couldn't will be lead to victory through di­ relative peace in the 40 years since If personal action achieves noth­ continue to practice when I knew vine intervention. In his best-sel­ Hiroshima But Caldicott believes, ing else, it would at least offer you that all children were at risk," she ling book The Late Great Planet and again with a strong basis in the right to tell your children you explains. " 75 % of American chil­ Earth, Hal Lindsey argued that fact, that the newly deployed Euro­ did as much as one citizen could dren do not believe they will grow the Magog are the legitimate an- missiles(i.e. the Cruise and Persh- do to guarantee them a future. Ontario Medical Association

240 St. George Street Toronto, Ontario M5R2P4 (416) 963-9383 INWATS 1·8()0-268-7215

Student Section

the BULLETIN January, 1985

THE STUDENT SECTION, ONTARIO MEDICAL ASSOCIATION The SSOMA represents the medical students One of the ways we try to keep students of Ontario in three broad areas: aware of issues affecting us all is through the periodic publication of our i) Issues concerned with students• financ­ Bulletin. The Bulletin is distributed ing of medical education, to a 11 medica 1 students as a courtesy, 2) Special programs and activities of whether or not they are members of the interest to medical students, and Association. (See .. Joining the OMA .. , 3) Communication between our parent page4). organization, the 0~1A, and medical students as well as among students. HEALTH, HUMOUR & HERESY -- THE ONTARIO MEDICAL STUDENT WEEKEND

From February 8th to lOth, Queen's medical students will be hosting this annual extravaganza. Health, Humour and Heresy is designed espec i a 11 y for the winter- bound medical student. Speakers and workshops will address everything from computers and medicine to humour in pain management.

The cost this year is $25, which includes a wine and cheese reception, dinner-dance, and social and sporting events. Accommo­ dation by billeting will be available.

The Schedule -- Friday evening: ONTARIO Dr Martin Shapiro, author of .. Getting MEDICAL STUDENT Doctored, .. speaks on .. Medical Educa­ tion in the U.S. and Canada-- What WEEKEND is to be Done? .. Wine and Cheese reception Saturday: Lectures (free) Lunch Sunday: Workshops Sports events: volleyball, basket- Dinner & Dance ball, broomball, powder football the BULLETIN - 2- J3nuary. 1985 CLERKSHIP STIPEND AND STUDENT LOANS In the past year, SSOMA has presented a maximum of 520 weeks of assistance. briefs on financial matters to the provin­ The weekly allowance was also increased cial Ministries of Health and Colleges from $56.25 per week to $100 per week. and Universities, as well as to the federal Additional expenses, such as food while government • s Student Assistance Oi rectorate on call, can be now be claimed by clinical and Secretary of State. clerks. For the fifth year, we have obtai ned an Unfortunately, the Ontario Student Assist­ increase in the Clerkship Stipend to ance Program {OSAP) increased the weekly $3,386 for 1984-85. We will be meeting allowance without increasing the lifetime with the Minister of Health again to limit. For medical students, who remain negotiate a raise for the 1985-86 school in school for many years, this just means year. We hope for a larger increase that they will run out of funds sooner. since the 6-and-5 program has ended, but We will, of course, be pursuing the matter we shall see ••• with the Minister of Colleges and Univer­ sities. We were successful in improving the Canada Student Loan program. The 1 i fetime ceiling -- Mark Moran, Chairman for government assistance was changed to ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING This August 18th-23rd, the OMA and CMA about medical specialties of interest are holding a conjoint Annua 1 Genera 1 to them and about their own Section. Meeting in Ottawa. For the first time in nine years, the Student Section plans The meeting would be open to all medical to take part. years, and being in the summer will not conflict with classes. Sessions will The current proposal is that students be held in the new Westin Hotel complex, come as observers to the scientific meet­ and we hope to arrange student accom­ ings, as well as attending the Student modation through the University of Ottawa Section's own business meeting. Students residences. would have the opportunity to learn THIRD WORLD ELECTIVES

The SSOMA and OFMSS are workin.g on a The book is not intended to be a listing guidebook to elective programs in the of specific places of contact people, Third World. because of volume and the number of annual changes. The purpose of the booklet is to he 1 p students find and arrange a fourth-year If you have experience or advice about elective without the delays and confusion this kind of elective, please contact that so often seem to accompany them. your school's Rep.

GUIDEBOOK

The 1984-85 edition of "Life after Medical thanks go out to Mike Kovacs and Jeff Sc ho o 1" ha s been d i s t r i but e d at e a c h o f Mills of UWO for their hard work during the five schools. Response to this year's the summer. edition has been good -- the BULLETIN - 3 - Jariuary. 1985 RUMTEK MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM A link between the Third World and Queen's in Rumtek and the nearby hospitals in medical students is being forged by the Gangtok, Sikkim. Students would help Rumtek Medical Assistance Program. Con­ dispense primary care at the Rumtek ceived in the winter of 1983 to meet an Clinic under Dr M R Kotwal, and would urgent need for medical aid, the program rotate through the departments of the consists of two parts. Sri Thondrup Namgyal Memorial Hospital in Gangtok, the state capital of Sikkim. First, to facilitate primary care in Rumtek (a Himalayan village of 1,000 in Anyone wanting further information on northern India), Canadian pharmaceutical the program should contact: firms were canvassed for donations of their products. Donations valued at Project Coordinator, RMAP about $50,000 have been received from Aesculapian Soc, Queen's University Novopharm, Wyeth, Lilly, Robbins, Frosst, Faculty of Medicine Rhone-Poulenc, Janssen, and MSP. Botterell Hall . Kingston, ON K7C 3W6 The second part of the program is the establishment of a fourth-year elective or phone Bob Clendenning, 613-542-3816.

MEDISCAN Mediscan is the dynamic, informative, be happy to take poetry, art, cartoons, semi-annual, bilingual publication of the short stories, photographs, or anything Canadian Federation of Medical Students. else you can dream up! The Fall '84 issue is wrapped up and off the press, and now material is needed This is your big chance for coast-to­ for the Spring '85 issue. coast exposure for your talents, so don't delay! Send submissions to: In addition. to the regular features of medical humour, history of medicine, CFMS Cindy Toze, Mediscan Editor reports, "Soapbox" (where students can 47 Montreal Street, #2 express their views on general political Kingston, ON K7L 3E7 issues or issues specific to medicine) 613-542-1486 and news about school happenings -- we'd UNDERSERVICED AREAS PROGRAM The sixth annual recruitment drive of the The Ministries of Health and Northern Ontario Underserviced Areas Program was Affairs cooperate to run the UAP, which held October 22-26. Representatives from is considered to be the most successful 45 communities met with students from all program of its kind in Canada. More five medical schools, as well as students information on the Program can be obtained in nursing, dentistry, rehab med and from a very approachable Dr W J Copeman, speech pathology. Between 50 and 100 MDs via your Student Affairs office. join the program each year. PSYCHIATRY ELECTIVES

Ruth Fretts, SSOMA Rep from Queen • s, has psychiatrists. The program would improve suggested that fourth year students be service to these areas as well as provide allowed to take psychiatry electives or a valuable experience for students. rotations at underserviced northern cen­ Response should be coming soon from tres. Many northern and rural areas in Psychiatry Undergraduate Coordinators at Ontario are affected by a shortage of the five medical schools. the BULLETIN - 4 - January. 1985 JOINING THE O.M.A. The Ontario Medical Association, the and the CMA Journal, as well as a variety professional Association of Ontario doc­ of member services including special tors, has a special Section for medical rates on automobile, home, apartment and students. 1 i fe insurance. Membership is open to all medical students To join, contact your school's represen­ for a very reasonable fee ($20 in 1985}, tative(s} or call the OMA Membership which entitles the member to receive Department at 963-9383 (Toronto} or toll­ two journals, the Ontario Medical Review free 1-800-268-7215.

YOUR SSOMA REPS Toronto Queen• s · Mark Moran (Chairman} Ruth Fretts 30 Charles St West, Apt 1019 106 Nelson Street, #2 Toronto, ON M4Y 2R5 Kingston, ON 416-966-5281 613-544-2778 Ian Beauprie Cindy Toze 396 Markham Street 223 Stuart Street Toronto, ON M6G 2K9 Kingston, ON K67L 2V9 416-927-8392 613-544-2146 Western McMaster K.C. Moran Joanne Willoughby 1460 Limberlost Road, #56 981 Main St West, Apt 101 London, ON NSS 2E5 Hamilton, ON L8S 1A8 519-472-3741 416-527-7658 Mike Kovacs Greg Mosdossy 102 Monmore Roa"d 167 Herkimer Street London, ON N6G 3B3 Hamilton, ON L8P 2H5 519-472-6325 416-522-9878 Ottawa Rubin Cohen 122 Renova Private Ottawa, ON K1G 4G6 613-523-6164 HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

THE TRAVELLING DOCTORS OF THE ANDES

by I. Mendez, Meds '85

evidence of the use of quinine ex­ tracted from the chichona bark for the treatment of malaria. Some archeological finds revealed the skull of an Inca warrior with evidence of a cranial trepanation done by Callawaya surgeons, that would effectively evacuate an epi­ dural hematoma. Another inter­ years of training after which the esting finding is the bag of a Cal­ trainee already a skillful herbalist, Ia waya doctor that contained sur­ is ready to undertake his journey. gical instruments and a very inter­ The journeys vary in length from 2 esting device for the administra­ years to four or even five years. tion of enemas, that consisted of a They are never undertaken by sin­ leather bag with a sugar cane tube gle individuals but always by com­ attached and instructions to be used panies, at times composed of as in case of bowel obstruction. many as 8 or 10 individuals that The importance ofthe Callaway­ usually include one or two masters as today is not only their reported in the administration of the Inca called " Y atiris." marvellous healings, but their role empire. They were in charge ofthe Anywhere in Latin America you in providing health care services in religious rituals, public health care may meet these strange propo­ areas where modem medicine is and predestination of the future. nents of the healing art, among the not available. It is not unusual to They were also masters in sci­ thronging crowds of the great fairs find them treating a miner with 0 <:!JED ences such as astronomy, mathe- and the pleasure seekers of the pulmonary tuberculosis in the moun­ ~~------. matics, geometry and botanies and fiestas, in the hut of the mountain tains ofBolivia or healing a farmer had powerful influence in all the shepherd and with the gaucho in of malaria and parasitic infesta­ ~~,~r~ decisions taken by the Inca king. the plains. Travelling first calls in tion in the tropical lands of Bra­ Today about 2000 " Callawa­ passenger jets or tramping on foot zil ~~~~ - ~ yas" keep alive the millennium on a desolate road of the Chilean The Callawaya doctor has been 66.· ~ - )v:. ~ culture. They live in a small village desert, the Callaway is equally at preserved since Inca times and d> - ~ ~ . ~ lost in the vast and frigid Andean home. There are some reports that will continue to be an integral part c4r-_:. plateau where the traditions and indicate that Callaways have tra­ of life in remote regions of Latin The Inca empire was divided in 4 ancestral knowledge of naturist velled as far as Europe, Africa and America, travelling across the ma­ large countries, this division was medicine remains with little change North America, taking with them jestic mountains of the Andes. known as the "Tawantinsuyo" (ta­ since Inca times. The Callawayas their healing skills. wan= four, suyo =country). One are best known today for their mar­ Their healing abilities have puz­ References of the countries was the " Colla­ vellous healings and ability for pre­ zled scientists for years in areas 1) Erika Mendez- The concept of suyo" that was located in the geo­ destination of the future. Their in­ where modem medicine has been the soul in the Callawayas culture. graphical heart of South Amer­ fluence is still very strong among unsuccessful and have given them Anthropology 0.20- UWO 1983 ica, extending from the south of the native people of Latin Ameri­ increasing popularity not only a­ 2) Oblitas Enrique-" CulturaCal­ Peru to Chile and north of Argen­ ca. mong the native people of Latin lawaya" Ediciones populares ca­ tina. (Today this region is occu­ Only males are chosen for the America, but also among the well­ morligui Ia pez-Bolivia 1978 pied mainly by the Republic of rigorous training to become a tra­ educated people of the big cities. 3) Glen E . Leonard. Land people Bolivia). velling doctor. The training invol­ Recent archeological studies show and institutions Washington the The " Collasuyo" (colla = med­ ves learning the healing properties strong evidence of the use of anti­ Scarecrow press. 1952 icine, suyo = country) was an area of about 5000 varieties of plants biotics which dates fium Inca times. 4) Corter William Bolivia where a highly developed culture and herbs, the techniques of pre­ Antibiotics obtained from the fer­ New York- Prueger Publishers was established long before the paration of diverse healing solu­ ment of green banana and com 1971 Incas. They were called the "Cal­ tions combining plants and min­ mold were and still are used top­ 5) Wrigley E .M. The travelling lawayas" (calla = medicine, erals. Learning astronomy and eso­ ically for the treatment of wounds, doctors of the Andes, The Calla­ waya =carrier). These "medicine teric rituals for the predestination infections and taken orally for the way as in Bolivia. New York Geo­ carriers" had a very important role of the future are also part ofthe 5-6 cure of pneumonia. There is also graphic review IV: 1917 18>.196. SUDDENL~ ARRIVIN& ON TH£ EMERGE NC'I 'VINE 'viAS DOCTER PRIMAlF ... WITH T1JRrAW r..b illS!!... lHf PE~CT APPENl>IX TRANSPLANT CJ!t.JI>~

t>Ot56 .P. ..=.o.u..1~6<; -rQE:E. 1-4.A~ ~Ni ~OON'D l ~ NO ONE 1-5 -1'\..l.e.~ -n::> I-4€.AR ?

MIAU.Uit wHtSfEtz. "1((,., "!t(;f" by Lila Georgevicy, Meds '88 unexpected illnesses occuring in and bandages, hemostats, clamps, individuals. space, a situation which is difficult and sutures. There are additional Muscular reflexes are also being Dr. Roberta Bondar has the dou­ to deal with. In the future, space problems to be faced in the space studied and are of importance with ble distinction ofbeing one ofCan­ stations may be manned by people operating room. Blood flows in respect to demyelinization diseas­ ada's few astronauts and Cana­ from various countries whose quali­ little globules in every direction es. Electrodes are attached to the da's first female astronaut. As she fying procedures are not as rigor­ and all suction devices used here back of the calves to record mus­ herself says, her excitement over ous as North American proce­ on earth are gravity dependent so cle activity and then the astronauts these achievements is renewed e­ dures so some problems may a­ are not suitable for space. One of are "dropped" suddenly from a very time she watches a liftoff on rise. Dr. Bondar's slides included a pic­ device suspending them. The elec­ T.V. or film. Astronauts have to eat in space ture of two specialists redesigning trical recordin~ indicate how mus­ Dr. Bondar has an impressive set too, but this is complicated by ster­ an operating theatre for space- a cle activity changes when there is of scientific credentials: B. Sc. in ilization problems which are en­ time consuming exercise in which no gravity to tell the nervous sys­ zoology from Guelph, M.Sc. in countered in space. For this rea­ every variable must be consider­ tem what's going on. experimental technology from son, all food is dried, and cooking ed Future research will deal with UWO, PhD. in newubiology from consists of adding water. Some of Even if the astronauts don't re­ problems unique to space such as Toronto, M .D . from McMaster, the previous menus have included quire surgical intervention, there microgravity, effect of radiation in and a fellowship in neurology at such treats as dried apricots and are many other dangers and side space, and psychological factors UWO from 1982 to February dried almond chocolate bars. The effects. The noise on launch is one relating to a remote, hostile envi­ 1984. She holds an assistant pro­ last item created problems when it problem and astronauts wear launch ronment- crew productivity and fessorship in neurology at Mc­ was discovered that the nuts dis­ and entry helmets which dampen prevention of pathopsychology. Master University and was chos­ integrated into small bits floating the sound as well as providing oxy­ Future studies will also include en as an astronaut last December. around the cabin and could be in­ gen and communication lines in work on specific hazards which She is presently involved with the haled. The food trays are strapped space. Muscle atrophy also results are: National Research Council in Ot­ to the galley with velcor, which is from weightlessness. A treadmill 1. dysbarism tawa. On November 17, she vis­ found securing items everywhere was used to counteract this but did 2. oxygen deficit and excess ited St Joseph's Hospital and made in the cabin. not seem to prevent atrophy, al­ 3. exposure to toxic substances a presentation which gave an over­ Even physiological actions such though it did serve as a good psy­ 4. infection view of the space programme and as bowel and bladder emptying do chological break, Upon return to 5. electric shock described how medicine is invol­ not escape close scrutiny and train­ earth, astronauts experience puffy 6. off gases produced on board ved in space flights. ing. There is a training schedule faces, but the reason for this is not 7. emboli, thrombophlebitis Although medical requirements for bathroom use and aT. V. cam­ yet known. " Bird legs" is another 8. trauma for astronauts now are stringent, era is used to ensure that the sub­ common affliction. Fluid builds 9. bums those in the early stages of space ject is on target. The waste col­ up in the legs creating orthostatic 10. thermal heat, frostbite flight were moreso. Scientists then lection system ofWCS is the space hypotension upon return. The as­ 11 . ocular ultra violet bums did not know exactly what kinds of acronym for sewage system. The tronauts now wear gravity suits to 12. blood volume medical problems they were fac­ contents of the system are freeze maintain blood pressure upon land­ ing in space, so every test in the dried and it is not unusual to see a ing. When no gravity suits were Radiation presents one of the book was conducted. Even now, brown haze hanging in the air since available in earlier days, level of biggest difficulties. Space stations some of the tests and simulation this material also undergoes disin­ consciousness was hard to main­ will not be able to be located at are not pleasant experiences. The tegration and disperse into the air. tain. In attempting to avoid uncon­ satellite levels of radiation capable " vomit comet'', nicknamed by the Astronauts must be trained for sciousness, saline was given to the of denuding the gastrointestinal astronauts, is a windowless jet used medical procedures since there is astronauts prior to reentry to in­ tract and causing death within a to simulate and study weightless­ not a medical doctor on every flight crease blood volume. week. Therefore prediction of high ness. The jet takes off and climbs The medical system is stored se­ Current experiments in the space­ radiation levels is important, and at a 45 degree angle, then descends curely in a locker during liftoff. lab concern the nervous system. inability to predict high levels is with the nose at a 45 degree angle, The different components of the McGill University is studying the one factor which disallows flights following a parabolic path. The medical system are colour coded function of the inner ear under the to Mars. occupants are then in free fall at with different colours of velcro. effect of no gravity. In space there To date there have been less than the top of the arc. The simulated The emergency medical kit is cod­ is no gravitational information com­ one hundred people from the U.S. , weightlessness last 25 seconds and ed with red velcro. Within the emer­ ing into the nervous system, and U.S.S.R , Canada, India, China, the manoeuvre is repeated for se­ gency kit are pallets that are num­ this conflicts with information the and other countries, in space. Can­ veral cycles. bered The astronauts will call to semi-circular canal is receiving ada's involvement in the North The goal of testing is to select earth and be instructed to use a from eye movement. These exper­ American space programme should astronauts as fit and as normal as package with a certain number on iments will be of benefit in study­ open more doors to Canadian a­ possible to minimize the chance of it. Other kits contain medications ing motion sickness in susceptible stronauts such as Dr. Bondar. MEDICAL GENETICS AT WESTERN: A PERSONAL HISTORICAL VIEW by Dr. H.C. Soltan Departments of Paediatrics and Anatomy, U.W.O.

The development and growth of came 14 years after her uncere­ search laboratory, by necessity, ed had an enormous indirect effect a medical specialty which has its monial dismissal from her position became involved in providing cli­ on funding for research into the origins and its future in both the at Western, an event precipitated nical cytogenetic service to South­ causes and prevention of mental " basic" and " clinical" sciences is by a personality clash with the western Ontario for several years retardation by governmental bod­ historically instructive because it then newly appointed Dean of until service cytogenetic laborator­ ies and private foundations. may present a model of academic Medicine. ies were established in the larger Parallel developments in cytoge­ medicine of the future. Where the By the late 1950's the signifi- teaching hospitals in the mid netics, biochemical genetics and discipline underlying an increas­ screening, and clinical genetics ingly utilized health care service gave rise to considerable public receives scant recognition by the and media interest in genetics in University and where the special­ the mid 1960's; it coincided with ty receives no recognition from the the period when the Ontario uni­ Royal College of Physicians and versities were undergoing rapid Surgeons, the implications for the growth and development, gener­ Health Care Delivery System are ously funded by the provincial gov­ intriguing. Such are the present ernment Undergraduate students paradoxes of medical genetics in flocked to enrol in courses in ge­ the academic and medical prac­ netics in the F acuity of Science. tice environment. Overcrowding was intense and it became difficult to provide appro­ The Flexner Report ( 191 0) be­ priate laboratory experience. Gra­ gan a slow but radical change in duate students engaged research academic medicine at Western as needed recognition of their Mas­ elsewhere in North Americat . A ters and Doctoral training programs significant result of this reform in as being in genetics rather than in medical education was a gradual zoology, plant sciences, anatomy, influx of researchers to provide an etc. In the late 1960's several fa­ academic base to the developing culty members whose major aca­ basic science departments. One of demic interest was in genetics com­ these scientists who came to Lon­ mitted an inordinate amount of don was Dr. Charles C . Macklin, time and effort to exploring the a Toronto medical graduate who possibility of a Department ofGe­ came from Johns Hopkins to be­ netics being established at the Uni­ come the first Professor of Histol­ versity. This Department would ogy in 1922. The importance of 1960's. have been administratively based his early research on alveolar struc­ cance of Dr. Murray Barr's care­ The recognition that chromoso­ in the F acuity of Science but would ture and function is finally being ful observation of sexual dimor­ mal anomaly played a significant have included all geneticists at the recognized by respirologists. Our phism at the cellular level, first role in severe mental retardation, University who wished to be as­ focus however is Professor Mack­ reported in 1959, was becoming Dr. Barr's international reputation sociated with the new Department lin's wife, Dr. Madge T. Mack­ widely recognized. This recogni­ and the influence of the local As­ This idea gained momentum and Ji.ri . She was a John Hopkins tion developed because human sociation for the Mentally Retard­ such a recommendation from the medical graduate who for 22 years chromosomes, including the sex ed resulted in the establishment, Interfaculty Committee on Gene­ masterfully taught embryology to chromosomes, could for the first by the Government of Ontario, of tics received the approval of the Western's medical students. Her time be studied by cytological tech­ the Children's Psychiatric Research Councils of the F acuities of Sci­ appointment was a "sessional'' one niques. Patients with sex chromo­ Institute in 1960. The major re­ ence, Medicine and Dentistry. Se­ but in spite of this insecurity of some abnormalities could now be search effort of this Institute in its nate, in its present form and with tenure, she pursued an outstand­ more precisely diagnosed, treated early years was devoted to the its present powers, did not exist at ing research career in medical ge­ and, together with their families, biological investigation of mental that time. This recommendation netics with over 100 papers pu­ receive appropriate genetic coun­ retardation with a genetic basis. was therefore forwarded to the blished while she was at Western. selling. These latter developments Dr. Barr's pioneering achievements Vice-president (Academic) and ap­ It should be noted that her field of were largely due to the simple buc­ have been recognized by honours parently rejected. One can only research was quite removed from cal smear test for sex chromosome and awards literally too numerous speculate as to the reasons for this that of her teaching. Recognized abnormalities and the leucocyte to mention but of special signifi­ decision at the highest administra­ as an early pioneer of the disci­ culture technique for studying the cance is the Joseph Kennedy Jr. tive level but one should be aware pline of medical genetics in North human karyotype. Dr. Barr organ­ Foundation A ward presented in that, at that time, Departments America, she was elected Presi­ ized one of the first human cyto­ 1962 by President John F. Ken­ were governed by permanently ap­ dent of the American Society of genetic laboratories in Canada with­ nedy for contributions to mental pointed Heads. The concept of a Human Genetics. However, this in the Department of Microscopic retardation. The influence of the five-year term for Departmental prestigious professional recognition Anatomy. Consequently, this re- Kennedy family's personal inter­ Chairmen was still in its infancy. est in helping the mentally retard- The prospect of a new biological department within the F acuity of important stimuli in this respect of Western Ontario Regional In summary, the development of Science, with possible division of The Advisory Committee on Medical Genetics Centre in recog­ the discipline of medical genetics disciplinary responsibilities and Genetic Services included senior nition of its growth and changing at Western has been a slow pro­ budgets, was not a popular con­ Ministry representatives and gener role and to bring it in line with ter­ cess with its origins as early as cept with the Heads of certain De­ ticists; its Chairmen have always minology ofthe Canadian College 1922. Its growth has been res­ partments, even if academically it been geneticists. The Committee, of Medical Geneticists which first trained by political and personal appeared desirable and timely to which reported directly to a Der accredited the Service as a" Major decisions of senior university the councils of the respective Fa­ puty Minister, was charged by the Genetic Centre" in 1981. administrators in the early years cuities and had the enthusiastic Minister to review and recom­ New thrusts into research and and by Senate more recently in support of geneticists and their mend on regional development of service, particularly in the clinical response to the several academic colleagues in related disciplines in genetic services. It realized quic­ applications of molecular genetics initiatives brought forward by several F acuities. kly the desperate situation in and biotechnology, are eagerly faculty bodies over the past two As a consequence of the failure Southwestern Ontario by classify­ awaited as soon as appropriate decades. Medical genetics has to establish a Department of Ger. ing this region as an underserviced laboratory space and facilities never been funded by the Univer­ netics in the expansive late 1960's, area Together with Eastern become available. This space has sity as an independent disciplinary efforts were pursued to establish a Ontario, our Region was the first now been set aside at Phase I of teaching, research or service Divisioo of Medical Genetics with- recipient(in 1978) of special, con- the Westminster Redevelopment activity. The current rapid expan- 2 3 4 5 II 7 I • 10 11 12 ·oo \' Q ~n xz ~0 nu ~~ Kl A~ «1, II ,, ~~ in the Department of"I Paediatrics tinuing, Ministry of Health funds of Victoria Hospital which is to be sion and diversification of medical in the F acuity of Medicine. These to maintain and develop medical operational in late 1985. genetic services as well as the efforts were eventually successful genetic services. This funding has The teaching of genetics to medi­ possibility of new research facili­ and approval for the division was increased each year so that pre­ cal students began in the late ties have been made possible by received from the relatively newly sent funding is over 300% of the 1950's with a number of faculty, governmental initiatives. These established Senate in 1972. How­ 197 81evel This action by the Pro­ members from several depart­ initiatives, backed by dollars, have ever, university funding was now vincial Government made poss­ ments giving a few lectures in the provided a much needed and being severely curtailed after the ible the establishment of The second year; none of these faculty rapidly expanding service to all expansiveness of the 1960's. To University of Western Ontario members had a primary appoint­ the physicians of Southwestern ensure that the Division would ne­ Regional Medical Genetics and ment in genetics. Medical genetics Ontario and their patients with ver evolve into a Department, the Birth Defects Service in 1979. instruction has grown, especially genetic concerns and provided a possibility of University funding The expansion of this funding is at the resident level, with increas­ tangible base of personnel and for the Division was specifically responsible for the Service's ing clinical activity, a visible out­ facilities for teaching and research. denied in the working of the Se­ growth and recognition as the re­ patient caseload and one new The future for medical genetics at nate resolution which established ferral centre for genetic problems faculty appointment, including all Western could be bright if the it Another academically desira­ by physicians throughout the associated overhead, and sec­ University Community appreci­ ble idea was effectively aborted, Southwestern Ontario Region. As retarial support, comes entirely ates its history, pays heed to this time at the moment of its the Service developed, an out­ from outside the University bud­ democratically generated acade­ birth. reach genetic clinic was initiated get Clinical genetics has grown to mic recommendations and avoids Further stimulation and funding in Windsor (bimonthly) and a be a popular Elective/ Selective the mistakes of the past ... 15 111 17 ,. 18 20 21 ,22 X X Ill ,. "' _, ~~ AA X~ II A A I AA AA 61\ A " ~~ I H.C . Soltan, Departments of for the development of medical similar clinic in Sault Ste. Marie Course in the fourth year of the Paediatrics and Anatomy, Univer­ genetics at Western would need to (quarterly) has been operated in medical curriculum. Undergrad­ sity of Western Ontario. come from outside the University. collaboration with medical gene­ uate teaching of genetics in the The founding of the Canadian ticists at McMaster University for medical and dental faculties, al­ References College of Medical Geneticists in over six years. Outreach genetics though changing in content, has 1. Barr, M.L., A Century of 197 5 which is now the accrediting clinics are now supported by the been restrained by the very limited Medicine at Western (pp 199- body for the discipline in Canada, Ministry of Health via certain number of curriculum hours; these 205) University of Western and particularly the establishment local Health Units; there are six have not changed substantially Ontario, 1977 of the Ontario Advisory Commit­ such clinics in Ontario at the pre­ since such teaching was first in­ 2. Soltan, H.C., Madge Macklin: tee on Genetic Services by the sent time. The Service has recen­ troduced in the 1960's in these Pioneer in Medical Journal Minister of Health in 197 6 were tly been renamed The University two faculties. 38:6-11 , 1967 SUPPORT YOUR MEDICAL

FACULTY SECOND WEEK OF FEBRUARY ALTHOUSE COLLEGE

1985 AWDY 6ROCI~Y LAB, .JbHN l CO~MNY .IITTEMPT To f3REIU< THE RECoRt> FOR MC>S -r HERT>S 1AI A THOR'fCIC Cl'tVI'ry!

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A:'~'- f,:~ ~: lf3 r:,::zi-4 J); 4 eltlf..~ . H-: Z..ll ~ :.,{e, ?\lZIHI MIND OVERMATIER UHBLUES Is my mind a function of my Since I have chosen to accept an by a loyal reader brain? I hope not or it will tum to eternal existence (to me this is the dust in the not too distant future. simple option) life here in this bo­ I've often considered the reality dy is just a drop in the bucket Dear Sir: before I finish ICC. Some people of dying and the more I ponder the Thinking of eternity tends to lend I am known around here as 093- think that a computer program more I fmd it impossible to admit itself to considering 'Is there a 820. I realize that having a num­ should replace me, but others don't, to myself that my mind could ever God?' ber for a name is a little impersonal so I continue to suffer. disappear. To believe that death is Looking at the amazing detail of butl think that the peq:>le in charge of What I really would like to know the end of my being requires im­ life on earth and in the physiology this place want it that way. At sir is if there is anybody out there, measurably more faith than to be­ of our bodies I fmd it easy to be­ present, I am in the middle of a anywhere, even Toronto, who is lieve in an eternal existence. lieve a God created me. Does this nine month confined in Auditori­ contemplating going on a hunger As far as my brain is concerned I God expect anything of me? Does um B, University Hospital. Dur­ strike to secure my freedom? If consider it as a tool that my mind this God play a part in my eter­ ing this time I am subjected to high there is somebody doing so, wo~ does to control my body. Disease nity? levels of caffeine, simple carbohy­ you please have them send their of the brain could make one seem Considering what to me is the drates and stress. God only knows unused food to Auditorium B. crazy but it could be that the brain, only conceivable answer (that is what the powers that be expect to There's no way that I will ever be thus the body, no longer responds ETERNAL LIFE), the question prove from this. Due to the rock­ let out of here, but the extra food in expected ways to the commands must be asked: 'What is the Truth hard seats found in the aforemen­ could reduce my suffering. of the mind. Do we have any idea about God and eternity?' tioned auditorium, my butt is sure what goes on in the minds that A Loyal Reader Greg Kenyon, Meds 87 to be blistered and abscessed long control diseased brains. 093820 Correction from the Nov. issue, re: Capital Injustice?: ITEM: Are the people's motives driven by a real belief or deterence, or a passionate belief that vengence is not only right, but is a right. I think vengence is the main motive and I think that is dangerous.

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