Nov. 19, 1955 OBFTUARY BIJr, 1275

The sudden death of Dr. J. L. MENZIES on October 27 terminated in his sudden death was most courageously came as a shock to his friends and colleagues in Croydon. borne. He is survived by his widow and young daughter. He was 68 years of age, and, as he would have wished, died -T. LI. H. in harness, having only that morning attended his surgeries and visited his patients. John Louis Menzies was born on July 9, 1887, and was educated at Aberdeen University, Medical Notes in Parliament where he graduated M.B., Ch.B. in 1909. He settled in prac- tice at Croydon in 1914, after having been a house-physician at the Brompton Hospital and on the staff of a sanatorium Death Penalty Decision in Switzerland. He served in the first world war with the pro- and was awarded the Military The Government have at length rejected the principal R.A.M.C. from 1914 to 1919 posals of the Royal Commission on Capital Punishment. Cross in 1917. After the war he entered into partnership Home Secretary, stated in a with the late Dr. A. Rose. In 1920 he proceeded to the Major G. LLOYD-GEORGE, General Parliamentary reply on November 10 that the Government M.D., and was appointed to the staff of Croydon had given further consideration to the Commission's report Hospital as a physician, and was later promoted to senior Commis- of the in the light of the debate on February 10. The physician, a position which he held until the advent sion's recommendations might be divided into three main National Health Service in 1948. He was a prominent and recommendations management groups. The first consisted of the major enthusiastic member of the Croydon hospital that the age limit below which the sentence of death may committee, chairman of the Croydon Division of the British all local not be imposed should be raised from 18 to 21; that in Medical Association in 1936-7, and chairman of the other cases the jury should be given discretion to decide medical committee from 1945 to 1949. In the second world whether there were such extenuating circumstances as to war he served in the R.A.M.C. as assistant director of justify substituting the sentence of imprisonment for life for medical services, North Wales, attaining the rank of lieuten- the sentence of death; and that the test of criminal respon- ant-colonel. Dr. Menzies was an enthusiastic cricketer. In sibility laid down (in and Wales) by the M'Naghten his early days he captained the Aberdeen University team Rules should be abrogated. The Government, after full and played for Aberdeen County. He was also a keen fol- consideration, did not feel able to accept any of these three lower of tennis and enjoyed to the full his yearly visit to recommendations. The second group consisted of a number Wimbledon. Our sympathy is extended to his widow of other less important recommendations which could not and two sons, one of whom is in the medical pro- be implemented without legislation. The Government did fession.-A. A. McA. not see any prospect of legislation on this matter in the near future, and proposed to defer a decision on these recom- Dr. W. J. GRIFFITHS, a general practitioner in Chester for mendations until an opportunity for legislation could be twenty-eight years, and visiting anaesthetist to the Chester found. The third group consisted of recommendations to Royal Infirmary and Chester City Hospital, died on October which effect could be given administratively. These had in 31 at the age of 59. William James Griffiths was born at the main been accepted, and had been, or were being, put into Bridgend, Glamorganshire, on March 17, 1896, and was effect. He had, in particular, authorized the Prison Com- educated at Hawarden Grammar School after his family missioners to proceed with the plans for a special institution had moved to Chester in 1906. After service in the first for the detention and treatment of psychopaths and other world war with the Royal Marines and the Northampton- prisoners who are mentally abnormal; and arrangements shire Regiment, into which he was commissioned, he were now in force whereby persons charged with murder received his medical education at Liverpool University, were seen by a psychiatrist from outside the prison service, graduating M.B., Ch.B. in 1924. Following a period as as well as by a doctor or doctors from within that service, casualty officer at the Royal Southern Hospital, Liverpool, in any case where the prisoner's mental state was in doubt. and experience as an assistant in general practice at Gilling- ham and in Bedfordshire, he returned to Chester in 1926 to Effects of Radiation take over a single-handed practice. In 1927 he was ap- The quest for information about the possible genetic and pointed hon. anaesthetist to the Chester Royal Infirmary, other effects of nuclear radiation, in which the Medical and in 1938 visiting anaesthetist to the Chester City Hos- Research Council are conducting a number of investigations, pital, appointments which he held until his death. He continues unabated in the Commons. Among the items that built up a large general practice in the Hoole and Newton emerged from Ministerial replies on November 8 were the districts of Chester, and it was only after the second world statements by Mr. J. R. BEVINS, Parliamentary Secretary to war that he took a first and then a second partner into the the Ministry of Works, that the report of the committee practice. In addition to his busy general practice and his appointed by the Council-which will include a review of work as an anaesthetist, of which he was very fond, he was existing knowledge-is unlikely to be completed before the very active in first-aid work, being appointed a serving spring; and that the Minister of Health hopes to issue in Brother of the Order of St. John in 1951 and remaining a few months' time a code of practice for the protection until his death the medical officer of the Chester division of of hospital workers from the effects of radiation. Mr. the British Red Cross Society. He was prominent in Roy MASON (Barnsley, Lab.) wanted to know to what masonic circles, served as a Liberal on the Chester City extent at Harwell, Sellafield, and other active atomic power Council from 1947 to 1953, and was a member of the stations the full permitted dose of radiation was still regarded Chester and District and Barrowmore Hospital Management as safe. Mr. N. BIRCH (Minister of Works) replied that the Committees and of the Chester Executive Council. In 1953 Atomic Energy Authority, in deciding the he was president of the Chester and North Wales Medical maximum permissible level of radiation for their staff, fol- Society. As a result of his sympathetic approach to his lowed the recommendations of the International Commission patients, his kindness and geniality, he became a very on Radiological Protection, which were designed to ensure popular and much-loved general practitioner. His Welsh that workers exposed to radiation would not suffer in health. Nonconformist upbringing moved him to take a firm stand The precautions taken at Harwell and Sellafield in fact re- on moral principles, to assist his less fortunate fellow duced the average radiation exposure of employees at those citizens in distress, and to righteous indignation at social establishments to considerably less than one-tenth of the wrongs and injustices. He took great pride in his city of maximum permissible level. adoption and was well versed in its history and traditions, Mr. MASON also asked which areas of the country but it was the Royal Infirmary, of all its institutions, that he the Medical Research Council had in mind for making a was most proud of. His many friends in so many different study on populations who were subject to varying degrees circles and walks of life will greatly miss his spontaneous of natural radioactivity. Mr. BEVINS stated that he was humour and unobtrusive generosity. The long illness which informed by the Council that discussions on a possible 1276 Nov. 19, 1955 MEDICAL NOTES IN PARLIAMENT BRITISH study of populations subject to varying degrees of natural to be sent. The Swiss scheme cost about £100,000 a year, radioactivity were still at an early stage. The Council were which had to be found in foreign currency. The cost of therefore not yet in a position to say which areas of the treating an equivalent number of patients in sanatoria in country might be selected. this country would be about £75,000. Dr. BARNET STROSS (Stoke-on-Trent, Central, Lab.) asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what consideration had Hospital Farms been given to the effect of cosmic rays on personnel flying Mr. TUDOR WATKINS (Brecon and Radnor, Lab.) asked at high altitudes; and what research had been made on this the Minister of Health what had been the result of the problem. Mr. GEORGE WARD replied on November 9 that special committee set up in e4ch regional area which in- the R.A.F. medical authorities had been watching this quired into the farming activities of hospitals; how many problem in the light of information received from a number hospital farms he had agreed to close; and how many of of sources, including data from instrument-carrying balloons, these were mental and tuberculosis hospitals in each area. and they were satisfied that cosmic rays presented no hazard Mr. MACLEOD stated on November 7 that reports had been to aircrew flying on Royal Air Force operations. received from regional hospital boards on 207 hospital farms. Decisions had been reached on 112 of these, and discussions Disciplinary Procedure were still taking place on the remainder. The decisions Mr. ALBERT ROBERTS (Normanton, Lab.) asked the Minis- reached so far provided for the disposal of land as follows: ter of Health if he could investigate the operation of the To be sold, 5,248 acres; to be leased, 3,708 acres; farm- Health Service Act Disciplinary Procedure in relation to land at present leased to be surrendered, 5,618 acres; total the services administered by the medical executive council, 14,574 acres. In 14 cases these decisions involved the com- with a view to amending the composition of the appeal plete abandonment of farming activities. Nine of the hos- panel, in view of the fact that this panel comprised persons pitals involved were mental hospitals, four tuberculosis appointed by the Minister and that the further appeal from hospitals, and one a general hospital. the panel was to the Minister himself. Mr. IAIN MACLEOD Antioxidants in Food stated on November 8 that under arrangements which went back in principle to 1913, and which appeared to have Sir JOHN CROWDER (Finchley, Con.), on November 10, worked satisfactorily in the interests of both patients and asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food which doctors, the responsibility for deciding appeals from the of the recommendations of the committee that considered decisions of executive councils on complaints against prac- the use of antioxidants in foods he proposed to implement. titioners taking part in the general medical services under Mr. HEATHCOAT AMORY told him that, as the representations the Health Service rested with him and not with a panel. made to the department regarding the recommendations The persons taking oral hearings did so on his behalf. raised new issues, including some of a technical nature, they had been referred to the committee for consideration. He was Points From Scotland awaiting further advice from the committee on these matters. Mr. W. HAMILTON (West Fife, Lab.) asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on November 8 what steps he intended to take to extend the provision of geriatric units throughout Medico-Legal the hospital service in Scotland. Mr. J. STUART said that this was a problem to which regional hospital boards were giving the closest attention. Special geriatric units had been DOCTOR'S APPEAL TO PRIVY COUNCIL FAILS developed in some areas, and elsewhere additional specialist [FROM OUR MEDICO-LEGAL CORRESPONDENT] facilities had been provided. Work was in progress or about In November, 1954, Dr. R. T. N. Simpson pleaded guilty at to start very soon on a number of schemes for improve- Chelmsford Assizes to charges of indecently assaulting in an ment of existing facilities. unnatural manner certain women patients who had consulted Miss HERBISON (Lanarkshire, North, Lab.) asked how him professionally. On May 26, 1955, the Medical Discip- many hospitals had industrial chest units; and if the Secre- linary Committee found him guilty from the same facts of tary of State would encourage hospital boards in areas with a infamous conduct in a professional respect, and ordered his coalfield to establish an industrial chest unit where this had name to be erased from the Register.' At the hearing before not been done. Mr. STUART told her that the only specific the Committee his counsel stated that, though he was not unit of this kind was that at Bangour Hospital, but facilities necessarily within the M'Naghten Rules, the doctor had for diagnosis and treatment were provided by the chest units been suffering from a defect of reason of a schizoid nature generally. Any question of special provision on a wider which made him think that the action which he took was scale was a matter for the regional hospital boards, and the in fact medical treatment in the bona fide interests of his assessment of priorities must be left to them in the light of patients, and that fact was accepted by the Judge. medical opinion and their knowledge of local needs and Dr. Simpson appealed under the Medical Act, 1950, circumstances. against this finding and order. On November 8, 1955, Mr. STUART informed Mr. T. HUBBARD (Kirkcaldy, Lab.) Viscount Simonds delivered the judgment of the Privy that there were 1,812 deaths from lung cancer in Scotland Council dismissing the appeal.2 He said that the appeal in 1954, and 1,311 in the first three quarters of this year. board had no reason to suppose that the Committee did not He also stated that there were 6,470 deaths from coronary give proper consideration to Dr. Simpson's mental condition, thrombosis during the first three quarters of this year, and which was brought specially to their notice. Nor could the 6,320 for the corresponding period in 1954. Mr. HUBBARD board understand, accepting the long-familiar test of in- pressed him to introduce a voluntary notification scheme by famous conduct from Allinson's case as conduct "which local authorities. Mr. STUART said he was advised that would reasonably be regarded as disgraceful and dishonour- merely to compile statistics would not necessarily be very able by his professional brethren of good repute and com- helpful. There were schemes operating in Fife and Kil- petency," how the Committee could have come to any other marnock. He would consider whether that should be carried conclusion. The epithets "disgraceful " and " dishonour- further, if medical opinion thought it desirable. able" were scarcely adequate to describe the appellant's acts, and they did not the less deserve the description even Swiss Sanatoria Treatment if it was assumed that he thought that they would be bene- Mr. IAIN MACLEOD said in answer to Mr. GEORGE JEGER ficial to his patients. The Medical Acts were designed at (Goole, Lab.) on November 7 that 71 applications by or for the same time to protect the public and to maintain the tuberculous patients for treatment in Swiss sanatoria from high professional and ethical standard of an honourable March, 1953, to September, 1955, had to be refused by the I British Medical Journal Supplement, June 11, 1955, p. 285. tresponsible consultants as medically unsuitable or too young 2 . November 8, 1955.