Total Abolition Research Articles

Military Aeronautics

THE recent night raids on Paris by squadrons of Gotha machines brings the question of defence against such raids before us, and adds much interest to an article by Lieut. Jean-Abel Lefranc, who, writing in the Revue Scientifique, gives an excellent review of the development of 'German bombing machines, of which the latest type is the Gotha. He also surveys the various methods of defence that have been adopted, particularly against night raids. His article is full of interesting details, of which it is only possible to quote a few, and to recommend those who are interested to-read the original in the Revue Scientifique for February 16. A detailed description of the Gotha machine is given, the overall weight being quoted as 84,000 lfo., and the weight of bombs carried as (about half a ton. The speed is,given as ninety miles per hour, and the height to which the machine can rise after discharging its bombs is 20,000 ft. M. Lefrane also states that the Gotha is likely to be replaced by a “Gotha Riesen-flugzeug,” having if our motors, and a span of about 130 ft. The “large Friedrichshafen Gotha ” which was captured in one of the Paris raids can scarcely be one of these later machines, as it only had twor motors of 250 h.p. each. The extreme difficulties of accurate bombing by night are commented upon, and the writer thinks that the demoralisation of industry is a more important result of night raids than the actual damage done-With regard to defence, camouflage, anti-aircraft guns, and attack by fighting machines are discussed, but M. Lefrane considers that all these methods are very ineffective, and that the best method of defence is to attack and destroy so far as possible the enemy's aviation centres. Commenting on extreme measures, such as total abolition of artificial lighting at night, he thinks they are a vain sacrifice to public opinion, and may even be a detriment to the Services. M. Lefrane concludes his well-written article with a picture of the bombing machine of the near future, pointing out that a machine of 1000 h.p., carrying two tons of explosives, is within the reach of modern design.

The Maintenance Ration of Oxen and the Starch Equivalent Theory

Within recent years, Kellner's system of starch equivalents has received much criticism from various quarters, and its value as a practical feeding system has been called into question. That the system is far from perfect in its working is universally admitted, and the recent work of W. Bruce with oxen has done much to emphasise this fact. In a series of practical feeding trials with oxen, Bruce obtained results contrary to those expected from the theoretical consideration of the Kellner system of starch equivalents, and largely on account of this work, and partly on account of the demonstration of the importance of the part played by certain unknown chemical compounds in the normal metabolism of animals, many workers have been led to suggest a total abolition of the Kellner system. It is, however, inconceivable to the author that a system based on 30 years continuous research upon feeding problems, should be condemned without the fullest possible enquiry. Furthermore it is supported by many experimental results. In a critical comparison of the values of certain foods for milk production theoretically computed by the Kellner system, Crowther has shown that the results obtained with one exception agree very well with those obtained in actual feeding practice. Moreover, with regard to the food deficiency factors which play such an important role, in the normal metabolism of animals, Hopkins has shown that those factors are hardly likely to be missing in normal dietaries, and consequently the results obtained in ordinary feeding trials will rarely be affected by lack of these factors.

THE PHILIPPINE OPIUM REPORT.

The plan recommended for the regulation of the opium traffic in the Philippines, as reported, is one that commends itself. While the government controls the sale, it makes no profit, which relieves us from the reproach justly made against the British Indian Government for its action in this matter. The total abolition of the sale in three years which is provided for will, it is to be hoped, be successfully carried out. Wherever the Chinese abound the opium problem exists, but unfortunately, the evil extends from them to other races. The trouble that the Japanese Government has had with it in Formosa possibly indicates somewhat the difficulties to be met with in the Philippines.¹But the success they have attained is encouraging for our own authorities. It will be a pity if we can not manage this matter as satisfactorily as do the Japanese.

"The Total Abolition and Suppression of Vivisection.": Extracts from Speeches of Canon Wilberforce, Mr. Lawson Tait, and Others: A Denunciation and an "Apology" for the Medical Profession

"The Total Abolition and Suppression of Vivisection.": Extracts from Speeches of Canon Wilberforce, Mr. Lawson Tait, and Others: A Denunciation and an "Apology" for the Medical Profession

The Restraint System, as practised at the North and East Ridings Asylum, and at the Asylum for the County of Bedford

When the future historian of the manners and customs of the present age shall seek for the most Prominent fact which in this country distinguishes the prevailing spirit as that of humanity, he will scarcely hesitate in awarding the post of honor to the Non-Restraint system of treating the insane. The change which the system of which the total abolition of mechanical restraint is the key stone has effected, has been, where adopted in its entirety, a total one. The change is so complete, that its extent is hard to realize; just as a denizen of this fair country experiences difficulty in picturing to his imagination the hill Sides clothed with dense forest, the postures occupied by poisonous fens, the whole inhabited by painted Celts and other Savage animals. But it has not taken ages nor even the brief space of one man's life, to substitute the most benign features of human gentleness for the savagery of the old mad house. In a public speech at Stafford, the Lord Bishop of the diocese stated, “He never came away from the asylum without a feeling of gratitude and thankfulness. Much had been said of the great improvement which had taken place in the treatment of the insane, he might, perhaps, be allowed to mention one fact which had been told him by Sir Charles Clarke, but which Sir Charles (who was present) had not stated to them. Sir Charles told him, that he remembered when a student, he had often passed Bethlem, and heard the rattling of the chains and the shrieks of the patients. Only think of that, in the crowded streets of the metropolis to hear the rattling of the chains and the shrieks of the patients ! And now, as had been stated by Lord Harrowby, they might go over their own asylum, containing between three and four hundred patients, and not see a single patient placed under restraint of any kind, but all enjoying the utmost possible comfort which their cases would admit of. What a contrast to the rattling of chains and the shrieks of the patients!”

XXXI. An Account of the obsolete Office of Purveyor to the King's Houshold. By William Bray, Esq. F.S.A.

The office of purveyor to the king's houshold was heretofore exercised with so much oppression of the subject, and the officer was armed with such authority, as to occasion continual applications to the king for redress, and numerous acts of parliament were passed to restrain these abuses. From the frequent repetition of such laws, we may collect that they did not answer the intended purpose. The total abolition of this enormity was one of the advantages derived from the troubles in the last century ; an end was put to it at the Restoration. The name of purveyor indeed still remains amongst the king's servants, but the purveyor of these days is nothing more than the tradesman who serves the king as he would any other customer, and, in general, at as cheap a rate.