On the importance and practicability of a standard classification of impaired lives / by S.W. Carruthers.

  • Carruthers, Samuel Williams, 1866-
Date:
[1905]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: On the importance and practicability of a standard classification of impaired lives / by S.W. Carruthers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    history of bronchitis (in mother’s case) had also had an attack himself six years ago, would be docketed 531 3 and o32 2. It is perhaps as well to give an instance of a case with a number of flaws—in fact one so bad that it would be an impossible usk foi acceptance. Family History.—Father died,«i. 53 ; apoplexy. Father’s father died, at. 60 ; gout. Personal History.—Has had three slight attacks of gout in toe; the last one about 18 months ago. Has occasional heartburn and acidity. Present Condition.—Weight 12 st. 12 lbs.; Height • 5 ft. 5 in.; Chest 33 in., 32 in. : Abdomen 34 in.; Arterial tension somewhat increased, some accentua- tion of the Aortic second sound; slight Albuminuria (in two specimens) : S.G. 1011, 1007. This case would have a large series of numbers, as follows:— 034, 053, 22M3, 224-1, 446 2, 463 92, 614, 72D3. The meaning of these numbers is as follows:— 034: More than 25 per-cent over weight, 030; with abdomen more than expanded chest, 034. 053 : Chest expansion less than 2 inches. 22T13: Family History of Gout, 221 ; grandparent certain, parent doubtful, 221T3. 2241: Personal History of Gout, two or more attacks, 224; last attack less than 5 years ago, 224-1. 446-2 : Pulse abnormalities, 440; high tension, 446; with accentuated second sound, 446-2. 463’92 : Albuminuria, 460; slight but constant, 463; not known to have existed before, 463-9; with S.G. below 1012, 462-92. 614 : Dyspepsia, 610 ; recurrent 614. 721-3: Apoplexy, 720; family history, 721 ; one parent, 721-3. This seems very elaborate to x*ead, but is most simple once the rudiments of the system have been mastered ; and after but little practice this case could have been fully docketed with the eight numbers given above in well under two minutes. Whatever particular flaw was being investigated (whether overweight, albuminuria, gout, dyspepsia, or any of the others) this case would then be included in the investigation ; and of course, in dividing either of these classes further, the other numbers would