The Value of a Routine Abdominal Film

Abstract

or failure to eliminate the contributory factors. Also, none of our patients has "developed conditions necessitating surgery."7 COMMENT While micrococcic enteritis is serious, we agree that the anorectal syndrome, though annoying, is not "of a serious nature."ob The large number of patients observed by proctologists is no indication of the actual incidence of the adverse side-effects of antibiotics. It should be kept in mind that in the United States, during the year of 1951 alone, 324 tons of penicillin have been produced, 167 tons of streptomycin, and 250 tons of the broad spectrum antibiotics.5 Furthermore, "more than one-half of all prescriptions written during 1951 were for anti¬ biotics, and Americans spent one-third of their entire drug bill during that year for antibiotics. In each instance, these figures appear to have shown continuous increase during 1952 and 1953." 5 It seems to us unfair and certainly unjustified for men other than qualified chemotherapeutists to make the statement that "physicians have prescribed antibiotics with increasing frequency, and, unfortunately, at times without specific indication."7 The intelligent clinician is neither influenced nor deterred by the possible side-effects

Abdominal Survey Radiography of Geriatric Patients in a Neuropsychiatric Hospital*

“…Abdominal survey radiography in hospitals has been reported several times during the past fifteen years (3)(4)(5)(6). In addition to these hospital surveys, Schilling et al (2) screened the general population.…”