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comments". Later in its report the Union describeswhat happened when a woman acquired her hospital case-records, and discovered in them a comment which sheconsidered " a serious and unjustified reflection on hercharacter". She complained to the surgeon who had madethe comment, and the surgeon made inquiries as to howhis patient had gained access to the notes. It transpiredthat the patient was conducting her own case in an appealto the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, and had requested theMinistry of Social Security to supply her with a copy ofher hospital records. The surgeon was on leave, andthe hospital’s administrative officer dispatched thenotes intact. The Ministry scrutinised the notes, and,failing to detect anything which might cause distress, for-warded them to the patient. She had no legal remedy;but the M.D.U. established that the Ministry had been atfault for failing to exercise its discretion. It suggests,however, that doctors should ensure that their own hos-pital secretaries are aware of their responsibilities as

regards the release of case-notes.

Obituary

BERNARD LEO SALMON MURTAGHM.B. Birm., F.F.A. R.C.S.

Dr. Bernard Murtagh, who was consultant anxs-thetist to the United Birmingham Hospitals, diedon Sept. 26 at the age of 70.He went to school in Birmingham and was a medical

student at the university there, graduating M.B. in 1926.Only two years later he was appointed to the honorarystaff of Queens Hospital, Birmingham. Appointments tothe staff of the Midland Nerve Hospital, Selly Oak Hospital,and the Birmingham Regional Maternity Hospitals fol-

lowed, and also a lectureship in anaesthetics at the uni-versity. When Queen Elizabeth Hospital opened in 1938Dr. Murtagh, with the remainder of the honorary staffof the old Queens Hospital, transferred his work to thisnew hospital. In 1958 he was appointed director of thedepartments of anxsthetics in the United BirminghamHospitals. He was also a prominent figure in anaestheticsin Great Britain-a founder fellow of the Faculty ofAnaesthetists of the Royal College of Surgeons, a fellowand councillor of the Association of Anxsthetists, andpresident of the Section of Anaesthetics of the RoyalSociety of Medicine in 1957-58. He retired in 1964.He is survived by his wife, Helen, who was chairman of

the nursing and midwifery committee of the United

Birmingham Hospitals from 1947 to 1955.

A. G. W. W. writes:

" Dr. Bernard Murtagh was a superb anaathetist. Amodel of calm and unobtrusive efficiency, he inspiredimmediate and complete confidence in all his patients andthe many surgeons with whom he worked. In his earlier

years he wrote extensively on anaesthetics, and throughoutlife he was academically in advance of his time. He was asplendid teacher of undergraduates and junior hospitalstaff, in all of whom he took a great and responsible inter-est. When he took charge of the department of anaestheticsof the United Birmingham Hospitals he immediatelyshowed great administrative ability which was alwaysclothed in kindness and understanding. He workedintensely hard and, despite all his many national com-mitments, he never neglected his responsibilities in Bir-mingham. A quiet, sweet-tempered man, he was alwayskind, generous, and unselfish to everyone with whom hewas associated."

Dr. LESLIE NORMAN

P. D’A. H. writes:

" Leslie Norman made consistent efforts to promoteorganised contact in the sphere of social medicine betweenthe socialist countries of Eastern Europe and Asia andthose of the West. Such contacts were rare during theperiod of the cold war. Thus, Norman attended theconference on the influence of living and working condi-tions, held in Cannes in 1957, and his proposal for theconstitution of an International Medical Association forthe Study of Health and Living Conditions was adoptedby the conference."

Dr. THOMAS FRANCIS, the well-known virologist, diedon Oct. 1 in Ann Arbor at the age of 69. In 1945 he

developed the first effective vaccine against influenza Aand B, and last year he helped to identify the virus ofHong Kong influenza and to prepare a vaccine against it.But he was best known for the field trials which he con-ducted with Salk vaccine against poliomyelitis; in 1955he was able to report that the vaccine was successful.

A memorial service for Prof. D. V. DAVIES is to be heldon Thursday, Oct. 16, at noon, at the Church of StMary’s-at-Lambeth, Albert Embankment, London S.E.1.

A requiem mass for Dr. CHARLES McENTEE will becelebrated on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 6 P.M., in the chapel ofSt. George’s Hospital, Tooting Grove, London S.W.17.

Appointments

CALNE, D. B., D.M. Oxon., M.R.C.P. : consultant clinical neurologist,Hammersmith Hospital, London.

DAVIDSON, J. F., M.B. Aberd., M.R.C.P.E.: consultant hfematologist,Glasgow Royal Infirmary and associated hospitals.

EMMERSON, R. W., M.B. Lond., M.R.C.P. : consultant dermatologist,Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading.

FERGUS, J. N., B.M. Oxon., F.R.C.S., F.R.C.S.E.: consultant surgeon,Northampton area.

-FORSTER, D. M. C., M.B. Cantab., M.R.C.O.G. : consultant obstetricianand gynaecologist, Brentwood hospital group.

GHOSHAL, T. K., M.B. Calcutta, F.R.C.S. : consultant ophthalmologist,Clayton Hospital, Wakefield, and Pontefract area.

KNOx, JOHN, M.B. Durh., M.R.C.P., D.OBST.: consultant geriatrician,Kingston General Hospital and New Hull Royal Infirmary.

OLIVER, J. E., M.B. Lond., D.P.M. : consultant psychiatrist, Swindonand Cirencester area department of psychiatry.

O’SULLIVAN, P. F., M.B. N.U.I., F.F.R., D.C.H., D.OBST.: consultant in

diagnostic radiology, Stirling Royal Infirmary and Falkirk andDistrict Royal Infirmary and associated hospitals.

WELLSTEED, A. J., M.B. Lond., M.R.C.P. : consultant in infectious diseases,Leeds Road Hospital, Bradford, and Seacroft Hospital, Leeds.

WILLIAMS, B. N., CH.M. Birm., F.R.C.S. : consultant neurosurgeon, NewHull Royal Infirmary.

Birmingham Regional Hospital Board:JOHNSON, P. J. E., M.B. Birm., F.R.C.S., F.R.C.S.E. : consultant E.N.T.

surgeon, Mid-Worcestershire and Dudley Road (Birmingham)hospital groups.

LORD, P. W., M.B. Cantab., F.F.A. R.c.s.: consultant anaesthetist,South Worcestershire hospital group.

SANDERS, W. L., M.D. L’pool, M.R.C.P., D.T.M. & H.: consultantphysician (geriatrics), South Warwickshire hospital group.

SIMONS, R. M., M.B. Cantab., F.R.C.S. : consultant E.N.T. surgeon,East Birmingham hospital group.

SOMERVELL, J. L., M.B. Cantab., F.R.C.S.: consultant surgeon, Walsallhospital group.

SURAWY, JERZY, M.B. N.U.I., D.P.M. : consultant psychiatrist (mentalsubnormality), North Staffs hospital group.

* Amended notice.