MxAi
CORRESPONDENCE
296 JAN. 28, 1961
many angles, a graft of the vaunted American system on our existing one with a rapprochement of the medical personnel involved would make for a fruitful and efficient compromise which would not fall far short *of the ideal. If I felt it would make Professor Bywaters any happier, and add to the prestige of rheumatology in Britain, I would gladly initiate a campaign with the object of having every department of physical medicine in this country justifiably renamed Department of Physical Medicine and Rheumatology.-I am, etc., St. Thomas' Hospital, PHILIPPE BAUWENS. London S.E.I.
Electrocardiographs in General Practice SIR,-I have had a direct-writing electrocardiograph in my practice since 1954. It is extremely reliable and very useful in this sparsely-populated rural district 100 miles from the nearest cardiologist. I use it moderately frequently, but not as often as Dr. J. H. B. Urmston and his partner (December 31, p. 1951), and I do not find a tracing can be taken as quickly as he can. I have found it invaluable because of the speed with which I can have a reasonably reliable diagnosis. I have learnt a lot about reading the tracings by having my diagnoses checked by a cardiologist and by frequent reference to Clinical Unipolar Electrocardiography by Lipman and Massie.' I now find I rarely require confirmation of my diagnosis, but I still know comparatively little about the positions of the heart, while vector cardiography is a closed book which as yet I have not had the inclination, the necessity, or the time to open. I am sure many general practitioners would find benefit from the possession of an electrocardiograph, provided they can find the time to take the tracings and to learn to read them, but I do think the benefit will be more to the rural practitioners than to the town men, because the diagnosis can be obtained with an ease and speed which are not otherwise available in the country.-I am, etc., A. C. MAYER.
Loch Fyne, Argyll. REFERENCE
Lipman, B. S., and Massie, E., Clinical Unipolar Electrocardiography, 3rd ed., 1956. Year Book Publishers, Chicago.
Sir James Mackenzie, M.D., 1853-1925 SIR,-It has long been felt by his many admirers, not only in this country but in America and on the Continent, that a new and more exhaustive biography of my uncle should now be written. Professor A. Mair, who holds the James Mackenzie Chair of Social Medicine at St. Andrews University, has been approached and has kindly agreed to do so. Would anyone who may happen to have any letters or private documents (other than books or publications) in any way pertaining to Sir James Mackenzie please communicate direct with Professor Mair, or with myself at University College Hospital ? -I am, etc., AMULREE. London W.C.1.
Sir Archibald Mclndoe SIR,-I have accepted a commission from his family and executors to undertake the authorized biography of the late Sir Archibald Mclndoe, C.B.E., F.R.C.S. I would be most grateful if anyone in possession of personal letters or recollections would communicate with me, c/o Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 20 New Bond Street, London W.1.-I am, etc., LEONARD 0. MOSLEY. Pistoia, Italy.
L,
Obituary Sir ALEXANDER INGLEBY-MACKENZIE K.B.E., C.B., B.M., B.Ch.
Surgeon Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Ingleby-Mackenzie, a former Medical Director-General of the Navy, died suddenly on January 17 at the age of 68. Alexander Ingleby-Mackenzie was born on August 19,. 1892, the elder and only surviving son of Dr. K. W. Ingleby-Mackenzie, of Ryde, Isle of Wight. He was educated at Repton and Trinity College, Oxford, going on to St. Bartholomew's Hospital for his clinical training. Graduating B.M., B.Ch. in 1916, he entered the Royal Navy
as a surgeon lieutenant in the same year. Between 1917 and 1919 he served in H.M. ships Coledin and Cardiff. I In the latter he was in action :I in the Heligoland Bight in I November, 1917, and gave valuable assistance with the treatment of the wounded. His report read, "ability -4 above average, "..likely to go far in his profession," i' and this turned out to be very true. Between the two world wars he held many interesting appointments and specialized in medicine. He _ twice served at the Royal [Elliott and Fry Naval College, Dartmouth, was on the staff of the Physical and Recreational Training School, Portsmouth, and also Fleet Medical Officer of the East Indies Squadron. He was promoted surgeon lieutenant-commander in 1922, and surgeon commander in. 1928. In 1935 he retired from the Navy at his own request with, the rank of surgeon captain, intending to take up a different career, but he rejoined the service two years later. At the beginning of the second world war he served in H.M. ships Resolution and Royal Sovereign in the Home Fleet. He: then had two years at the Royal Naval Sick Quarters, Dartmouth, before joining the naval hospital ship Vita with the acting rank of surgeon captain, made substantive at the end of 1942. In the Vita he took part in the landings at. Sicily and Italy. Later the ship proceeded to the Far East and he became Fleet Medical Officer, Eastern Fleet. In 1944 he was appointed officer in charge of the medical section of the R.N. Hospital, Haslar, and two years later Principal Medical Officer of R.N. Barracks, Chatham. In December, 1948, he was promoted surgeon rear-admiral and became medical officer in charge of the Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham, Command Medical Officer to Commander-in-Chief, the Nore, and Honorary Physician to the King. He wasappointed C.B. and a Commander (Brother) of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in 1951. In the following year he was made Medical Director-General of the Navy. Knighted in 1953, he was placed on the retired list in 1956, and promoted Knight of the Order of St. John in 1957. After his retirement he became assistant managing director of Arthur Guinness Son and Company Ltd., and was with them until his sudden death. It was early recognized in the R.N. Medical Branch that Alexander Ingleby-Mackenzie would go a long way, since his outstanding characteristics were his immense enthusiasm and drive, and he never spared himself. He was a first-class games player, had captained the hockey eleven at Oxford, but was almost equally good at golf, tennis, and squash. His appointment to the board of Arthur Guinness showed how highly he was thiought of outside the Service. He will be remembered as a very pleasant person who loved botht ..................
