The Hippocratic Tradition.

The discovery of insulin has entirely changed the prognosis of diabetes in childhood. Whereas in pre-insulin days the outlook was almost hopeless, the patient seldom lived longer than two years, the prognosis now appears to be very favourable. Growth is perfectly normal as are physical andc mental activity, and there does not appear to be any increased susceptibility to infections although the onset of an infective process makes the treatment temporarily more difficult and anxious. Growth and mental development proceed quite normally. Some of Joslin's diabetic patients have become mothers and all lead perfectly normal lives apart from the necessity of diet regulation and insulin administration. The secret seems to be the education of parents, and of the children when old enough, in the principles and details of treatment. In addition, the importance of supervision by the family doctor or in a properly constituted diabetic clinic cannot be over-emphasized since this goes far to prevent the occurrence of the serious complications and ensures the correct adjustment of insulin dosage and diet to the increasing needs of the growing child.