The Ultimate Results of Operations for Intracranial Tumours

Nothing could have been more gratifying than to have a former pupilparticularly one who has made an enviable reputation for himself in another country-come to visit us again after a long nine-year separation. Mr. Cairns' written proposal, made just a year ago, that he undertake an endresult study of the Brigham Hospital patients who had come under his supervision, was gladly accepted. Dr. Van Wagenen, one of his predecessors, had already made a similar report for 1924-25, so that we were fully aware of what lay ahead if fresh contact were to be made with each of the widely scattered survivors in his series of 15 7 patients whose tumors had been verified. The necessary correspondence, however, was promptly begun by Dr. Louise Eisenhardt who, much to our gratification, succeeded in completing the returns, though only by the margin of a few days before Mr. Cairns' arrival in October. In order that he might check the recorded data and come to his independent conclusion regarding the physical and mental condition as well as Arbeitsf&higkeit of sample cases, Mr. Cairns expressed the desire to see and personally to examine a number of them. They were more or less picked at random, and without exception eagerly reported to New Haven 'for the purpose, even though given very short notice in many instances. Thus the material for his paper was gathered here in America and he did not set about its composition until after his return home. It consequently represents his personal views, entirely unbiased by the opinion of others. Had the paper been written here, some of the controversial matters on which it touches would doubtless have been discussed, with the risk of his written opinions becoming coloured by ideas other than his own.