It is generally accepted that the infection of many diseases is conveyed by the discharge of droplets containing the biological materies morbi in the acts of coughing, speaking, etc. In some cases, for instance that of measles, it is believed that if a person harbouring the materies morbi has the opportunity of projecting it upon the upper respiratory tracts of non-immunes, a considerable proportion of the latter will develop the clinical disease. In other cases, for instance cerebro-spinal fever or acute poliomyelitis, it is believed that although, in consequence of the activity of the primary source of infection, many other persons will acquire and harbour the materies morbi only a small proportion of them will develop the disease.

A watery extract of lathyrus peas and various salts isolated from them exert a marked action on the brain and spinal cord.

The salts are organic and inorganic phosphoric acid compounds, all of them having an essentially similar action, but differing in toxicity and in their local irritating effect.

Moderate doses cause torpor and depression, larger doses clonic-tonic spasms.

The action is probably a direct one and not indirect through causing a drop in the blood calcium.

The original scope of this investigation was the study of the passage of hydrocyanic acid vapour through the skin. We have partly repeated and confirmed the results of Walton and Witherspoon (1926). In view of the extensive use of hydrocyanic acid vapour in the destruction of vermin in ships the subject is of considerable practical interest. In the course of our work certain other matters were considered and these are referred to in the text.

1. The specific mortality rates for males, females and the total population for England and Wales, for Scotland and for Sweden, have been fitted to a formula ƒ (t, θ) = α. (t—θ) βθ where ƒ (t, θ) is the specific mortality rate at a time t for age θ, β0 is a function depending solely on the age θ, and α (t —θ)depends only on the time of birth (t — θ). The results are in substantial agreement with those obtained by less refined methods in the previous paper. The probable errors of the values found for à and for β have been calculated.

2. It is shown that the β0 curves for the Scottish and the English males are approximately represented by the Makeham-Gompertz formula A+Becθ, where A, B and c have suitable values. The other β0 curves do not appear to conform exactly to a formula of this type.

3. With the help of the representation of β0 by the Makeham-Gompertz expression the effect of variation of α on the survival curves, the death curves, and the expectation of life has been determined. It is shown that with the range of values of α experienced in Britain during the last 50 years, the most marked effect is most likely to be experienced in the future between the ages of 65 and 85, a very considerable increase of people of these ages being likely provided that the relationship exhibited by the statistics up to the present date is maintained in the future.

Though the Makeham-Gompertz formula does not hold in the case of the English and Scottish females, nor for the Swedish statistics, these approximate sufficiently closely to the values for the English and Scottish males, to allow of the conclusion deduced in the latter case being extended to the former.

4. It is strongly emphasised that the validity of all the predictions depends upon a hypothesis of extrapolation which, however attractive in the light of the figures so far available, might not be fulfilled under certain contingencies.

The control of the lead risk among shipbreakers presents great practical difficulty. Measures for the prevention of plumbism applied successfully in other industries are here impracticable, with the result that the breaking up of a heavily leaded ship is almost invariably responsible for a number of cases of lead poisoning and much ill-health stopping just short of incapacity for work.

The effects of radiation and convection on the globe thermometer have been studied.

Equations have been obtained, and alignment charts constructed, for the calculation of mean radiation intensity and of equivalent temperature from readings of the globe thermometer, air temperature and air velocity.

The accuracy of these methods has been tested on observations made under industrial conditions. Taking direct thermopile observations as the standard, the mean radiation intensity values calculated from globe thermometer readings had an average error of 1·2 B.Th.U. per sq. ft. per hour. With eupatheoscope readings as standard, equivalent temperature estimates had a mean error of 1·2°.

It is concluded that, while globe thermometer readings alone are unreliable as indications of the effects of the thermal environment, valuable results can be obtained by using the instrument along with an ordinary thermometer and a silvered kata-thermometer.

Recent research has shown that the term “anti-infective” applied to vitamin A is misleading and inaccurate. Harris (1933) has discussed the evidence which shows that vitamin A cannot be regarded as a general antiinfective agent: the actual relation of the vitamin to infection has been well defined by Cramer, who states (1930) that “an adequate supply of vitamin A is a powerful prophylactic against infections entering by mucous membranes, but there is no evidence that it can prevent or cure those infections which enter by the blood stream or by subcutaneous tissues.”

When a disease assumes epidemic proportions, it is now generally recognised that certain conditions govern the rise and fall of the epidemic wave. Farr was probably the first person to attempt to describe these conditions in quantitative terms. His theory was “ the real law (i.e. of the epidemic) implies that the ratio of increase goes on rapidly decreasing until the ratio itself is decreasing.” In the Appendix to the second Annual Report of the Registrar-General he discusses the progress of the smallpox epidemic which had spread through England and Wales in 1837–9, causing the deaths of over 30,000 persons. “Five die weekly of smallpox in the metropolis when the disease is not epidemic… Why do the five deaths become 10, 15, 20, 31, 58, 88 weekly and then progressively fall through the same measured steps?” He suggests, “amidst the apparent irregularities of the epidemic of smallpox and its eruptions all over the kingdom, it was governed in its progress by certain general laws.” He found that the deaths from smallpox in the quarters of the year during the epidemic increased up to the third quarter very nearly at the ratio of 30 per cent. “The rate of increase is retarded at the end of the third period, and only rises 6 per cent. in the next, where it remains stationary, like a projectile at the summit of the curve which it is destined to describe. The decline of the epidemic was less rapid than its rise.” He showed that the fall of mortality took place at a uniformly accelerated rate and calculated a “regular series of numbers” (such that the second differences of the logarithms are constant) for the decline of the epidemic.

In a series of publications issued from the Institut Prophylactique in Paris, Vernes and his co-workers (1926) described a flocculation method for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in man. This method was first elaborated for the diagnosis of syphilis. Various modifications were then introduced and it was found that the test could be applied to the diagnosis of human tuberculosis. Finally a standard technique was laid down. This consisted of measuring by means of the Vernes-Bricq-Yvon photometer the amount of flocculation which took place during 4 hours' incubation at 20° C. when 0·6 c.c. of resorcinol (1·25 per cent.) was added to an equal volume of the blood serum under test. Readings were taken immediately the resorcinol was added and again at the end of the incubation period. The difference between these readings gave the value on which the diagnosis was made. If this were below 30 the serum was considered normal. Values over 30 indicated infection, the higher the number the more advanced the infection. Correlation of these figures with clinical examination showed that very frequently the photometer value confirmed the clinical findings, and that in some cases the course of the disease could be forecast and followed by testing a number of blood samples over a period.

About one-fourth of the cases in a series of 160 patients suffering from scarlet fever appeared to be Dick-negative in the acute stage of the disease.

Throughout the illness there was a progressive decrease in the number of positives and in the intensity of the reactions, till in the second week two-thirds and in the fourth week nine-tenths of the total cases were negative. Almost 90 per cent, of the original positives showed this characteristic loss of the Dick-positive state. It would appear that this change occurs less readily in young children. Fluctuations in the reaction during the course of the illness are very uncommon, if indeed they occur at all.

Of eleven cases which failed to show the above change two relapsed. In the other 149 cases no relapses occurred.

Pseudo-reactions are uncommon. Two examples have been described. It is suggested that the use of heated filtrate may be unsatisfactory and that the mechanism of these reactions requires further study.

Some of the anomalous features of the Dick reaction have been briefly discussed. In the opinion of the writer these difficulties have been exaggerated, and they do not in themselves form sufficient grounds for concluding that the test is fallacious.

On the evidence at present available one must continue to regard scarlet fever as a specific toxaemia. The allergic conception of the disease is less convincing.

1. A fluid is described in which cavy sperms react to the most diverse substances almost exactly as do human sperms in human semen. This fluid, called albumen-saline, consists of:

0·9% sodium chloride solution … 0·7 c.c. Egg-white … … … … 2·3 c.c.

2. A detailed description is given of a new technique for comparing the spermicidal powers and rate of disintegration of suppositories (including foam tablets).

3. The new test differs from the old chiefly in allowing only five minutes for the spermicide to act, and in requiring the actual killing of the sperms and not only their immobilisation.

4. Of the commercial suppositories tested, Rendell and Finil are the most spermicidal, followed by Vimule, Speton, Semori, Prorace (chinosol) and Martindale, in that order. None of them is sufficiently spermicidal to encourage complete reliance in the absence of other contraceptive methods.

As a result of some preliminary investigations upon the aetiology of an asthmatic type of disability among workers in carding-rooms of cotton mills, Maitland, Heap and Macdonald (1932) showed that it was possible to extract from some samples of cotton dust a substance which gave the biological reactions of histamine. The dust was that to which affected workers would be exposed. The amount of histamine recovered varied from 0·02 mg. to less than 0·004 mg. per g. of dust. Different bulk samples of dust contained unequal amounts, and the amount also varied in different fractions of one sample graded according to the size of dust particles. It was thought that the finer fractions contained the larger amounts of histamine and that some bulk samples were, relatively at any rate, histamine free.

Rabbit 1 and mouse 1 probably died from pneumonia, although, both animals showed well-marked lesions in both liver and kidneys. The rat lungs were—as usual—dubious. In the other animals the lungs were normal and the picture was one of hepatic and renal damage alone.

At this concentration, the likelihood of pulmonary affections, and death therefrom, appears to be much less than in the cases of animals exposed to 1/100.

Pulmonary inflammation does not occur at this concentration, and the lesions were exclusively hepatic and renal.

Summary.Pulmonary inflammation does not occur at this concentration, and the lesions were exclusively hepatic and renal.

Summary. The rats in the experiment seemed to be more severely affected than the mice, and two rats died with an acute enteritis. The renal and hepatic tissue changes were also more severe in the rats.

1. A typical uncomplicated case of silicosis with fatal outcome in a porcelain turner is described.

2. Microscopic examination of lung tissue and of ashes therefrom showed numerous mineral needles resembling those found in kaolin from his factory.

3. The findings in this case are taken to support in part the theory advanced by W. R. Jones, that silicosis can be produced by fibrous minerals.

We are indebted to Mr Bögvad, M.S., for valuable aid in the mineralogical diagnosis.

1. A study of the suspension of dried faeces used in the Chick-Martin test, and of the process of disinfection in this test has shown that:

(a) The suspension of faeces is unstable, and rapidly forms a compact deposit.

(b) Surviving bacteria in critical dilutions of the disinfectant are contained exclusively in this deposit.

(c) Uncontrolled factors affect the degree of subdivision of the particles of faeces.

(d) The degree of subdivision of these particles materially affects the activity of a disinfectant in their presence.

2. It is suggested that these facts among others may account for inconstant results which the test is said to give.

3. A suspension of yeast is proposed as a possible alternative form of organic matter in such a test.

This section of the work deals with the routine bacteriological examination of 2144 samples of water, of which 1102 contained lactose-fermenting bacilli, 4333 strains being isolated. Twelve strains which liquefied gelatine and 24 which gave anomalous MR and VP reactions were excluded from the coliform group; the remaining 4297 cultures were classified on the basis of the MR, VP, indol, citrate and uric acid tests.

1. This paper reports the results obtained by the cultivation of the bacteria of ten batches each of ten mussels, 100 mussels in all, in lactose bile broth.

2. From these mussels 371 cultures of bacteria were obtained. 30·7 per cent, of these were not Gram-negative bacilli, 10·0 per cent. were Gram-negative bacilli which did not ferment lactose and glucose, 59·3 per cent. were coliform bacilli.

3. By reading the results in lactose bile broth after 24 hours' incubation, and by regarding as positive those tubes which show strong acid and good gas production the most reliable results were obtained. 93·0 per cent. of all typical, and 83·8 per cent. of all typical and atypical B. coli found gave this reaction. 37·6 per cent. of the organisms giving this reaction were typical B. coli, 61·1 per cent. of them were typical or atypical B. coli, and 97·2 per cent. of them were coliform bacilli.

4. The writer's method is described in detail. Its essentials are the rejection of shell fluid, the standardisation of the volume of each mussel at 25 c.c. by the addition of saline, the inoculation of three volumes of mussel mince into lactose bile broth—0·5, 0·1 and 0·02 cc., each in duplicate, and the regarding as positive each of these amounts only when acid and gas are produced in 24 hours in both tubes.

5. It is suggested that a batch of mussels showing more than seven positives in the tubes inoculated with 0·5 cc.. of mince, or more than three in the tubes inoculated with 0·1 c.c. or more than one in the tubes inoculated with 0·02 c.c. should be considered as contaminated to an undesirable extent.

6. Three types of solid media—Salle's, MacConkey's and Burke-Gaffney's— were tested. None were considered suitable for the bacteriological examination of mussels.

7. Reasons are given for considering any solid medium inferior to fluid medium for the bacteriological examination of mussels.

In the routine laboratory examination of specimens of faeces and urine, from time to time certain Gram-negative bacilli belonging to many different groups are encountered, which morphologically show no appreciable differences from the Gram-negative bacilli of the coli-typhoid group, but which however ferment the usual carbohydrate media employed in differentiation with the formation of acid only. Some ferment lactose quickly, others more slowly, and many not at all, but as with the other media no gas is formed. These organisms might be considered as belonging to the so-called B. coli anaerogenes group— a somewhat loose term which might include many different strains, some perhaps related to the colon group, others belonging to and related to the group of dysentery bacilli, and others showing no relationship to either.

At the First Congress of the International Society for Microbiology held in Paris in July 1930, a Nomenclature Committee of the Society was authorised and constituted by resolution in plenary session. Under article 4 section b of the resolutions concerning the formation of the committee, authority and encouragement were given for the monographing of special groups or genera of bacteria. In furtherance of this object a subcommittee was called together early in 1933 to consider the question of the taxonomy and nomenclature of the Salmonella group, Dr H. Schütze, Lister Institute, London, being appointed Chairman; the other members of the subcommittee comprising: Dr E. O. Jordan, University of Chicago, U.S.A.; Dr F. Kauffmann, Statens Serum-institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Dr W. M. Scott, Ministry of Health, London; Mr P. Bruce White, National Institute for Medical Research, London; with Dr R. St John-Brooks, National Collection of Type Cultures (Medical Research Council), Lister Institute, London, as Secretary. The late Dr J. Lignières, some time before his lamented death, consented to serve on the subcommittee. As, however, he died before he had an opportunity of considering the draft report, which he did not take part in drawing up, his name does not appear as a member of the subcommittee.

During the Spring Session (1934) of the Burma Legislative Council, a member of the Council—the only lady member—submitted the following resolution:

“This Council recommends to Government that immediate steps be taken to prevent the sale of medical preparations for preventing or controlling childbirth.”