1154

those groups, carefully matched for eating habits, when" loaded " with 500 mg. of ascorbic acid twice daily,showed no difference either before, during, or after fourteendays of such dosing. Unlike Milner and Pauling and hiscolleagues, we found no differences in ascorbic-acid statusin our group of schizophrenics.London Hospital,

London E1. BRICE PITT.

PROLACTIN AND PROSTAGLANDIN SYNTHESIS

SIR,-Prolactin modifies the responsiveness of arteriolesto noradrenaline and to angiotensin. 1 Arteriolar respon-siveness in the rat mesenteric vascular bed can be abolishedby blockade of prostaglandin synthesis and at least partiallyrestored by prostaglandin E2. 2,3 We have therefore testedthe possibility that prolactin may be able to modify endo-genous prostaglandin synthesis.Male rat superior-mesenteric-artery preparations were set up

and perfused as previously described.1 Plain Krebs-bicarbonatebuffer was perfused for the first 30 minutes followed by 30minutes with an ovine prolactin concentration of 50 ng. per ml.and 30 minutes with 50 ng. per ml. prolactin plus 10 tLg. per ml.aspirin. The effluent was collected during the last 10 minutesof each period, acidified to pH 3, and extracted with ether toremove prostaglandin-like materials. The ether was evaporatedunder nitrogen and the residue redissolved in buffer for assay.Using a prostaglandin E2 standard, assays were carried out on therat uterus and also on the noradrenaline-perfused, indomethacin-blocked superior-mesenteric-artery preparation, which seems tobe extremely sensitive to prostaglandin E2 but not to prosta-glandins E 1 or F,.4 Ten perfusions were carried out on tenseparate preparations. As measured by the mesenteric-arterybioassay, outflow of prostaglandin-E2-like material in the controlperiod was 1 -3 ng. per min. ±13 (mean s.E.M.). In the presenceof 50 ng. per ml. prolactin alone it was 261-2 ng. per min. zb54-2,and with prolactin plus aspirin it was nil. The much less sensi-tive uterus bioassay gave results within 20% of these figures.This therefore provides clear evidence that prolactin can stimu-late the synthesis of prostaglandin-like material. The assaysused cannot with certainty identify the prostaglandin concerned,but we feel it was probably mostly E2.

Especially if it occurs in other organs as well, this effectof prolactin on prostaglandin synthesis could be importantin the massive secretion of prolactin which occurs duringsurgery and in other stressful situations,5-8 and might havea role to play in the actions of the hormone on the heart 9and on the kidney.lO

.

We are grateful to the Ernest Hart Foundation of the BritishMedical Association for financial assistance.

Department of Physiology,Newcastle University Medical School,Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU.

D. F. HORROBINM. S. MANKURASHIDA A. KARMALIB. A. NASSARM. W. GREAVES.

1. Manku, M. S., Nassar, B. A., Horrobin, D. F. Lancet, 1973, ii, 991.2. Horrobin, D. F., Manku, M. S., Nassar, B. A. ibid. 1974, i, 567.3. Horrobin, D. F., Manku, M. S., Karmali, R., Nassar, B. A., Davies,

P. A. Nature, 1974, 250, 425.4. Manku, M. S., Horrobin, D. F., Karmali, R., Nassar, B. A. IRCS

Biomed. Tech., Cardiovasc., Endocr., Pharmacol., 1974, 2, 1339.5. Friesen, H., Belanger, C., Guyda, H., Hwang, P. in Lactogenic

Hormones (edited by G. E. W. Wolstenholme and J. Knight).p. 83. London, 1972.

6. Frantz, A. G., Kleinberg, D. L., Noel, G. L. Rec. Progr. HormoneRes. 1972, 28, 527.

7. Horrobin, D. F., McNeilly, A. S., Jackson, F. S., Reid, D. S.,Tynan, M., Nassar, B. A., Manku, M. S., Elliott, K. Lancet, 1973,ii, 1261.

8. Horrobin, D. F. Prolactin: Physiology and Clinical Significance.Lancaster, 1973.

9. Nassar, B. A., Manku, M. S., Reed, J. D., Tynan, M., Horrobin,D. F. Br. med. J. 1974, ii, 27.

10. Horrobin, D. F., Lloyd, I. J., Lipton, A., Burstyn, P. G., Durkin, N.,Muiruri, K. L. Lancet, 1971, ii, 352.

Notes and News

MENFALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AWAYFROM HOME

IN England and Wales there are about 32,000 severelymentally handicapped children, of whom 8500 are inresidential care. Particularly vulnerable are the 900children who are placed in voluntary and private homesand schools, often at some distance from their own homes,and it was the death of one such child in 1972 that ledto the setting up by the Secretary of State for SocialServices of a study group to investigate the care providedfor these children. The group’s terms of reference requiredthem to concentrate on problems of communication, andtheir report 1 confirms that lack of communication betweenindividuals and groups concerned with these childrenwas at the base of most of the failures of care encountered,although existing legislation was also found to be inade-quate on some points. Shortage of local-authority accom-modation for those mentally handicapped children whocannot be looked after at home means that many childrenhave to be placed in private and voluntary homes. Somechildren so placed are in care, and are under the statutorysupervision of the social services departments. Otherchildren not in care may at the parents’ request be placedin residential accommodation by local authorities, whilesome are placed privately in homes by parents. Supervisionof these children is not ensured by present legislation.In fact, mentally handicapped children are excluded fromthe regulations which apply to foster children and whichensure that the child will be visited by members of socialservices departments. Moreover, the criteria by whichlocal authorities are empowered to register voluntary andprivate homes concern only material standards, not stan-dards of care, and are not nearly as comprehensive as

those governing homes for non-mentally handicappedchildren. As well as changes in legislation to remedy thesedeficiencies, the -study group’s report also recommendsthat social workers should be much more active in visitingchildren and parents. Either the local authority placingthe child or the authority which registers the home shouldassume responsibility for visiting children, and mentallyhandicapped children in long-stay hospitals should beon the case-loads of social workers of the relevant socialservices departments. There should also be regular andreliable supervision from outside for children placed in

local-education-authority boarding-schools or hostels for

mentally handicapped children. Decisions on long-termresidential care should be taken only after joint consultationbetween health authorities, education departments, andsocial services departments. On the actual running of thehomes, the report proposes that they should be routinelyvisited by a doctor, who should examine all the childrenevery six months and carry out annual reassessments.

Regulations should be drawn up governing the kinds ofrecords homes should keep, and those who place the chil-dren should make sure that homes are given full informa-tion on the child’s medical, psychological, and social

management. Registering authorities should see thathomes encourage parents to visit their children and that

parents should have easy access to all those concernedwith their child’s care-social workers, doctors, teachers,and staff in the homes. Problems of communication appearto be particularly acute where staff caring for the childrenare untrained, and the report suggests that the Departmen:of Health and Social Security should prepare a manual 0:-

guidance to help them in their work, and that more opporn:-nities should be made available for staff to undertake in-service training.1. Mentally Handicapped Children in Residential Care. H M

Stationery Office. 50p.

1155

OCCUPATIONAL DEAFNESS

REGULATIONS which came into force on Oct. 28 add

occupational deafness of a substantial and permanentnature to the schedule of industrial diseases prescribedunder the Industrial Injuries Act. Disablement benefit willbecome payable for occupational deafness from Feb. 3,but those who think that they may already satisfy thequalifying conditions can make a claim now. The occupa-tions covered are those involving the use of pneumaticpercussive tools or high-speed grinding tools on cast metal,ingots, billets, or blooms; the use of pneumatic percussivetools on metal in the shipbuilding or ship-repairingindustries; and work mainly in the immediate vicinity ofdrop forging plant or forging press plant engaged in theshaping of hot metal. People who have worked for aminimum of 20 years in one or more of these jobs can claimwhile still working in such a job or up to one year afterleaving it. The period will be extended up to Oct. 27,1975,for those who have left in the past year.

Leaflets with full details and claim forms are available at

Department of Health and Social Security local offices.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR THE DISABLED

SKIING, sailing, rock-climbing, and caving are not

activities which we would expect people lacking limbs orfaculties to undertake, but they are all included in a bookleton outdoor pursuits for the disabled which has just beenpublished by the Disabled Living Foundation. The guideaims to show which activities can be undertaken by disabledpeople, and how far particular forms of handicap willrestrict, or preclude, participation in these activities. Thescope of the booklet is limited to open-air activities under-taken, for the most part, in the country or on natural waters.Among the pursuits covered are swimming, water-skiing,sub-aqua diving, snorkelling, canoeing, sailing, rowing,angling, skiing, hill-walking, scrambling, rock-climbing,camping, caving, orienteering, horse-riding, cycling,shooting, and gliding. Examples are given of disabledpeople who have successfully taken up the activitiesdescribed, and information is provided about the equipmentand clothing needed, special techniques to help the disabled,insurance, transport, and holidays. The guide is particu-larly valuable as a source of names, addresses, and spheresof operation of a large number of organisations which canhelp the disabled enjoy outdoor activities; reference is alsomade to a number of useful publications.

Queen’s University of BelfastDr J. B. Bridges has been appointed to a second chair of

physiology.Dr Bridges, who is 45, graduated B.SC. from the Queen’s

University, Belfast, in 1950, M.B. in 1953, and M.D. in 1957. Hewas assistant lecturer in the department of anatomy and thentutor in anatomy at the university. In 1957 he held a NuffieldFoundation medical fellowship at the M.R.C. RadiobiologicalUnit, Harwell. He was appointed lecturer in anatomy at theQueen’s University, Belfast, in 1958, becoming a consultant in1965, and senior lecturer in 1967. In 1960-61 he held a visitingappointment in the department of anatomy at Emory University,Atlanta, Georgia. He was appointed senior lecturer in histologyin the department of physiology at the Queen’s University,Belfast, in 1968, becoming reader in 1969. He recently visitedthe University of Khartoum as World Health Organisationconsultant in the teaching of histology.Dr M. D. O’Hara and Dr Hoshang Bharucha have been

appointed lecturers in pathology; Dr H. A. Crockard hasbeen appointed lecturer in neurosurgery, Mr C. J. F.

1. Outdoor Pursuits for Disabled People. By NORMAN CROUCHER.Disabled Living Foundation, 346 Kensington High Street,London W14 8NS. 75p.

Maguire lecturer in ophthalmology, Mr G. A. Murnaghanlecturer in midwifery and gynaecology, and Dr A. E. Evanslecturer in social and preventive medicine.

University of LondonDr Timothy Chard has been appointed to the newly

established joint chair of reproductive physiology at St.Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College and the LondonHospital Medical College.

Dr Chard, who is 37, trained atSt. Thomas’s Hospital, London,graduating M.B. in 1960. Afterresident posts at St. Thomas’s

Hospital, Queen Charlotte’s Hos-pital, and the Hospital for Women,Soho Square, he was awarded aMedical Research Council clinicalresearch fellowship at Guy’sHospital in the department ofimmunology under Prof. J. R.Batchelor. In 1968 he was

appointed lecturer in chemical

pathology at St. Bartholomew’sHospital, becoming senior lecturerin reproductive physiology in 1971.His main interests are in the

development of new methods forthe diagnosis of the human fetus

St. BartMlomew’s Hospital at risk.

The title of professor of microbiology has been conferredon Dr Rosalinde Hurley in respect of her post at theInstitute of Obstetrics and Gynxcology.Dr Hurley, who is 44, graduated M.B. from the University of

London in 1955, LL.B. in 1959, and M.D. in 1961; she becameM.R.C.PATH. in 1963. In 1956-57 she was senior house-surgeon,in 1957-58 registrar in pathology, and in 1958-62 assistantclinical pathologist at Charing Cross Hospital. Since 1963 shehas been consultant microbiologist at Queen Charlotte’s Hospitalfor Women, and in 1974 she was appointed senior lecturer at theInstitute of Obstetrics and Gynxcology.The title of reader in dental anatomy has been conferred

on Dr W. A. B. Brown in respect of his post at King’sCollege.

University of AberdeenDr W. G. Skene has been appointed senior lecturer in

anatomy, and Dr W. T. Hendry senior lecturer in forensicmedicine. Dr D. J. Lloyd has been appointed lecturer inchild health.

Hereditary Diseases and their ControlThis is the subject of the first British Tay-Sachs Founda-

tion lecture, to be given by Dr Philip Rainsford Evans at5.30 P.M. on Monday, Dec. 2, at the Institute of ChildHealth, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1.

British Academy of PsychopharmacologyA meeting entitled Monoamine Oxidase-Biochemical

and Clinical Developments will be held at 2 P.M. on Satur-day, Nov. 23, in the West Hall, Royal Society of Medicine,London Wl. Non-members of the Academy may attendas guests of members, and should write to the honorarysecretary, Dr David Wheatley, at 325 Staines Road,Twickenham TW2 5AX.

Mental Health Trust and Research Fund

A Sir Geoffrey Vickers lecture will be given by Prof.Mary Salter Ainsworth (Baltimore) at 5.30 P.M. on Wed-nesday, Feb. 19, at the Middlesex Hospital Medical

School, Cleveland Street, London Wl. The title is SocialDevelopment during the First Year of Life. Applicationsfor invitation cards should be sent to the Secretary, ResearchCommittee, Mental Health Trust and Research Fund,8 Wimpole Street, London W1M 8HY.

1156

Viral HepatitisThe Industrial Injuries Advisory Council has been asked

by the Secretary of State for Social Services to considerwhether viral hepatitis should be prescribed as an industrialdisease under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries)Act 1965 and, if so, what specific occupations should becovered. Interested persons or organisations may obtainan explanatory memorandum from, and submit evidence to,the Secretary of the Council, 10 John Adam Street,London WC2N 6HD.

Symposium on Nursing and the Medical ProfessionA joint meeting of the Royal Colleges of Nursing,

Midwives, Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Physicians,and Surgeons, to discuss current problems, will be heldat 2 P.M. on Thursday, Nov. 28, at the Royal College ofPhysicians of London. Applications to attend should besent as soon as possible to Dr Michael Joseph, ConferenceOrganiser, Royal College of Physicians, 11 St. Andrew’sPlace, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4LE.

Appointments

South-East Thames Regional Health Authority:CHESTERTON, J. R., M.B.Cantab., F.R.C.S., D.o.: consultant ophthal-

mologist, Greenwich and Lewisham districts.CLERY, J. V. H., M.B. N.U.I., F.R.C.S.I.: consultant in orthopaedics,

Bexley district.FORSYTHE, J. M., M.B., M.sc.Lond., M.F.C.M.: area medical officer,

Kent A.H.A.GLAISHER, C. E. J., M.B.Lond., M.R.C.PSYCH., D.P.M. : consultant child

psychiatrist, Dartford and Gravesham district.GRIFFITH, EIRWEN, M.B.Lond.: specialist in community medicine

(child health), Kent A.H.A.HILDICK-SMITH, MARION, M.B.Cantab., M.R.c.P.: consultant in

geriatric medicine, Canterbury and Thanet district.LOBB, DOROTHY M., M.B.Wales, F.R.C.S., F.R.C.S.E., D.o.: consultant

ophthalmologist, Bromley and Famborough districts.MARTIN, D. RANDALL, M.B., D.P.H.: specialist in community medicine

(social services), Kent A.H.A.O’NEILL, PAULINE, B.M.Oxon.: consultant pathologist (microbiology),

Dartford and Gravesham district.SAVAGE, P. E. A., M.s.Lond., F.R.C.S. : consultant general surgeon,

Bexley district.VAIDYA, V. B., M.B.Nagpur, D.M.R.D., D.M.R.E., D.M.R.T. : consultant

diagnostic radiologist, Hastings district.WEST, LETITIA R., M.B.St.And., M.R.C.PSYCH., D.P.M. : consultant

psychiatrist, Canterbury and Thanet district.

Wessex Regional Health Authority:BUCKLAND, R. W., M.B.Edin., F.F.A. R.c.s.: consultant anaesthetist,

North Hampshire hospital group, Hampshire A.H.A. (teaching).CANTRELL, E. G., M.D.Cantab., M.R.C.P. : consultant in rheumatology

and rehabilitation, Southampton General Hospital, HampshireA.H.A. (teaching).

CARRUTH, J. A. S., M.B.Cantab., F.R.C.S. : consultant E.N.T. surgeon,Hampshire A.H.A. (teaching).

CAWLEY, M. I. D., M.D.Lond., M.R.C.P. : consultant in rheumatologyand rehabilitation, Royal South Hants. Hospital, HampshireA.H.A. (teaching).

CLUNIE, R. W. D., M.B.Birm., F.F.A. R.c.s.: consultant anaesthetist,Winchester and Central Hants. health district, Hampshire A.H.A.(teaching).

ELKINGTON, A. R., M.B.Cantab., F.R.C.S., D.o.: consultant ophthalmo-logist, Southampton and South-West Hants. district, HampshireA.H.A. (teaching).

’

GUMBRELL, J. A., M.B.Lond., M.R.C.PSYCH., D.P.M. : consultantpsychiatrist, West Dorset district.

LACK, J. A., M.B.Lond., F.F.A. R.C.S. : consultant anaathetist, Salisburydistrict, Wiltshire A.H.A.

MACDOUGALL, D. H., M.B.St.And., F.F.A. R.c.s.: consultant anaesthetist,Portsmouth and South-East Hants. area.

McGILL, J. 1., B.M., D.PHIL.Oxon., F.R.c.s.: consultant ophthalmolo-gist, Southampton and South-West Hants. district.

PLATT, H. S., M.D., B.sc.Lond.: consultant chemical pathologist,North Hants. district health authority.

ROBERTSON, J. C., M.B.Lond., M.R.C.P., D.c.H.: consultant in rheumat-ology and rehabilitation, Salisbury district.

Diary of the Week

NOV. 10 TO 16

Monday, llthROYAL POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL SCHOOL, Hammersmith Hospital,

London W12 OHS4 P.M. Dr B. B. MacGillivray: Neurology of Death.

INSTITUTE OF DERMATOLOGY, St. John’s Hospital for Diseases of theSkin, Lisle Street, Leicester Square, London WC2H 7BJ

4.30 P.M. Dr P. D. Samman: Nail Formation and Growth.

Tuesday, 12thINSTITUTE OF DERMATOLOGY

4.30 P.M. Dr G. M. Leven: Sweat-gland Function.INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGY, The National Hospital, Queen Square,

London WC1N 3BG5.30 P.M. Dr Irving Cooper: The Human Cerebellum-Effects of

Partial Ablation and Chronic Stimulation on Spasticity.MANCHESTER MEDICAL SOCIETY

8 P.M. (New Medical School.) Surgery. Mr Harold Bolton: ImplantSurgery in the Treatment of the Rheumatoid Hand. MrG. K. Tutton: Wind in the Head.

Wednesday, 13thUNIVERSITY OF LONDON

5.30 P.M. (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, KeppelStreet, WC1.) Prof. Sixten Haraldson (Goteborg): Nomadsof the World-Their Health Problems.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF LONDON, 11 St. Andrew’s Place,Regent’s Park, NWl 4LE

5 P.M. Prof. C. T. Dollery: Individual Differences in Response toDrugs. (Bradshaw lecture.)

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND, Lincoln’s Inn Fields,London WC2A 3PN

5 P.M. Mr M. J. Griffith: Slipping of the Capital Femoral Epiphysis,(Hunterian lecture.)

INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGY6 P.M. Dr Tony Angel: Cortical Organisation-Epilepsy at the

Cellular Level.7 P.m. Mr Peter Schurr: The Surgery of Epilepsy. (Sandoz Founda-

tion lectures.)INSTITUTE OF ORTHOPEDICS, 234 Great Portland Street, London WIN

6AD11 A.M. Prof. G. R. F. Hilson: Bacteriology of Tuberculosis and

Leprosy.6 P.M. Mr H. B. S. Kemp: Pott’s Paraplegia.8.15 P.M. Mr J. W. Jackson: Surgical Approaches to the Spine.

INSTITUTE OF UROLOGY, 172 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8JE6 P.M. Mr Martin Claridge: Genitourinary Tuberculosis.

ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, Gray’s Inn Road, London WCl5.15 P.M. Dr T. C. Chalmers (U.S.A.): The Spread of Hepatitis

within Hospitals. (Lily Davis lecture.)MANCHESTER MEDICAL SOCIETY

5 P.M. (New Medical School.) Pathology. Prof. E. D. Williams:Clinicopathological Correlations of Medullary Carcinoma ofthe Thyroid.

UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE1.30 P.M. (Ninewells Hospital.) Mr J. Amgell-James: Hypophysec-

tomy.

Thursday, 14thROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF LONDON

5 P.M. Dr R. W. Riddell: Modern Chemotherapy of Tuberculosis.(Mitchell lecture.)

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND5 P.M. Mr 0. S. Tubbs: Early Ventures in the Mediastinum and

Subsequent Progress. (Tudor Edwards lecture.)INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N IEH

5.30 P.M. Dr Ola Knutrud (Oslo): The Metabolic Aspects of NeonatalSurgery. (Alex Simpson Smith lecture.)

INSTITUTE OF PSYCHIATRY, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, LondonSE5

.

5.30 P.M. Prof. Seymour Kety (Harvard): The Medical Model ciMental Illness-Its Value and Validity. (Edward Mapotherlecture.)

ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL MEDICAL SCHOOL5.15 P.M. Mr J. B. Scrimgeour: Hysteroscopy. (Aleck Bourne lecture

MANCHESTER MEDICAL SOCIETY8.15 P.M. (New Medical School.) Ancesthetics. Dr J. Selwyn Cranford:

Lessons Learned from 6000 Lumbar Epidural Blocks forLabour and Delivery.

UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH5 P.M. (Royal Infirmary.) Dr A. E. Stuart: The Recognition anc

Sequestration of Red Cells and Platelets by the HUJr.:;:,

Spleen. (Honyman Gillespie lecture.)

Friday, 15thROYAL POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL SCHOOL

11 A.M. Mr D. D. Simmonds: Illustrations for Medical Journals.