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USA, the UK and Canada have all maintained or

improved their positions during the war.Fig. 2 shows the changes in consumption of particular

groups of food, comparing present with prewar 4)evels.The increased use of milk and milk products in all thecountries is notable, but British consumption is still thelowest, by nearly 25%. The fat content of the Britishdiet has declined rather sharply, while the proportion ofvegetable to animal protein has risen. It is also recog-nised that the " general acceptability " of the diet, includ-ing palatability and culinary convenience, has alsosuffered more seriously here than elsewhere :

" The maintenance of a satisfactory level of caloriesand certain other nutrients in the United Kingdom diethas involved a substantial increase in the use of cereal foodsand potatoes (these now contribute 43% of the total caloriesupply compared with 34% before the war), because sup-plies of such foods as meats, shell eggs, fats and oils, sugarsand fruits have declined. One of the major difficultiesexperienced by the British housewife has been that of pro-viding main courses (entrée dishes). In the entrée classof foods there has been the reduction in the United Kingdomfrom the prewar period of approximately one-fifth, whereasthere have been increases in the United States and Canada.... The increase of vegetables in the United Kingdom diethas helped to offset the loss of vitamins and minerals infruit, but, during the winter months particularly, it hasbeen most difficult to provide variety in the diet."The report refers to a danger that a high intake of

starchy foods will correspondingly reduce the consump-tion of foods providing other nutrients, and adds :

" If more than 50 to 60% of the calories were derivedfrom bread, flour and potatoes it might be expected thatpeople long accustomed to the prewar diets of the UnitedStates, Canada and the United Kingdom would sufferdigestive disturbance as a result of the bulky character ofsuch meals... The proportion of the calories derived fromgrain products and potatoes has remained at the prewarlevel of 32% in the United States and 36% in Canada. The

corresponding figure for the United Kingdom is now 44compared with 34% before the war."In the United States and Canada, it is concluded,, con-

siderable economies in the use of basic food resources arephysically possible. Much, however, has already been /

done ; for example, the ordinary sugar ration (8 oz. a

week) is the same in all three countries. And " anysubstantial change in the composition of civilian suppliesfrom favoured and familiar foods to less favoured or toless familiar foods can be safely made only if it is possibleto convince consumers that the circumstances fullyjustify the adjustments required of them, and if dueaccount is taken of the fact that the process of consump-tion adjustment will require time and guidance."

It will be seen that fig. 2 groups citrus fruits with toma-toes, and the joint total for 1943 was only 50% less thanit was before the war. Tomatoes are no longer imported,and fresh citrus fruits are imported only where shippingcannot be used to better effect, since they representvery bulky cargo having a very high water content.

" These changes would have had an adverse effect onUnited Kingdom vitamin C intake had the consumptionof potatoes and other vegetables not been promoted as asubstitute. The loss, however, has seriously reduced thepalatability of the British diet, and the public certainlydoes not regard the increased consumption of vegetablesas replacing the lost supplies of fruit."Happily, since these words were written most of the

public has been placated with an orange.

SCOTTISH SCIENTIFIC ADVISORYCOMMITTEE

THE Secretary of State for Scotland is wont to reviewevery three years the personnel of his scientific advisorycommittee on public health administration and medicalinvestigation, first appointed in 1930. But the com-mittee which was due to retire in 1940 agreed to carry onand its reports on the emergency bacteriology service, theblood transfusion service, the health and working experi-ence of Scots boarded out of the Service, and on infantilemortality show to what good purpose. Review now beingfeasible Mr. Johnston has taken the opportunity of

revising the committee’s terms of reference, of introduc-ing a system of retiral by rotation after four years, and ofincluding a wider representation of the various branchesof medical science. For the duration of the war tworepresentatives of Scottish Command have been cooptedto the committee. The new terms of reference are asfollows : : ’

To advise the Secretary of State for Scotland on the applica-tion of the results of scientific research to public health admini-stration and to promote medical investigations designed to assistthe Secretary of State in the discharge of his responsibilities forthe health services in Scotland.

In welcoming his new advisors at their inaugural meetingon April 24 Mr. Johnston said that one of their first jobswould be to investigate the causes of 1nfant deaths frominfections. Suggestions had been made, Mr. Johnstoncontinued, that the committee should include otherscientists than medical experts, but he had not acted onthem, as the subjects referred to the committee weremainly medical. But the committee was empoweredto coopt members, and where the subject was appropriatehe thought it was good policy to coopt representativesof other sciences. -

The members of the reconstituted committee are :Sir JOHN ORR, FRS (chairman).Sir JOHN FRASER, (ex off. aschairman of the MedicalAdvisory Committee).

Sir EDWARD MELLANBY, FRS(ex off. as secretary of theMedical Research Council).

Prof. DAVID CAPPRM..Prof. F.A.E. CREW, FRS.Prof. E. W. H. CRUICKSHANK.

iTOt. f. K. HENDERSON.Prof. J. HENDRY.Sir ALEXANDER 11’IACGREGOR.Prof. T. J. MACKIE.Prof. J. W. McNEE.Prof. CHARLES McNEIL.Prof. NOAH MORRIS.Dr. 1. N. SUTHERLAND (medical

secretary).

In England NowA Running Commentary by Peripatetic CorrespondentsAs I walked out of Burlington House, glutted with

private viewing, everything I saw fell into pictures, andby the time I reached the Royal Society of Medicineeven my colleagues had a varnished look ; I had muchado not to scratch them to see whether the paint cameoff. It was a compensatory illusion, rather like a miragein the desert, for doctors have been too busy this yearto sit for their portraits as freely as usual. Squadron-Leader D. N. Matthews had got over this difficulty bygrafting an eyelid while Alfred R. Thomson was paintinghim ; there is probably a striking likeness under themask-certainly it was a good and striking picture,painted for the nation’s war records. Ethel Gabain hadcontributed- another medical record in a neat painting -of the Bunyan-Stannard envelope being used in thetreatment of burns ; let us hope that the nation, whenit gets it, will add a juster version of poor John Bunyan’sname than the excrescence in the Academy catalogue.Francis Dodd had done Sir Charles Sherrington in char-coal, and there was a statuette group called RAMC, byBenjamin Clemens, both of which I missed to my regret.Alfred R. Thomson was also responsible for a cleverportrait of Dame Emily Blair, matron-in-chief of PrincessMary’s RAF Nursing Services. Apart from medical interest,many of the pictures had a charm of their own. I give theprize to The Nursery, a pastel by William Dring. A brownshouldered mother with her back to us, feet well planted,white petticoat hiked up above her knees, feeds her baby,while the nurse bending over the cot presents a generousblue behind : good solid people with air all round them.Then Laura Knight’s Bomber Construction, green as adream and deep as death, shouted across the room. Iliked the painting as well as the wit of VeronicaBurleigh’s Intelligence Officer, surrounded by models oftanks and guns, and playing the ’cello ; and I felt thatJessie M. M. Hodge and Charles F. Tunnicliffe had doneme personal favours with their Chinese Geese andSolway Company. Vivian Pitchforth, living up to hisname as usual, had used up all the black in his paintboxwith immense effect on night scenes in Dieppe Harbour.In fact, he had none left for MTB and MGB Practising,and that picture wore a disconcerted look. MissRosalie Crutchley had been painted too often in herLove for Love costumes, and the rest of that brilliantcompany not enough : there was one of Marian Spencerin hers, and none at all of Yvonne Arnaud and the rest*.The Ti’eek’s Ration of J. Kynnersley Kirby, in which thecomplacent butcher precisely matches his chop, had a

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topical’ rather than an eternal appeal. The grim andmoving Death of a Peasant of Henry Lamb has been I

bought by the president and council of the Academyunder the Chantrey bequest.

* * * ’

It would be a poor world altogether devoid of work,but for most folk the perfect job is not yet. There islittle agreement on what would. constitute a perfect job,nor would an individual’s ideas on the subject necessarilyremain constant from day to day ; but most people,taking the rough with the smooth, find that they can dotheir work without enough upset to involve them inserious distress. True, there are many minor pin-pricks,some attributable to faults in the man himself, some tohis environment at work or at home, Sometimes thetrouble originates in a bad foreman, sometimes in un-sympathetic work-mates, often in domestic troublesthat have no direct relationship with the factory. The.usual, and perhaps the healthiest, reaction to minorannoyances of this kind is to have a row and in that wayto clear.the air. It occasionally happens that in a fitof silent martyrdom an aggrieved workman stores upmuch unhappiness for himself by " being brave," keepinghis troubles to himself, for they who keep their griefsto themselves are " cannibals of their own hearts."Sometimes the reaction runs to tantrums or sulks whichagain contribute little to the happiness of the factoryor of the aggrieved workman. It was an impish saying,To grow bigger every moment in your own conceit,and the’world to lessen ; to deify yourself at the expenseof your species ; to judge the world-this is the acme andsupreme point of your mystery-these are the truePLEASURES of SULKINESS."

* * tit

In this war I am a Full Lieutenant ; which (as anyDADMS can tell) is the lowest form of medical- life in theService ; and I must admit that my way of oozing outof the mess when I see colonels and things lying aboutis distinctly amoeboid. Moreover, if I wanted tomultiply it would have to be by simple fission. Fundssimply wouldn’t run to anything more elaborate.Mind you, this war is a great improvement on the lastone. Nowadays when I hear the shout, " Oi, You ! "

my step may falter and my cap jerk over my right ear,but I know really that he doesn’t mean me.

I served in the last war with-I almost said " withdistinction," but that may be a bit strong. I had onlythree claims to distinction. (a) I was the best hut-floor scrubber in the company. (b) I was put on chargessix times in a fortnight for laughing on parade ; havinghitherto led a sheltered life in a Nonconformist schoolI found it all irresistibly funny. (c) They tried hardto make me into an efficient soldier. Nobody could havetried harder, but-mind you, I don’t say there’s anyconnexion because there may not be-but after aboutfour months, just when the rest of the war seemed to begetting along nicely, they suddenly agreed to an armis-tice. They were very tactful about it. No nameswere mentioned and there was no pack-drill ; butthe chaps in my hut gave me some very funny looks,and that night I crept miserably into an apple-pie bed.So, apart from a mildly hilarious interlude at an OCB,I began and ended my military career as a private(what a misnomer !) soldier. Sometime after the war(I do hope I’m not boring you) I learned that I had beengazetted as a second lieut. in a Very’Celebrated Regi-ment. Someone sent me the newspaper cutting withthe announcement. Without any doubt it referred tome. Checking my first natural impulse to hide in theWc for the rest of my life, I decided to pretend I’dnever seen it. Apparently the whole thing blew over,for I heard nothing more of it. I often think of theVCR and wonder if they ever think of me. I alsowonder if I have gained any promotion at their end.If so, I might do a swop.

For I feel I am definitely wasted as a full lieut. Ishouldn’t be a bit surprised if there were not other fulllieuts. who feel exactly the same about themselves. Inwhich case I ought to be able to make some nice pen-friends, and we could all pool our ideas about ways andmeans of getting promotion. My first (and least bril-liant) scheme was to save my colonel’s daughter fromdrowning. I found, however, that it only led to tennis-parties and misunderstandings, and I don’t care very

much for either. I certainly should never do it again, I’d like to be a major. I may be wrong, but a majorseems to lead the nice pipe-and-newspaper life I’m goodat. He often gets a bedroom to himself, quite near thebathroom. What is more important still is that hegets more pay. Right at the outset I explained care-fully to the chap who tested my knee-jerks that I shouldhave to draw at least a brigadier’s pay if I was to con-tinue keeping my partners in the luxury to which theywere accustomed. But I don’t think he can have beenlistening. My insuperable handicap is that in civilianlife I practised in one of those branches of medicinewhich are not recognised by the chaps who are runningthe war as requiring Specialist Service. Oh yes, thereare several such branches—gynaecology, paediatrics,tuberculosis, osteopathy. (I’m not going to tell youwhich is my particular racket. It won’t do you anyharm to guess. I bet you get it wrong.) Most probablyhad I claimed to be an ophthalmologist of 14 years’standing, a dermatologist, a neurologist or even a surgeon,I should now be wearing crowns and smoking cigars.But (andante con molto expressione) in spite of all temp-ta-ation, too-oo change my de-nom-in-a-ation, I re-mainan-(I knew you’d guess wrong).

I also remain a Full Lieut.* * *

Have you heard ? Don’t tell anybody, but as partof our preparations for " the incident " (Second Frontto you) some of our telephone lines have been replacedby red tape. Good idea, don’t you think ? That’llmuddle ’em.

" Hello, Telephone Directory Inquiry ? Can youtell me the number of the Royal Army X Corps, number 3centre at L ? " " Hold on please.... No, I’m sorry,but I cannot give you that number." " Hello, operator ?Can I speak to the supervisor ? Hello, is that the super-visor ? I want to speak to the commanding officer ofthe Royal Army X Corps, no. 3 centre at L." " Do youmean the third or number 3 centre ? " "Is there anydifference ? " " Hold on a minute please. No, that’salright, you mean number 3 centre at L." " Yes."I’m sorry, but I cannot give you that number." Butlook here, I’m really not very interested in the number.This is urgent ; it’s Dr. Y speaking from an EMShospital, and it’s most important that I speak to thecommanding officer about -one of his men I have here."" Hold on please. Yes, I’ll put you through to the Lsupervisor." " Hello, is that the supervisor ? I wantto speak to the commanding officer of the Royal Army XCorps no. 3 centre.... No, I know you can’t give methat number, but I want to speak to him. Yes, alright,I’ll hold on ..." " Hello. Oh, are you the com-manding officer. This is Dr. Y of Z hospital ; I haveone of your men here, and...."

" Yes, I’ll do that.Thank you. Oh, wait a minute-what is your telephonenumber ? L 1 2 3 4 ?. Thank you very much. Good -bye.

* * *

There were two other beds in the semiprivate wardat our local hospital where I took my septic thumb aweek or two back. One was occupied by a youngfarmer recovering from an operation for hernia. Hewas in hilarious spirits until they told him that it wouldbe six months before he could do any strenuous work,and milking cows looked like coming into that category.In the other. bed was an elderly retired civil servant whohad spent many years in India. He was almost helplessas the result of a stroke, and had demanded and receivedthe maximum of nursing attention for the past six weeks.But one day his diminutive lady wife ordered anambulance and had him taken home " so that he couldhave everything he wanted." A nurse went with himand reported that nothing had been got ready and thereseemed to be nothing to eat. There ought to be a lawprotecting invalids from their friends.

* * *

Our casualties are a mixed bunch and some haven’tmuch of a grasp of English. "You see, Doctor," saidone, " the insanitary bomb came right through the roofinto the room. I ran out and tripped in the dark. Thedoctor said I had a community fracture of the leg. Itbled ever so, and the doctors had to give me severalblood-confusions." .