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medicine. He was a founder member of the Associationof Industrial Medical Officers, and chairman of the Councilof Industrial Medicine and of the medical advisory com-mittee of the Industrial Welfare Society. During the warhe worked in the Emergency Medical Service. In 1949he was appointed C.B.E. following his work as chairman ofthe British organising council for the 9th International

Congress on Industrial Medicine in London in 1948. In1954 an honorary D.I.H. was conferred on him by theSociety of Apothecaries. He also served as chairman ofthe British Committee on Industrial Health and Safety,and he was medical referee to the Ministry of Pensions.He is survived by his wife and their son.

R. E. L. writes:‘’ Stowell was an able general-practitioner/surgeon of the

immediate post-1918 period. Since he practised in North-wich, Cheshire, his services were sought by the nearbyalkaline division of the Imperial Chemical Industries andhe became their part-time medical adviser. This workoffered him a new interest which he greatly enjoyed and hewas quickly brought into the wider national activities. Atthat time industrial medicine was beginning to developand this growth was being fostered by the IndustrialWelfare Society which was directed by Robert Hyde (laterSir Robert). In the early ’30s the medical advisory com-mittee of that Society provided a meeting place for doctorsworking in industry, and this committee worked underStowell’s chairmanship. It soon became apparent that this

arrangement was not enough for this rapidly developingbranch of medicine and in 1935 he joined many of themembers of this committee in forming the Association ofIndustrial Medical Officers (now the Society of Occupa-tional Medicine). After the 1939-45 war Stowell played aprominent part in the arrangements for the very successfulinternational conference on industrial medicine in Londonin 1948, and he later became a well-known attender atsimilar international meetings."

ROLAND HENRY WINFIELDM.B.Edin., M.B.Cantab., D.F.C., A.F.C.

Dr. R. H. Winfield, who was well known for hiswork on aviation medicine, and was largely responsiblefor establishing the usefulness of the former R.A.F.Physiology Laboratory, died on Nov. 1 at the age of 59.He was educated at Shrewsbury School and Edinburgh

and Cambridge Universities, graduating M.B. from Edin-burgh in 1931 and from Cambridge in 1939. After house-

appointments, he worked as a ship’s doctor and in generalpractice before joining the R.A.F. in 1939. In 1940 hewas appointed chief assistant to the consultant in appliedphysiology. Soon afterwards he went to the R.A.F.

Physiology Laboratory at Farnborough and later took overas senior service officer. For a short time he was com-

manding officer of the R.A.F. Institute of AviationMedicine, as the Physiology Laboratory had become;while at Farnborough he initiated research into airsickness,wakefulness, fatigue, protection against cold, catapaulttake-off, oxygen equipment, and flying-clothes. He learntto fly on joining the R.A.F., and flew on many war opera-tions. He was awarded the A.F.C. in 1942 and the D.F.C.in 1944. He left the R.A.F. in 1947 to join the staff of thedepartment of physiology at Cambridge University, andwas appointed a fellow of St. John’s College. Later, hereturned to general practice, but retained his interest inaviation, and was honorary medical adviser to the Guild ofAir Pilots and Air Navigators. He also studied theenvironmental medicine of special groups, including foot-ballers and long-distance lorry-drivers.

Notes and News

MR. JENKINS AND THE B.M.A.A REPORT by the Commission on Industrial Relations has

recommended that the Association of Scientific, Technicaland Managerial Staffs should represent the 2300 non-clinical scientists, technical officers, and technicians em-ployed by the Medical Research Council. Hitherto theM.R.C. has maintained that the A.S.T.M.S. did not haveenough members among M.R.C. staff to make it an accept-able negotiator, but the Commission argued that theAssociation was independent, firmly established, and

experienced and it could offer many specialist services tomembers. The report urged the A.S.T.M.S. to conferwith the British Medical Association before enteringnegotiations which might affect clinical staff, who were,strictly speaking, outside the scope of the Commission’sinquiry.

Protests have been immediate. The Association ofM.R.C. Scientific and Technical Staff, which had beenformed by those who sought collective bargaining but didnot see why they should join a big union like A.S.T.M.S.,declared that the granting of exclusive recognition to

A.S.T.M.S. could be disastrous for medical research.The A.M.R.C.S.T.S. favoured a ballot to determine thewishes of staff, maintaining that both the C.I.R. and theA.S.T.M.S. had persistently opposed the holding of aballot. On the other hand, the M.R.C. Staff Associationargued that Mr. Clive Jenkins, of A.S.T.M.S., in a SundayTimes article, and the Government’s consultative documenton industrial relations had approved the use of a secretballot when employees were not unanimous.

Dr. Derek Stevenson, secretary of the B.M.A., describedthe Commission’s recommendation as undemocratic and

against the wishes of the doctors concerned. A survey ofthe views of the M.R.C. doctors showed that 82% wantedthe B.M.A. to act as their representative in negotiationswith their employer. Dr. Stevenson feared that the C.I.R.’sreliance on Mr. Jenkins’ offer to take account of the B.M.A.’sviews was meaningless, " having regard to his recentlyreported comments about the B.M.A." " Employers arenot bound to accept C.I.R.’s recommendations. The

government has a direct responsibility for M.R.C. throughthe Department of Education and Science, and we lookto the Government to see that the wishes of the majorityof M.R.C. doctors are observed and that their professionaland ethical interests are safeguarded."

ROYAL MEDICAL BENEVOLENT FUND

AT the annual general meeting of the Fund, held inLondon on Nov. 26, it was reported that during 1969 a totalof E51.959 was given in grants and annuities. This sumdid not include monies from the various special trusts thatthe Fund administers, nor the S38.740 which had beendistributed by the Ladies’ Guild to registered beneficiaries.The annual report mentioned an increasing strain in thepast few years between the Fund and its Ladies’ Guild," particularly in the spheres of action of the two parts ofthe charity ", and this had received some publicity.l I

Changes in the organisation of the two bodies were indi-cated, and the officers of the charity were already consideringthese and hoped to announce new arrangements soon. Therole of the charity had undergone changes since its forma-tion ; the welfare services now provided for the basicnecessities of life, although there were still some elderlypeople not receiving adequate benefits. But the Fund wasconcerned about the difficulties of restoring the living1. Lancet, 1970, i, 76.

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standards of a professional family which had sufferedfinancial disaster. There was no point in increasing grants,because social service benefits would be correspondinglyreduced. The Ladies’ Guild, with its experience of personalcontact with these families, could perhaps find ways ofimproving the family’s quality of life by means other thandirectly financial. The report also noted that, because ofinflation, the value of individual subscriptions to the Fundhad been reduced, and it was hoped that subscriberswould review the sums they gave and bring them up totheir former value.

SCOTLAND’S ARTIFICIAL-LIMB SERVICE

THREE years ago the Secretary of State for Scotlandappointed a working-party to review the country’s artificiallimb service. The working-party’s report,l which is a

model of thoroughness, will be valued far beyond theborders of Scotland. The report proposes that, in future,artificial limbs should be designed on modular principlesand assembled in local workshops at the centre where theamputee is a patient. A modular system will allow ampu-tees to test different devices and will speed repair by theready replacement of parts. Those concerned with thetreatment of amputees should work together as a clinicteam, each being of professional status-including the

prosthetist, who, in common with the prosthetic technician,should be employed by the National Health Service.The number of doctors engaged in prosthetics should beincreased. Scotland should have one limb-fitting centreper hospital-board region, with perhaps a second in theWestern region. Ideally a centre should be part of ageneral hospital, and each should have beds associated withit.

DIET OF ELDERLY WOMEN

In 1962, 60 women aged 70 and over living alone inLondon took part in a 7-day weighed-diet survey. One ofthe findings was that women in their late seventies seemedto have a significantly smaller dietary intake than those intheir early seventies. In order to discover the reasons forthis decline it was decided to follow up, with a longitudinalstudy, the women who took part in the 1962 cross-sec-tional survey. The follow-up was undertaken in 1969, andthe report has now been published.2 27 of the originalsubjects were still living in their own homes, and 2 werein old people’s homes; of these, 16 agreed to a secondweek’s weighed survey, and 6 more gave detailed diethistories. The average age of the group was 80-9 years.After the dietary survey had been completed, 19 of thewomen agreed to have a clinical and radiological examina-tion. The subjects were clearly divided into two groups onthe basis of the results. 9 of the women showed little changein dietary intake over the 6t years, and had maintained asimilar state of health and weight, while 13 showed a markeddecrease in protein and calorie intake and a deterioration inhealth (although not always loss of weight). The secondgroup showed marked similarities with the women of thesame age-group in the 1962 study, thus providing someevidence of the consistency and accuracy of the dietarysurvey techniques used in the two surveys. It was foundthat more of the women were, in 1969, dependent onmeals-on-wheels and similar services. The general resultsof the survey were that, of the women seen in 1962, a largenumber had died before they reached their late seventies.About a quarter had developed illnesses which impaired their

1. The Future of the Artificial Limb Service in Scotland. Report of aworking-party set up by the Secretary of State for Scotland.Edinburgh: H.M. Stationery Office. 1970. 11s.

2. A Longitudinal Study of the Dietary of Elderly Women. ByB. R. STANTON, S.R.D., and A. N. BXTON-SMITH, F.R.C.P. KingEdward’s Hospital Fund for London, 14 Palace Court Road,W2 4HT. 1970. 8s.

state of health, physical capacity, and (probably in conse-quence) nutrient intakes. About a sixth-a " fortunateelite "-retained their long-established dietary intake. Itwas decided that the falls in nutrient intake during theseventies revealed by the 1962 cross-sectional survey prob-ably did not represent changes due to ageing, but could beaccounted for by the consequences of increasing physicaland mental disabilities.

University of OxfordThe degree of M.CH. has been conferred on Harvey

White.

University of LondonDr. J. M. Cameron has been appointed to the readership

in forensic medicine tenable at the London HospitalMedical College. The title of reader in surgical sciencehas been conferred on Dr. Michael Hobsley in respect ofhis post at the Middlesex Hospital Medical School.

University of EdinburghThe following lecturers have been appointed: Dr. J. M.

Bone (medicine), Dr. J. A. Russell and Dr. R. M. Watt(physiology).

Royal College of General PractitionersAt the first meeting of the new council the following

officers were elected: Dr. E. v. Kuenssberg (chair-man), Dr. J. G. R. Clarke (vice-chairman), Dr. D. L.Crombie (deputy vice-chairman), Dr. S. J. Carne (hono-rary treasurer), Dr. B. C. S. Slater (honorary secretary),Dr. D. H. Irvine (assistant honorary secretary).

General Medical Council

The Disciplinary Committee of the Council has orderedthe restoration to the Medical Register of the names ofNoel Patrick Burns and Albert Kellar. It has decided notto restore the names of Som Datt Karamchand Soni andKarol Zawisza. Registration of the names of Frances MaryUrsula Power and Elizabeth Joan Steele has been suspen-ded with immediate effect. Gilbert Dalley, NagasamySetti Srinavasan, James Hammersley Bailey, Richard IanBailey, and Rachel Pinney have had the registration oftheir names suspended.

Fulbright Travel GrantsThe United States-United Kingdom Educational

Commission has announced that, under the provisions ofthe Fulbright programme, it will be awarding a limitednumber of travel grants for 1971-72. These will be avail-able to graduate students of the United Kingdom anddependent territories who have been accepted by an

institution in the United States for a course of academicstudy, and to professors, lecturers, and senior and juniorresearch scholars to undertake lecturing or research in theUnited States. The closing dates are March 20, 1971, forthose travelling between June 1 and July 31, 1971, andMay 15, 1971, for those travelling between Aug. 1, 1971,and May 31, 1972. Details may be had from the UnitedStates-United Kingdom Educational Commission, 26 DoverStreet, London WIX 4DX.

Medical and Biological EngineeringThe ninth international conference on medical and bio-

logical engineering will be held on Aug. 23-27, 1971, inMelbourne. Application forms may be had from thesecretary of the conference, Dr. David Dewhurst, Depart-ment of Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville,Victoria, Australia 3052.

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Nursing Research UnitA new nursing research unit, the first of its kind in

Britain, is to be set up at Edinburgh University, with thefinancial support of the Scottish Home and Health Depart-ment. The unit will be an integral part of EdinburghUniversity’s department of nursing studies. It will carryout operational research studies on any aspect of nursingactivity requiring investigation in the National HealthService in Scotland, disseminate information, and provideadvice and assistance in the implementation of studiesundertaken in the unit and elsewhere.

Community Health CareThe Centre for Advanced Studies in Environment (the

Architectural Association) is holding a course on communityhealth care on Thursday, Dec. 10. Application foradmission (f.8 10s., &7 10s. for members of the Archi-tectural Association) should be made to CASE, theArchitectural Association, 36 Bedford Square, LondonWC1B 3ES.

British Association

The British Association has appointed a committee(chairman, Sir Alexander Cairncross) to review its futurerole, activities, finances, and management. Writtenobservations and suggestions on the work of the Associationare invited and sheuld be sent, by Feb. 1, 1971, to thesecretary at 3 Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street,London S.W.I.

North Sheffield University Hospital ManagementCommittee

Sheffield No. 1 Hospital Management Committee will,on April 1, 1971, be renamed North Sheffield UniversityHospital Management Committee. The group has two

hospitals-Nether Edge Hospital and Northern GeneralHospital, which is to be redeveloped as a district generalhospital and teaching hospital. The University of Sheffield’sannual intake of students will increase to 120 in 1971.

Pamphlets and Reports

Report to the United Nations on the Working of theInternational Treaties on Narcotic Drugs. The HomeOffice’s return for 1969 states that five university departmentsare licensed to grow cannabis plants for research purposes.2881 addicts came to the notice of the Home Office in 1969,and at the end of the year 1466 were still taking drugs, 705 onmethadone alone compared with 148 on heroin alone. (HomeOffice, London S.W.I.)

Family Planning Attitudes and Practice in Cheshire.An analysis based on 698 interviews carried out at FamilyPlanning Association clinics in Cheshire yielded many socialand other details about women attending the clinics and theirattitudes to family planning. 60% thought that birth-controladvice should be given to anybody-25 % said any married person,but only 8% mentioned single persons. Criticisms of the clinicswere few, the most common one being that " one has to waittoo long ". (Obtainable from Mrs. Anne Cumberbatch, CheshireBranch F.P.A., Regent Chambers, 20 St. Petersgate, Stockport,Cheshire. 5s.)

At Home with Multiple Sclerosis. A booklet producedby the Multiple Sclerosis Society and designed to help relativeswho care for multiple-sclerosis patients in their own homes.Subjects covered include clothing design, transport, reablement,and supporting services. (Obtainable from the Society, 4 Tach-brook Street, London S.W.I. 5s.)

A Review of Road Traffic Noise. This review covers

human reactions to vehicle noise as well as engineering andtraffic-control aspects. (Obtainable from the Road ResearchLaboratory, Crowthorne, Berkshire.)

Diary of the Week

DECEMBER 6 TO 12

Tuesday, 8thBRITISH POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL FEDERATION

5.30 P.M. (Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, LondonW.C.1.) Prof. M. de Burgh Daly: Interaction of Cardio-vascular Reflexes.

WESTMINSTER MEDICAL SCHOOL, Horseferry Road, London S.W.15.15 P.M. Dr. Murray MacKay: Origins of Traffic Injury.

MANCHESTER MEDICAL SOCIETY5 P.M. (Medical School.) Surgery. Mr. R. A. Mogg: The Rolling Stone.

MEDICINE TODAY1.15 P.M. (B.B.C.-2), 11.20 P.M. (B.B.C.-l) Dr. Peter Wingate,

Dr. R. S. Jones, Dr. Philip Pinkerton, Dr. Hugh Jolly,Dr. Roger Meyrick: Wheezy Children II-Management ofAsthma.

Wednesday, 9thROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London

W.C.25 P.M. Mr. B. R. Hopkinson: Electrical Treatment of Incontinence

Using an External Stimulator with Intra-anal Electrodes.(Hunterian lecture.)

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON5.30 P.M. (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Gower

Street, W.C.1.) Prof. B. G. Maegraith: One World-TheFuture. (Heath Clark lecture.)

INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH5.30 P.M. Prof. Gunnar Grotte (Upsala): Intravenous Feeding in

Childhood.

INSTITUTE OF DISEASES OF THE CHEST, Brompton, London S.W.35 P.M. Dr. M. C. Joseph: Acute Cardiac Illness in Infancy.

INSTITUTE OF ORTHOPEDICS, 234 Great Portland Street, London WIN6AD

11 A.M. Dr. B. D. Wyke: Neurological Mechanisms of the Hip Joint.8.15 P.M. Sir Reginald Watson-Jones, Mr. J. A. Cholmeley: Arthro-

desis of the Hip.INSTITUTE OF UROLOGY, 10 Henrietta Street, London W.C.25 P.M. Dr. K. M. Cameron: Some Recent Pathological Rarities.

ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, Gray’s Inn Road, London W.C.15.15 P.M. Dr. K. M. Cahill (New York): Amoebiasis.

ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE, 1 Wimpole Street, London W1M 8AE6 P.M. Lord James of Rusholme: The Next Ten Years in Education.

(Lloyd Roberts lecture.)MANCHESTER MEDICAL SOCIETY

5 P.M. (Medical School.) Pathology. Dr. Lawrence Robertson:Chronic Brucellosis-Fact or Fiction.

Thursday, 10thBRITISH POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL FEDERATION

5.30 P.M. (Institute of Child Health.) Prof. N. Kessel: Self-poisoningand Suicide.

ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL MEDICAL SCHOOL, London W.25 P.M. Mr. A. M. Dickins: Secondary Amenorrhoea.

LONDON JEWISH HOSPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY8.15 P.M. (11 Chandos Street, W. 1.) Prof. Harold Ellis: The History of

Bladder Stone.

ROYAL SOCIETY OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE, London W.17.30 P.M. Dr. K. M. Cahill: Studies in Somalia.

ROYAL INFIRMARY, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh5 P.M. Mr. A. C. B. Dean: Pre-malignant Lesions in the Gastro-

intestinal Tract. (Honyman Gillespie lecture.)UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN, Foresterhill5 P.M. Prof. D. J. Finney: Statistical Aspects of the Monitoring for

Dangers in Drug Therapy.

Friday, llthROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF EDINBURGH

3 P.M. Prof. R. B. Duthie: Surgical Management of HaemostaticDisorders of the Musculo-skeletal System.

ROYAL POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL SCHOOL, Hammersmith Hospital,London W.12

4 P.M. Dr. Wilfred Sircus: Alimentary Endocrine Disorders.

CORRIGENDUM: Hospitals, Children and their Families.-In ourreview of this book (Nov. 7, p. 966) we stated that " there wasno doctor in the team ". This is incorrect: one of the authors,Rosemary Dearden, is medically qualified.