416

Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance has a

medical staff both at headquarters and in the regions,which advises on compensation for industrial injuries aswell as for other causes of ill health. The former silicosisand asbestosis board is now a part of the medical serviceof the Ministry. On the staff of the pneumoconiosismedical panels, as they are now called, are some 30 whole-time medical officers who deal with the diagnosis andcertification for compensation of cases of silicosis,asbestosis, and some other forms of pneumoconiosis.They also carry out periodical medical examinations ofworkers engaged in some scheduled occupations in whichcases of pneumoconiosis are likely to arise. The centresfrom which the panels work are Swansea, Cardiff, London,Manchester, Sheffield, Bristol, and Edinburgh. Some ofthe newly nationalised industries have established medicalservices-for example, the London Transport Executive,a part of the British Transport Commission. TheLondon Transport Executive employs a chief medicalofficer with 9 full-time doctors. The National DockLabour Board also has a medical service consisting of 7full-time medical officers and 1 part-time medical officer.Some, but not all, of the regional boards of the nationalisedgas industry have appointed whole-time and part-timedoctors to look after the health of the workers. A moveis on foot to set up medical services in all regions, andduring the past year several new appointments have beenmade.

In addition to investigations and research into industrialdiseases conducted by medical inspectors of factories,mines medical officers, and works doctors, much funda-mental research into environmental conditions has beencarried out by the staff and various committees of theMedical Research Council. Clinical and field studiesmade under the aegis of the council’s industrial pul-monary diseases committee include inquiry into the

pneumoconiosis of coalminers and the byssinosis ofcotton workers. The London Hospital department forresearch in industrial medicine was established in 1943,and a few years later, in conjunction with the Ministry ofFuel and Power, a bureau for research into the pneumo-coniosis of South Wales coalminers was set up at Cardiff.Other units of the council dealing with industrial healthinclude the toxicological research unit at Porton, thegroups for research in industrial physiology and psycho-logy in Manchester, Cambridge, and London, and theindustrial medicine research unit at the BirminghamAccident Hospital. There is also a unit for research onclimate and working efficiency at the department ofhuman anatomy at Oxford, a social medical researchunit at the Central Middlesex Hospital, and a statisticalresearch unit at the London School of Hygiene andTropical Medicine. Problems on the health aspects ofatomic energy are being dealt with at Harwell. Researchinto industrial health matters is also being undertakenby the university departments mentioned below. TheInstitute of Social Medicine at Oxford, which worksunder a joint board, also undertakes investigations intovarious aspects of industrial health. University chairsdevoted to industrial or occupational medicine have beenset up at Manchester and Durham. The chair of socialmedicine at Birmingham includes industrial medicinewithin its terms of reference, and the University ofSheffield has appointed a professor of social and industrialmedicine. Students are likely to hear more about thesesubjects in their undergraduate courses. Postgraduatecourses are held in London, Birmingham, Sheffield, andManchester, and occasionally at other centres. Diplomasin Industrial Health (D.I.11.) have been instituted by theSociety of Apothecaries, the Conjoint Board of the RoyalColleges of Physicians and Surgeons, and the Faculty ofPhysicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. The Associationof Industrial Medical Officers was formed some yearsago by doctors interested in industrial health, andbranches have been established in various parts of thecountry ; the British Journal of Industrial Medicine issponsored by this association in conjunction with theBritish Medical Association. The association has alsosince April, 1951, published a quarterly journal, calledthe Transactions of the Association of Industrial ]}1 edicalOfficers, which is devoted to the dissemination ofinformation about the practical aspects of industrialmedicine rather than to original research.

PRISONS AND BORSTAL INSTITUTIONS

THE medical service is a part of the general serviceclass of the medical Civil Service. It is under the immedi-ate control of the Director of Prison Medical Services atthe Prison Commission. The service comprises principalmedical officers, senior medical officers, medical officers.and part-time medical officers. Whole-time medicalofficers are appointed to the larger prisons and Borstals,and at the most important establishments there are

senior medical officers, assisted by one or more medicalofficers and psychologists. The senior medical officersalso have advisory and other duties in connection withsmall groups of establishments. The medical officer isalso required to pay attention to sanitation and thegeneral hygiene of the prison and to keep a close watchon food and nutrition. The making of psychiatric assess-ments, the provision of medical and psychiatric reports,and the giving of evidence in court when called upon areimportant aspects of the work. Surgical and psycho-therapeutic units are established at selected centres.Candidates must be fully qualified and registered andshould possess a sound knowledge of medical and surgicalpractice ; preference is given to those who, in addition.have had postgraduate experience in psychologicalmedicine.

Salaries are in accordance with the general Civil Servicescales :

Medical officer* .81650 x £ i5-.1950 x .&bgr;I00-.&bgr;2250.Senior medical officer .82600.

* Linked to age 35, minus 350 for each year below that age ; andplus one increment for each year above that age but notexceeding age 40.

The appointments are pensionable. Unfurnished quarters,when available, are provided at a moderate rental.Appointments are made by the Civil Service Commission,6, Burlington Gardens, London, W.1, to whom allinquiries should be addressed.At the smaller prisons and Borstals no whole-time

medical officers are employed ; local practitioners areusually appointed as part-time officers. Further particu-lars of these appointments can be obtained from thePrison Commissioners, Horseferry House, Dean RyleStreet, London, S.W.I. Revised scales of salary forpart-time medical officers have been agreed with theBritish Medical Association.

1. Colonial no. 306 of 1954. H.M. Stationery Office.

Services Abroad

HER MAJESTY’S OVERSEA SERVICE

VACANCIES for medical officers occur in nearly allColonial Territories, the greatest number being in tropicalAfrica (e.g., Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika, &c.).Candidates who wish to make their career in thoseterritories may become members of the medical branchof H.M. Oversea Civil Service, and in that case theassurance given by the Secretary of State in Parliamentabout conditions of service and pension rights will apply,should the territory in which the officer is serving attainself-government.. Candidates must ordinarily be Britishsubjects holding medical qualifications registrable in theUnited Kingdom and have completed their preregistra-tion year. They must normally be under 40 or 45 yearsof age, according to the age of retirement in the territoryto which they are appointed. In West Africa this is50 years, and in most other territories 55. In manyterritories officers may serve beyond the age of retire-ment with the Governor’s permission. Contract appoint-ments for short terms are available for candidates whoare above the age-limits or who, while being withinthese limits, do not wish to commit themselves to acolonial career at the outset. Doctors in the NationalHealth Service may also avail themselves of a schemewhich has been brought into operation in many colonialterritories whereby they take up appointments up tosix years without loss of pension rights in the NationalHealth Service. The scheme provides for the paymentof a gratuity on leaving the service, but those who areeligible and who wish to transfer to the permanent andpensionable establishment of a Colonial Medical Depart-ment will have opportunities to do so. The service

417

offers special opportunities and experience not obtainableat home, and that experience will be of great value todoctors both in practices and in hospital appointmentsif they elect to return to this country. Officers appointedto the permanent service are normally required to takea course in tropical medicine and hygiene either beforegoing overseas or during their first leave.

Medical officers are usually appointed in the firstinstance for general duties, which require all-round abilityand a balanced outlook upon both preventive and curativemedicine. Such duties often imply the charge of a districthospital and responsibility for the medical administrationof a district, although many officers are employed onclinical duties in the large hospitals. Some posts areconcerned purely with public-health work and for thesethe possession of a D.P.H. or special experience in pre-ventive medicine is necessary. In the general field thereare ample opportunities for original investigation, andsubsequent specialisation fs encouraged. Opportunitiesare offered wherever possible for officers to study forpostgraduate qualifications in approved branches ofmedicine, surgery, or public health.A large number of specialist appointments exist which

are normally filled from within the service by officerswith the necessary aptitude and qualifications. Forthese appointments a very high standard of professionalattainment is required. Senior administrative appoint-ments are also almost invariably filled by the promotionof serving officers. Promotion takes place in the adminis-trative or specialist branches either in the territorywhere the officer is serving or on transfer to another.The scope for promotion is therefore considerable. Anofficer need not transfer if he does not wish to. Thetotal of the establishments of the various governmentmedical departments amounts to some 800 Europeanmedical officers and an even greater number of officersappointed locally.

Officers possessing qualifications or experience inpathology would be considered for appointment to thelaboratory establishments. Workers in the laboratoriescarry out pathological and biochemical examinations forclinical, forensic, and public-health purposes. In thisbranch has been carried out a great deal of the researchwork which has led to important advances in the know-ledge of tropical medicine and local health problems.Vacancies exist from time to time for women doctors,especially for those with special experience in obstetrics,school health, child welfare, and nutrition, although theiremployment is not necessarily confined to these subjects.

Naturally in tropical and subtropical countries diseasespeculiar to hot climates predominate in the generalpattern of morbidity ; but the whole gamut of patho-logical conditions found in temperate climates occurs inthe tropics, and doctors in the service are expected tokeep abreast of the trend of modern medical opinionin Britain.Of late years progress in the control of tropical diseases

has been so rapid that Europeans can now live in comfortand in hygienic surroundings in areas which two decadesago were notoriously unhealthy. There is still, however,a great deal to be done ; and with the expansion ofmedical services to raise health standards in all colonies,the service offers special opportunities and ample scopefor initiative and original observation in clinical subjects,preventive medicine, and research. Full particulars ofterms and conditions of service may be obtained fromthe Director of Recruitment, Colonial Office, SanctuaryBuildings, Great Smith Street, London, S.W.I.

FEDERATION OF RHODESIA AND NYASALAND

THE Federal government administers the healthservices of Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia, andNyasaland. The rates of pay for full-time officers are :

Government medical officers are permitted privategeneral practice in the rural areas ; the value of thisvaries considerably and may reach 21000 a year, butwhere the net receipts fall below 2200 a year a paymentis made to bring the total receipts to that figure. Inother areas no private practice is allowed and an allow-ance of 9200 a year is paid in lieu. Medical superin-tendents and specialist officers are allowed consultantpractice, the cash value of which is not great.The duties of government medical officers include the

supervision of general and special hospitals, Africanclinics, health units and dispensaries, and attendance onpolice and certain other officers of the Federal andTerritorial governments who are entitled to free medicalattention, boarders in government schools, and prisoners.

Vacancies are normally advertised but, where possible,the more senior posts are filled by promotion within theservice. Further details may be obtained from theSecretary to the High Commissioner for Rhodesia andNyasaland, 429, Strand, London, W.C.2.

MEDICAL MISSIONARY SERVICE

CHRISTIAN medical men and women who wish to offertheir services where the need is greatest will find oppor-tunities in medical missionary work. There are universitymedical schools, central and rural hospitals, and manyopportunities for public-health work and research.Christian missions played a major part in giving China amodern medical profession. In India and Pakistan theyhave helped to maintain high ethical and professionalstandards, and have specialised in nursing and medicaleducation. In Africa and other of the less-developedregions they have pioneered rural health services andthe training of subordinate staff. In many parts of theworld the work is becoming integrated with the govern-ment services though still maintaining its identity. For

undergraduates pledged to this service there are hostels inLondon and Edinburgh. After qualification, a period ofeighteen months or two years in resident appointmentsis advised for all and also special diplomas or higherdegrees for some. Under certain circumstances exemp-tion is given.from national service.. Special missionarytraining is required by some societies. Service is for termsof from eighteen months to five years, according to thecountry and climate ; there are opportunities for post-graduate study during furloughs. Offers for life serviceare preferred, but short terms are considered. Financialrewards are not high but vary with need. Passages arefree and quarters provided. For long-term service manysocieties have pension provision. Help is given withchildren’s educational costs. Applications from studentsor qualified men and women should be made either tothe secretary of one of the denominational or inter-denominational missionary societies, or through the localbranch of the Student Christian Movement or the Inter-varsity Fellowship, or to the Chairman, Medical AdvisoryBoard of the Conference of British Missionary Societies,Edinburgh House, 2, Eaton Gate, London, S.W.I.

THE MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

THE Medical Research Council, originally establishedin 1913 as the Medical Research Committee, is appointed’to administer the funds provided annually by Parliamentfor the promotion of research in medical science. Thecouncil is under the general direction of a committee ofPrivy Council, consisting of the Lord President as chair-man and the Ministers in charge of the principaldepartments concerned with questions of public healthat home and overseas. The Lord President is the Ministerresponsible to Parliament for the council’s work. Themembers of the council, appointed bv the committee ofPrivy Council normally for a period of four years, are12 in number. 9 of these are chosen for their scientificqualifications ; of the remaining 3, 1 must be a memberof the House of Lords and 1 a member of the Houseof Commons.Although its funds are largely provided out of the

Parliamentary grant-in-aid, the council is not a Govern-

418

ment department and its staff are not Civil Servantsits constitution gives it full liberty to pursue an indepen-dent policy, and enables it to foster effective relationsbetween science and the State, unrestricted by territorialor departmental limitations of function. The councilmaintains close touch with the Government departmentshaving responsibilities for public health, collaboratesfreely with its sister research organisations, the Depart-ment of Scientific and Industrial Research and theAgricultural Research Council, and has direct relationswith similar organisations abroad.The council supports research in two main ways : by

employing its own scientific staff and by a scheme ofgrants and training awards which it makes available toworkers elsewhere for specific purposes. The council’sannual report, published by H.M. Stationery Office,gives an account of the work in progress under itsauspices. (See below for details of other publications bythe council.)The council’s scientific staff, with technical and other

assistants, works in one major institute-the NationalInstitute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, N.W.7-and in over fifty research units or groups of varyingsize, or in some cases as individually attached workers,in universities and hospitals mainly in the UnitedKingdom but also in certain colonial territories. Thecouncil also provides the major portion of the finance ofthe Institute of Cancer Research in the Royal MarsdenHospital, London, S.W.3.The work of the National Institute for Medical Research,

which is the largest of its kind in the Commonwealth,is designed to cover as wide a field as possible in basicnon-clinical medical research ; it has separate divisionsof biochemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry,chemotherapy, bacterial physiology, physiology andpharmacology, human physiology, experimental biology,bacteriology and virus research, biophysics and optics,and biological standards. The council’s research unitsand groups are housed, by mutual agreement, mainlywithin university or hospital departments. Their interestscover the whole range of medical research from fund-amental laboratory subjects, such as biophysics andtoxicology, to various aspects of clinical research andsocial and tropical medicine.The close association of most of the council’s establish-

ments with universities and hospitals is valuable frommany points of view, and especially in the opportunitiesit provides not only for collaboration in joint schemes ofresearch but also for informal day-to-day discussions onscientific problems of common interest. Members ofunits and of the external staff accommodated in universitydepartments are often given honorary university appoint-ments and participate to a limited extent in teaching,while in appropriate cases members of clinical units holdhonorary hospital appointments. In accordance with therecommendations, in the Report on Clinical Research inRelation to the National Health Service,’ arrangementshave been made by the council, in consultation with theHealth Departments and with the advice of the ClinicalResearch Board, for the further development of researchin this field.The interests of the council and of the universities are

necessarily closely aligned in the research field but theydo not merely duplicate each other. The work of thecouncil is complementary to that of the universities andunder the terms of its constitution it is particularly wellplaced to explore new fields as they come to light and todevelop new subjects rapidly on a large scale.The council’s aim is to provide the opportunity for

careers equivalent to those offered in the universities tomen and women of equal ability and experience. Itssalary scales are based on this principle and approximateclosely to the various grades of university appointments,the director of a council unit normally being consideredto be of professorial status. For the most part salariesare not fixed in relation to particular posts, but ratherwith reference to the ability and responsibilities of theindividual : promotion to a higher grade may accordinglybe made without change of post. The council’s staffnumber about 1700, of whom some 500 are scientificand about half of these medically qualified.Appointments to the scientific staff are made on the

recommendations of the director of the establishment

1. H.M. Stationery Office, 1953.

concerned, normally for three or five years in the firstinstance. Later, when an adequate degree of seniorityhas been attained, the council may express its intentionof continuing employment until the normal retiring ageof 60, with the possibility of extension to 65. Super-annuation provision-normally under the Federated

Superannuation System for Universities-is made formost appointments.

PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY SERVICE

On behalf of the Ministry of Health, the council haveadministered the Public Health Laboratory Service since1939 when it was originally set up as an emergencyservice. There are over 60 separate laboratories inEngland and Wales. In addition to their routine duties,members of the staff of the service, whose salarv scalesare normally equated with those of the National HealthService, undertake research in bacteriology and epidemi-ology. The service also maintains a number of speciallaboratories which act as reference centres for particularinfections, and are engaged largely in research.The following booklets covering various aspects of the

council’s activities are available on request to theSecretary, Medical Research Council, 38, Old QueenStreet, Westminster, London, S.W.1 : Constitution andFunctions ; Careers in Medical Research ; ConditionsApplicable to Research Grants.

MEDICAL PRACTICES ADVISORY BUREAUWHEN the National Health Service Act came into

force, the traditional procedure for entry into generalpractice was considerably modified—particularly by theabolition of the sale and purchase of goodwill. It soonbecame apparent that there would be a need for somecentral source of information which could give advice topractitioners seeking openings, to those desiring to trans-fer from one area to another, and to those seeking to setup in single-handed practice. It was felt that advisoryfunctions of this kind should be undertaken by a bodywhich was not linked directly or indirectly with centralor local government but whose status and resources weresuch a,s would enable it to establish and maintaineffective liaison with executive councils, local medicalcommittees, and the Medical Practices Committee, andat the same time to command the confidence of theprofession. To meet this need the Medical PracticesAdvisory Bureau was established at the end of 1948 as adepartment of the British Medical Association, under thedirection of a member of the medical staff of theassociation.The functions of the bureau are twofold : firstly, to

maintain an information service about openings in thevarious fields of medical practice and to introducepartners, assistants, and locums ; and, secondly, toadvise on individual and personal problems associatedwith entry into and the conduct of medical practice. Agreat deal of a dvice is sought on the various forms of con-tracts and agreements between practitioners. Althoughit is not the function of the bureau to give legal advice,there are manv questions concerning partnerships andassistantships where the advice of a doctor with experienceis needed, as well as that of a lawyer. All doctors arewelcome to seek the advice of the Bureau, at B.M.A.House. Tavistock Square, London, W.C.1, or any of itsbranch offices. Those who are not members of theB.M.A. are required to pay nominal charges for the

agency services.

THE BRITISH MEDICAL STUDENTS’ASSOCIATION

THIS association was founded in 1942 and its member-ship now includes over 90 % of the medical students inthe country. It is purely a professional organisation,providing a means of communication between medicalstudents in the different universities and hospitals andalso between British students and those in other countries.It presents the medical students’ viewpoint to the medicalprofession, to Government departments, and to otherinterested bodies. The organisation of the associationdepends on an annual general meeting, at which anexecutive committee is elected, and on four regionalcouncils. Both clinical and preclinical conferencesand " schools " are arranged from time to time andthese are valued not only for their academic interestbut also for the opportunities they provide for meeting

419

students from other medical schools. Local activitiesof the constituent organisations of the associationinclude lectures, visits, discussions, and the showingof films from the B.M.A. and other film libraries. Amongstits publications are the British Medical Students’ Journal,which appears once a term, the B.M.S.A. Diary, and anannual list of vacation appointments for those membersrequiring work in hospitals during vacations.The B.M.S.A. is keenly interested in the grants

problems of its members and cases of hardship are

investigated. The association is hopeful that all localeducation authorities will respond to the encouragementgiven by the Minister of Education, who urged thatmaintenance allowances be raised to the level of thosegranted by the Ministry of Education. There has beenwide divergence in the amounts paid by different localauthorities to students whose needs are similar. Someauthorities do not yet pay an extra maintenance allow-ance to clinical students to cover all the extra time theynecessarily spend at hospital over and above the lengthof the academic year.The association is represented on the medical students

and newly qualified practitioners subcommittee of theB.M.A. and on the undergraduate education committeesof the College of General Practitioners. It maintains itsclose interest in the British Student Tuberculosis Founda-tion, of which it is a sponsoring body, and is a foundationmember of the United Kingdom committee of theWorld Health Organisation.

In the field of sickness and other insurance the associa-tion has made arrangements with an insurance agency,set up by the medical profession for its own guidance,for the development of a special section to advise medicalstudents.The B.M.S.A. is a founder member of the Inter-

national Federation of Medical Student Associations(I.F.M.S.A.), whose membership now embraces theassociations of 18 nations, and the B.M.S.A. is thisyear vice-chairman nation. The I.F.M.S.A. continuesto develop successfully and is recognised by the WorldMedical Association and UNESCO. Under the auspicesof I.F.M.S.A. the annual Students’ International ClinicalConference was held this year in France, while othercourses, both clinical and preclinical, have been heldin Yugoslavia and Denmark. There are also Dppor-tunities for individual clerkships in hospitals abroad,and the B.M.S.A., through the offices of a studentinternational secretary, does much to assist Britishstudents to take advantage of these and other oppor-tunities to travel and see something of medicine in othercountries. Similarly the B.M.S.A. makes arrange-ments for many foreign students to visit hospitals inthis country and the number of applications increasesyearly, but unfortunately the number of places avail-able does not. To encourage and assist deserving Britishstudents to attend courses and hospitals abroad, theB.M.S.A. established two years ago a student travelfund. This year the administrators of the fund awardedthirteen scholarships to the total value of £100. It ishoped to improve further on this figure in future years.The B.M.S.A. is greatly indebted to the generous donorswithout whose gifts the international activities of theassociation would not be possible.The chief activities of the association during the

current year have been a report on the 1st M.B. coursewhich is being submitted, with recommendations, tothe General Medical Council, a symposium on medicaleducation held in London, a follow-up survey to deter-mine the success of the General Practitioner attachmentscheme in schools, and, in conjunction with the BritishDental Students’ Association, an investigation andReport on the instruction given in dental anaesthesiato medical students. The national clinical summerschool, together with a preclinical summer school, willbe held in London in September, and during the samemonth there will also be a clinical summer school inGlasgow.The B.M.S.A. is fortunate to have as its honorary

president this year, Prof. Robert Walmsley, F.R.C.S.E.,professor of anatomy in the University of St. Andrews.The annual general meeting this year will be held inBelfast on Nov. 2-4, and it is hoped that all memberschools will send full delegations. Observers from thenon-member schools will be very welcome. During

the meeting one half-day will be set aside for discussionon the Aims of Medical Education.The address of the association is B.M.A. House,

Tavistock Square, London, W.C.1.EMPIRE MEDICAL ADVISORY BUREAU

THE British Medical Association set up the EmpireMedical Advisory Bureau with a view to making thestay of overseas medical visitors to this country as

profitable and pleasant as possible, by welcoming themand providing a personal advisory service. The bureau,which is at B.M.A. House, Tavistock Square, London,W.C.1, caters for Dominion and Colonial medical menand women who are staying in this country for post-graduate education or other purposes. Information isobtainable about postgraduate education and courses

of study for higher qualifications ; and inquirers can beput in touch with the organisations and authoritiesproviding postgraduate education. The visitor whowishes to see something of the latest medical work inhis own specialty can be put in touch with the appropriateexperts.A register of suitable hotels and lodgings is maintained

by the bureau, and every effort is made to help visitorsto solve the problem of finding somewhere to live. Bysocial functions and in other ways doctors from theDominions and Colonies are enabled to meet eachother and prominent members of the profession in thiscountry. General information about travel, sportsfacilities, exhibitions, theatres, &c., may also be had.The bureau can be of greatest service to the visitor if hewrites as long as possible in advance of arrival, givinginformation on the following lines : projected date ofarrival, mode of travel, whether accompanied by wife,period of stay, objects of the visit, and in what waysassistance is desired. On arrival a letter of introductionfrom the local hon. secretary of the visitors’ medicalassociation, although not essential, would be welcome.The medical director of the bureau is Brigadier H. A.Sandiford, to whom all communications should beaddressed.

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL VISITORS BUREAU

To further cooperation with fellow member associationsof the World Medical Association, the British MedicalAssociation has set up the International Medical VisitorsBureau to provide a personal advisory service to doctorsvisiting the United Kingdom from countries outside theBritish Commonwealth. The bureau, which is at B.M.A.House, Tavistock Square, London, W.C.1, offers informa-tion on postgraduate education facilities, while visits tohospitals and clinics can be arranged and help given infinding accommodation. General information on travel,care hire, theatres, and exhibitions is also available. Themedical director is Brigadier H. A. Sandiford, to whomall communications should be addressed.

THE MEDICAL WOMEN’S FEDERATION

ALL medical women on the British Medical Registerare eligible as members of the Medical Women’s Federa-tion, which has active local associations all over thecountry and in Northern Ireland, as well as a largeLondon association and an overseas association linkingup members all over the world. The federation is non-political. It provides medical and social meetings for itsmembers and publishes a quarterly journal reviewingsubjects of special interest to women doctors. Thesenaturally cover a wide tract of social medicine, includingmaternity and child welfare, women in industry, thecare of children and of difficult and delinquent children,the management of nursery schools and day-nurseries,women in prisons, children in approved schools andremand homes, the illegitimate child, and many relatedsubjects. Advances in obstetrics and gynaecology, andpsychological studies of women and children are

naturally of special interest to women doctors ; recentwork in these branches of medicine is reviewed in thejournal. From time to time the federation undertakessocial studies and publishes the results. It is also ableto protect the interests of its members by presentingarguments in any cases where there has been discrimina-tion against women doctors. The federation’s head-

quarters are at Tavistock House North, Tavistock

Square, London, W.C.l.