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extract and cod-liver oil B.P.-the calorie equivalentbeing the same for each supplement. The effectswere measured in changes in height and weight.

Taking the observations as a whole it is found thatthe children with milk or with malt and cod-liver oilincreased their weight by about a third of an ounceper week per child more than the children on theunsupplemented home diet, and their height by one-tenth of an inch per year per child ; whereas thecorresponding figures for Virol were three-quartersof an ounce and two-tenths of an inch. There is acertain amount of variability in these results whencomparisons are made by term, by area, and by sex,but in general they support the authors’ conclusionthat all three supplements increased the rate ofgrowth but that Virol gave a better result than theother two. The result with Virol was especiallybetter in the summer term-a finding which Woodand Simpson attribute to its greater palatabilityunder summer conditions.The paper does not discuss the relative cost of

the three supplements. From the administrativepoint of view it would of course be useful to knowwhether a rather larger amount of milk-the supple-ment was a third of a pint per day-would give asgood a result as Virol at a lower cost.

UNDULANT FEVER

Dr. H. J. Harris maintains (N.Y. St. J. Med.1937, 37, 1295) that brucellosis is to be suspected inany obscure or chronic illness ; for as in his experienceit has simulated (or caused) anaemia, arthritis, ulcera-tive colitis, cholecystitis, appendicitis, togaemiaof pregnancy, syphilis, typhoid fever, nephritis,pyelitis, cystitis, neuritis, tuberculosis, osteomyelitis,peptic ulcer, psychoneurosis, bronchial asthma,fibrinous bronchitis, abortion, salpingitis, infectivemononucleosis, perforation of abdominal viscus,unresolved pneumonia, low back pain, spondylitis,prolonged hyperidrosis, pain in the chest suggestingdisease of the heart or lungs, epistaxis, hyper-glycæmia and glycosuria resembling diabetes, andvarious skin conditions and " run down states."He attributes the failure to recognise brucellosis toignoring blood-agglutination titres or to neglect toperform either the intradermal or cytophagic tests.Good results, he holds, may be obtained from vaccinetherapy, for he is able to report that among 132 casesin which Brucella abortus vaccine was used there wereno deaths, 42 per cent. were definitely cured, 36 percent. much improved, and 18 per cent. showed someimprovem.ent ; only 3 per cent. showed no definiteimprovement. Of 39 untreated cases, on the otherhand, 32 continued to have recurring symptoms ofbrucellosis.

HERBALS

A RECENT notice in this column of Mrs. Leyel’smonograph on tisanes and electuaries entitled " HerbalDelights " was headed " A Modern Herball " by wayof calling attention to its being a modern equivalentof the famous Gerard’s Herball. It so happens thisis actually the title (without the double 1) of anelaborate compilation by Mrs. M. Grieve, F.R.H.S.,covering the medicinal, culinary, cosmetic, andeconomic properties of all groups of the vegetablekingdom, along with much about their folklore andcultivation. This book can be obtained from theauthor at Whin’s Cottage, Chalfont St. Peter, Bucks(2 vols. with 96 plates post free £2 3s.).

INHALATION THERAPY

THE ASMALATOR has been demonstrated to us byRelegen Ltd. (60, High Holborn, London, W.C.1),makers and distributors of respiratory appliancesand medicaments. It is a machine, weighing 9 lb.and worked by an electric motor, which delivers avery fine " dry " vapour into a light mask fitting overnose and mouth. Its use is recommended for allinflammatory states of the respiratory tract (e.g.,

bronchitis, colds, hay-fever), but especially for therelief of asthma. The advantage claimed for the dryvapour is that it penetrates to the bronchioles andalveoli. The manufacturers supply an AsmalosAsthma Solution-stated to contain adrenaline,pituitary extract, chlorbutol, papaverine, Eumydrin(atropine methyl nitrate), and procaine in a glycerin-water base-and an Asmalos Catarrh Solution.They also make various forms of inhaler worked byhand and not by electricity. The Asmalator, whichcosts 18 guineas, is supplied for alternating or directcurrent, and the voltage is universal.

PRODUCE FROM BOURNVILLE.—Nobody has ever

been able to find a really good excuse for smoking,and probably nobody ever will. But chocolate is oneof the pleasant things that are generally allowed tobe " good for us," and the cacao bean has come toplay as important a part in modern life as thetobacco leaf. It has become difficult to imagine aworld without their products ; certainly it would bea world where Christmas presents would be a worseproblem than they are to-day. We have receivedfrom Messrs. Cadbury Brothers a selection of theirwares, including boxes of their "Vogue" chocolateswhich should make particularly welcome gifts, whiletins of cocoa, drinking chocolate, and Bourn-vitawill find a temporary place in the store-cupboard.

HEP ARINISING THE DONOR IN BLOOD TRANS-FUSIONS : CORRIGENDUM.-In Dr. Hedenius’s paperas printed in our issue of Nov. 20th one figure wasomitted and one given wrongly. The fifth sentenceunder the heading " use of heparin " should read:" Transfusions were effected in 20 per cent. of thecases because of post-operative complications (haemor-rhage sometimes combined with septic conditions)especially after cancer operations, in 5 per cent.because of bleeding stomach ulcers, in 7 per cent.because of chronic septic conditions, and in 15 percent. because of serious anaemia of pernicious or

chronic secondary type."

AppointmentsAVERY, JULIA C. H., M.D. Lond., D.P.H., Part-time Assistant

Medical Officer for Reigate.BILLINGTON, C. M., M.D. Camb., Resident Medical Officer at

Haileybury College.DEANE, M. M., M.B. Melb., M.R.C.P. Lond., D.P.M., D.A.;

Physician (Grade II) at the West Middlesex CountyHospital.

HOWIE, J. E., M.D. Liverp., D.P.M., Deputy Medical Superin-tendent at the County Mental Hospital, Winwick, nearWarrington.

KINGSTON, F. E., M.B. Lond., D.P.M., Senior Assistant MedicalOfficer at Menston Mental Hospital, Yorkshire.

PARSONS, F. B., M.D. Camb., M.R.C.P. Lond., Hon. Physicianat Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.

*PRITCHARD, W. A., M.B. Lond., Resident Assistant MedicalOfficer at the Grove-road Institution, Surrey CountyCouncil.

.

ROSE, D. J., M.R.C.S. Eng., Medical Superintendent at Brock-hall Institution for Mental Defectives, Langho, nearBlackburn.

SELLORS, T. HOLMES, D.M., M.Ch. Oxon., F.R.C.S. Eng.,Additional Surgeon to the London Chest Hospital.

WADSWORTH, G. R., M.B. Belf., D.P.M., Deputy MedicalSuperintendent at the County Mental Hospital, Lancaster.

WILES, PHILIP, M.S. Lond., F.R.C.S. Eng., Consulting Ortho-peedic Surgeon to King Edward Memorial Hospital, Ealing.

West London Hospital.—The following appointments areannounced :-

IRONSIDE, REDVERS, M.B. Aberd., F.R.C.P. Lond., Neuro-logist ;

KONSTAM, G. L. S., M.D., M.R.C.P. Lond., Physician;LAURENT, L. P. E., M.D., M.R.C.P. Lond., Assistant Physi-

cian ; andCOPEMAN, W. S. C., M.D. Camb., F.R.C.P. Lond., Physician

in charge of the Department for Rheumatic Diseases.Certifying Surgeons under the Factory and Workshop Acts:

Dr. G. G. AIREY (Ledbury District, Hereford); Dr. J.CAMERON (Keswick District, Cumberland); Dr. D. C.DRUITT (Petworth District, Sussex); Dr. G. A. FISHER(Skipton District, York, W.R.); and Dr. A. R. 0. DENTON(Modbury District, Devon).

* Subject to confirmation.