520

7. Certain difficulties have been encountered-difficultiesin securing full realisation of the potential value of the scheme,alike in relation to the well-being of the patient and hisworking efficiency. It is not easy to arouse enthusiasm fora scheme that is essentially preventive in its approach.The Department notes, however, that it has come to

be realised, to an extent seldom appreciated in time ofpeace, that the disabled man may be a potential asset,even where complete restoration of function cannot besecured-provided always that to the best efforts ofmedicine are added an enlightened industrial approachand a determination to place the disabled in suitablework. This growing recognition of the essential relation-ship between health and industrial efficiency is one ofthe valuable outcomes of war, one of the present gainsthat surely must not be lost in times of peace.

ARMS PRODUCTION AND THE MANSir WILFRED GARRETT, reporting as HM chief inspector

of Factories’ says that the outstanding feature of lastyear was the more important position assumed by womenin the industrial structure of the country. In manyrespects this has made for the improvement of factoryconditions : it has led to " a remarkable stimulation ofpublic pressure for better standards of washing andclothing accommodation, and a higher standard ofcleanliness throughout all the amenities and in theworkrooms themselves."

Dr. E. R. A. MEREWETHER, who has succeeded Dr.J. C. Bridge as senior medical inspector, believes thatas far as the major specific causes of industrial sicknessare concerned there is no cause for alarm but ratherthe reverse. On minor non-disabling sickness it is harderto be definite, for the records are inadequate and one mustrely on personal impressions.

" One of these is that minor septic conditions like boils, areincreasing, as also is the affection which came to be knownas ’trench mouth ’ during the last war. This points to someslight reduction in tissue resistance, due to several causesacting solely or jointly. Fatigue from an o,,;&bgr;r.zealous desireto get on with the job, or rather the several jobs which are ourindividual lot today, may be one, particularly when indi-vidual personal worries or strain are added to the daily effort."

" Undue and cumulative physical fatigue due solely tohours and conditions of work is not generally a deleteriousfactor in the healthy adult under present conditions ; butthere is a limit to the secondary jobs which can be taken onin addition, however enthusiastically they are urged, andhowever willingly they are accepted. The physically im-mature and the older sections of the community must bewatched in this connexion, and particularly the hours of workof the former."

Miss ISABEL TAYLOR, deputy chief inspector, describesan investigation into the actual hours of work of youngpersons in all types of factories in representative indus-trial centres. Of " young persons " over 16, it was foundthat 85% of the boys and 89% of the girls were working54 hours or less, while 48% of the boys and 55% of thegirls were working 48 hours or less. Of those under 16,30% of the boys and 37% of the girls were working 44hours or less, while the remainder (except a very smallnuml5er employed illegally) were working between 44and 48 hours. I

Examples are again given of the effect of changinghours of employment :In a small factory in Birmingham which had returned to

their normal working hours of 47 for the males over 16 and44 for those under 16, the output was as high as when 54 and48 hours respectively were worked.

In a factory in the Black Country men had been workingon the’day and night shift system, averaging 52! hours aweek. They changed on to three 8-hour shifts, six turns aweek, making a working week for each member of the shiftof 45 hours. The output of each of these shifts was equal towhat it had been in the 52 hour week.A firm of toolmakers in South London began to employ

women and decided to reduce the hours of the men, by dis-pensing with Saturday afternoon employment, to 55 a weekin order to make them coincide with the hours of the women.At the same time they changed the system of payment from1. Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories for 1942.

London. HMSO. 9d. (Cmd. 6471).

a weekly to an hourly basis in such a way that the amountearned by each man was not altered by his shorter hours ofwork. The result has been most satisfactory. Productionhas, with the shorter hours, if anything slightly increased.The year 1942 saw a remarkable increase of part-time

workers. Most of these are women with householdresponsibilities, or men and women who have retired ;but some are people like teachers and students who givesome of their spare time to factory work. " Opinionsvary as to the quality of the part-time workers, buton the whole the system seems to be working verysuccessfully. In some cases the hourly output is saidto be greater than that of full-time workers and the losttime less."

Generally speaking the most popular arrangement ofthe hours of part-time workers is that of morning andafternoon shifts, usually of 4-5 hours ; but there aremany variations. Thus in a nut and bolt works 40-60married women are employed on a night shift between10 PM and 6.30 AM, working for three nights a week.This arrangement is said to be satisfactory to the motherbecause her husband can be responsible for the childrenduring the night and she can give the family breakfastand see them off to school before taking her day’s rest.

Miss Taylor quotes a case in which " women " 14 and15 years old were found to be working nearly 60 hoursa week and on Saturday afternoons and Sundays.Inspectors, she says, have usually been well supportedby magistrates in cases which it has been necessary tobring before them ; " and this support seems to bear outour general impression that public opinion, no less -thanthe opinion of those who are immediately concerned inthe factories, is tending more and more to depart fromthe view that in war-time long hours are themselvesa virtue."

A GIFT FOR PATHOLOGY

Mr. W. H. Collins of Wexham Park, Bucks, has givenz100.000 to the Royal College of Surgeons of Englandfor the endowment of their department of pathologyand the institution of a chair of human and comparative ’pathology there. In his will he has made provision fora bequest of a further 2100,000 for the endowment ofthe department of anatomy and for the institution of achair of human and comparative anatomy. In announc-ing the gift to the college, Sir Alfred Webb-Johnson, thepresident, read the following letter from Mr. Collins :" MY DEAR PRESIDENT,-Throughout my career I have

realised how essential is the study and investigation of basicproblems. Success of armies in the field is dependent oncareful planning and preparation at headquarters, andvictories in the war against disease can only be achieved bydue applicationand increased knowledge of the fundamentalmedical sciences. I have been greatly impressed with thevalue of the departments of anatomy and pathology which,have made the Royal College of Surgeons of England famousall over the world. I have seen what grievous injury yourdepartments have suffered as the result of enemy action andappreciate what a gigantic task it will be to restore them totheir unique position in the scientific world. To embarkupon this task it is essential that the departments shall havean assured income... I trust that my gifts will enable thecouncil to proceed with confidence with their responsibletask and to engage the services of men of outstanding abilityto assist them in their labours."

Mr. Collins is chairman of the King Edward VII Hospital,Windsor, and of the voluntary hospitals advisory com-mittee of the Berks and Bucks Divisional HospitalCouncil. He is also a vice-president of the MiddlesexHospital and has built, equipped and endowed theX-ray diagnosis department there.

ROYAL SocIETY OF MEDiciNE.—On Monday, Oct. 25, at4.30 PM, Mr. Harold Chapman, LDS, will deliver his presidentialaddress to the section of odontology. He will speak onprognosis in orthodontic cases. On Oct. 26 at 4.30 rM at thesection of medicine, Dr. Geoffrey Evans will give his presiden-tial address on mental health, and Surgeon Captain DesmondCurran will open the discussion which is to follow. Mr. E. W.Riches is to give his presidential address to the section ofurology on paralysis of the bladder on Oct. 28 at 5 pm.