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DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE AND CHILD NEUROLOGY. 1962, 4, I1 1-1 I2 Notices The Neuropsychiatric Research Unit at Carshalton PSYCHIATRY is perhaps less tempted to narrow its view or its scope of enquiry than any other scientific discipline. The field is wide open, however, for integrated and inter-disciplinary research, and it is therefore encouraging that a new research unit in neuropsychiatry has recently been opened at Carshalton, Surrey, under the auspices of the Medical Research Council. Sir Harold Himsworth, opening the unit, welcomed this challenge to depart- mentalisation. The unit is headed by Dr. D. Richter, and, with a team of some ten workers and an equal number of technicians, is carrying out a variety of research projects ranging from the fields of biochemistry and neurophysiology to the less well-established field of ‘clinical physiology’, with, for example, studies of the relation of psychiatric disorders to the structure of the cerebrospinal fluid. Among the interesting displays at the opening were Dr. David’s beautiful preparations of nerve cells of the central nervous system, and an exposi- tion of the use of magnetic tape in recording EEG patterns of psychiatric patients. The laboratories have plenty of clinical material available, for they are surrounded by a number of mental hospitals with which they are closely associated. Research projects include studies of endocrine abnormalities of mothers of mongols, the relation of physique to schizophrenia, the personality of relatives of neurotics, and, on the biochemical side, the carbohydrate metabolism of schizphrenics. The laboratories are new (they have in fact replaced old stables which stood there before them) and they are nicely compact. It augers well for psychiatric research that this unit follows the highly productive routes already established in general pathology by the Lister Institute and at Mill Hill, where the value of having people working in range of each other in fairly unrelated fields is so well demonstrated. Ruth Leys Special Schools Association Biennal Conference, Birmingham, 1962 THE Association’s National Biennial Conference for 1962 is being held at the City of Birmingham Training College, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham 15. Among the topics to be discussed are the problems of handicapped school leavers; the development of handicapped children as persons ; and recent medical and psychological contributions to the special problems of these children. The conference caters for teachers, medical men and women, psychologists, physiotherapists, lay and professional administrators, members of the welfare services, and everyone concerned with the welfare of the handicapped. Visits will be arranged to hospitals, clinics, remedial teaching services, factories, schools and the University Department of Child Study. The speakers will include Dr. J. D. Kershaw, Dr. Elfred Thomas of the British Council for Rehabilitation, Dr. H. C. Gunzburg 111

Special Schools Association Biennal Conference, Birmingham, 1962

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Page 1: Special Schools Association Biennal Conference, Birmingham, 1962

DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE A N D CHILD NEUROLOGY. 1962, 4, I 1 1 - 1 I2

Notices

The Neuropsychiatric Research Unit at Carshalton

PSYCHIATRY is perhaps less tempted to narrow its view or its scope of enquiry than any other scientific discipline. The field is wide open, however, for integrated and inter-disciplinary research, and it is therefore encouraging that a new research unit in neuropsychiatry has recently been opened at Carshalton, Surrey, under the auspices of the Medical Research Council. Sir Harold Himsworth, opening the unit, welcomed this challenge to depart- mentalisation. The unit is headed by Dr. D. Richter, and, with a team of some ten workers and an equal number of technicians, is carrying out a variety of research projects ranging from the fields of biochemistry and neurophysiology to the less well-established field of ‘clinical physiology’, with, for example, studies of the relation of psychiatric disorders to the structure of the cerebrospinal fluid. Among the interesting displays at the opening were Dr. David’s beautiful preparations of nerve cells of the central nervous system, and an exposi- tion of the use of magnetic tape in recording EEG patterns of psychiatric patients. The laboratories have plenty of clinical material available, for they are surrounded by a number of mental hospitals with which they are closely associated. Research projects include studies of endocrine abnormalities of mothers of mongols, the relation of physique to schizophrenia, the personality of relatives of neurotics, and, on the biochemical side, the carbohydrate metabolism of schizphrenics. The laboratories are new (they have in fact replaced old stables which stood there before them) and they are nicely compact. It augers well for psychiatric research that this unit follows the highly productive routes already established in general pathology by the Lister Institute and at Mill Hill, where the value of having people working in range of each other in fairly unrelated fields is so well demonstrated.

Ruth Leys

Special Schools Association Biennal Conference, Birmingham, 1962

THE Association’s National Biennial Conference for 1962 is being held at the City of Birmingham Training College, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham 15. Among the topics to be discussed are the problems of handicapped school leavers; the development of handicapped children as persons ; and recent medical and psychological contributions to the special problems of these children. The conference caters for teachers, medical men and women, psychologists, physiotherapists, lay and professional administrators, members of the welfare services, and everyone concerned with the welfare of the handicapped. Visits will be arranged to hospitals, clinics, remedial teaching services, factories, schools and the University Department of Child Study. The speakers will include Dr. J. D. Kershaw, Dr. Elfred Thomas of the British Council for Rehabilitation, Dr. H. C . Gunzburg

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Page 2: Special Schools Association Biennal Conference, Birmingham, 1962

DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE AND CHILD NEUROLOGY. 1962, 4

of Monyhull Hall Hospital, Miss M. Brearley, principal of the Froebel Institute, Roe- hampton, Dr. A. D. B. Clarke, Mr. S. 0. Myers, headmaster of Condover Hall School, and Miss C. Renfrew, editor of Speech Pathology and Therapy.

Further information from Mr. K. G. Tucker, the conference’s hon. secretary, Dame Ellen Pinsent School, Ardencote Road, Birmingham 14.

A Technique for Nuclear Sexing IN a letter to the Editor of thekncet (1961, ii, 1310-1311), Dr. Horace C. Thuline describes a rapid method for determining nuclear sexing patterns, with which he claims that it is possible to screen up to 120 subjects a day. The technique has obvious advantages in view of the numerous surveys of sex-chromosome abnormalities now being done, where a rapid and reliable method of nuclear sexing is necessary. The letter should be consulted for details. Incidentally, the author mentions that this technique has allowed him to observe a small nuclear body in cells from males, confirming the observation of Sanderson and Stewart (Brit. med. J. 1961, i, 1065).

Paul E. Polani.

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