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MORBID ANATOMY
166 In the general discussion A. LINDAU (Sweden) mentioned the use of standardised tablets of the various antibiotics in place of the cup or disc method ; and T. VOGELSANG (Norway) spoke of the usefulness of the Price slide-cell technique for, testing the streptomycin sensitivity of tubercle bacilli in sputum.
of mitotic abnormalities and of degeneration, vascular effects, and increases in secretory activity and in keratinisation of some types of tumours. P. C. KOLLER emphasised the importance of stroma reactions for successful radiotherapy. A. GLUCKSMANN found that 92% of 77 radiocurable, but only ;L-2% of 248 radiocancers of the uterine cervix and oral cavity incurable, MORBID ANATOMY responded to radiation with well-marked increases in COLLAGEN DISEASES keratinisation. C. W. TAYLOR reported on serial biopsy findings in 286 cancers of the uterine cervix treated by the GuNNAR TEILUM (Denmark) discussed the interaction Paris method of radium therapy. The cellular com. and antagonism of cortisone and ascorbic acid with regard position of pre-radiation and post-radiation biopsies to their effects on mesenchymal tissue. He found that were compared, and the interpretation of the changes the experimental amyloidosis produced in mice by strikingly similar to that obtained from cell-counts repeated injections of sodium caseinate was prevented was made on the same material at the Strangeways Laboraor reduced by vitamin C, and considerably enhanced by tory, Cambridge. He concluded that it is possible in cortisone. The action of these substances, however, did routine laboratories to assess histologically the radiation be a one on not appear to direct the intercellular ground effects on individual tumours. C. P. CHERRY has of but mediated via the cells the reticulosubstance, found that of the uterine cervix do not adenocarcinomas endothelial system and the plasma cells. The developreact to radiation as quickly as do squamous-cell tumours, ment of amyloidosis was always preceded by the appearand do not undergo an irreversible differentiation though ance of pyroninophilia in these cells. This pyroninophilia some show marked increases in secretory activity. G. was increased by ascorbic acid and greatly reduced by LUMB has observed a marked correlation between dosage cortisone. He therefore recognised three phases in radiation effects induced in breast cancers. Doses mesenchymal disorders : (1) an active pyroninophilic and below 2000 r failed to produce pronounced changes, phase ; (2) an inactive phase of healing; and (3) a while doses between 3000 and 8000 r eliminated, in some or amyloid phase perverted, negative, preamyloid instances, the tumour entirely. P. R. REZEK (U.S.A.) associated with changes of the serum proteins. C. L. PIRANI (U.S.A.) also described an experimental reported squamous metaplasia of the normal prostate, as form of amyloidosis produced in guineapigs by the well as of primary and secondary deposits of prostate cancers, after oestrogen therapy, and without oestrogen induction of a chronic state of scurvy resulting from in patients suffering from liver cirrhosis. therapy reduction of the daily vitamin-C intake to one-tenth the normal requirement. Evidence was presented that PHYSICAL METHODS IN MORBID ANATOMY chronic scurvy is associated with depolymerisation, and hence increased solubility, of the ground substance. Part Discussing the application to clinical pathology of electron microscopy C. WOLPERS (Germany) emphasised of this substance, therefore, was leached out of the the technical difficulties of this method and drew attenconnective tissue, entered the blood-stream, and was precipitated elsewhere in the form of amyloid which is tion to the favourable results obtained by the use of chemically closely related to the glycoproteins of the osmic acid as a fixative and electron " stain." He ground substance. In support of this hypothesis, Pirani concluded that the research-worker should adapt his reported the finding of a considerably raised serum- thoughts to the relations between cells and molecules applying, in particular, the structural researches of glycoprotein in his scorbutic animals. L. E. GLYNN, G. IjOEWl, and R. CoNSDEN reported the Astbury, Frey-Wyssling, and Svedburg. G. LELLI (Italy), whose paper was read by A. H. T. results of an investigation into the nature of fibrinoid. The fibrinoid material was obtained from subcutaneous RoBB-SMITH, had examined the connective tissues by means of the electron microscope in order to establish nodules in cases of rheumatic fever. After removal of whether disease processes affected collagen, ground water and fat soluble substances, the collagen was extracted by autoclaving and the residue estimated. In substance, or both. As a preliminary, tissues were treated with testis hyaluronidase, and sometimes also with trypsin. normal subcutaneous tissue this residue averaged 10%, The collagen fibrils were found to resist both enzymes. while with nodules the residue averaged 30%. MicroR. REED and W. T. ASTBURY described a study of chemical and paper-chromatographic analysis, after hydrolysis of this residue from nodules, revealed that some collagen diseases by electron microscopy. They showed that in man the basic pattern of collagen was elastin and fibrin together could not account for more the same at 3 and at 81 years of age. Elastic tissue was than about two-thirds of it. The remaining one-third shown to consist of non-striated fibres held together by consisted of protein and polysaccharide presumably in a cementing matrix. The appearances in senile elastosis, the form of a glycoprotein, of which the sugar moiety Ehlers-Danlos and Werner’s syndromes, scleroderma, constituted about 15%. The origin of this substance was and pseudoxanthoma elasticum were described; and of in of but the cells the nodules obscure, many paucity the adjective "pseudo-elasticum" was suggested for studied suggested that it arose from the blood-stream the last. No elastic tissue was present in senile elastosis, rather than as a local cellular product. of the connecand electron studies only degenerated collagen. X-ray microscopic BRANTE (Sweden) discussed the collagen tive tissues in various " collagen diseases " were presented in R. J. J. H. and T. W. BALL, KELLGREN, REED, changes gargoylism. He believed that there were two by ASTBURY. In the fibrinoid areas of nodules from cases types of material in the characteristic granular inclusions -one a lipoid consisting mainly of gangliosides, and the of rheumatoid arthritis little change was found in the other a water-soluble polysaccharide sulphuric-acid ester. in fibres from reduction themselves, apart collagen He regarded gargoylism Both might occur together. number, but there was a considerable accumulation of as a disturbance of fixation of polysaccharide to protein. non-fibrous granular material resistant to tryptic digestion. R. BARER illustrated the use of phase-contrast microX-ray diffraction diagrams of these areas were characterised by a diffuse ring which possibly indicated the scopy, especially in conjunction with polarised light. He also briefly discussed the application of interference presence of a polysaccharide. microscopy to cytological subjects and showed photoHISTOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF IRRADIATION OF NEOPLASMS graphs of and by the new Burch reflecting microscope, whose mirrors were ground to a maximum error of R. J. LuDFORD surveyed the radiation effects induced one-millionth of an inch. in animal tumours, including mitotic inhibition, the
production
GuNNAR
’
’
167 G. N. C. CRAWFORD and R. BARER had applied phasemicroscopy to the examination of the immediate effects of 5% and 10% formalin, osmic acid, 80% alcohol, and 5% acetic acid on snail amoebocytes and salamander spermatogonia. The addition of saline to the first three considerably reduced the amount of swelling and vacuolation artefact. Finally, W. S. HARTROFT and P. M. HARTROFT (Canada) spoke of the alterations in the juxta-glomerular apparatus produced by dietary means. The specific granules were demonstrated in Bouin-fixed rat kidneys by Bowie’s neutral stain (Biebrich-scarlet/cresyl-violet) followed by light green. A juxta-glomerular index could be calculated, and the highest index" (storage) appeared in low sodium diets.- The lowest index (secretion) was recorded in high sodium diets with additional deoxycortone acetate. The granules might represent either a blood-pressure-elevating hormone or an anti-pressor substance released in response to extrarenal pressor factors-probably the latter. ,
contrast
PERINATAL PATHOLOGY
At this session attention was focused mainly on respiratory disorders in the newborn. J. WERNE (U.S.A.) described his findings in 200 apparently healthy infants who died suddenly with no obvious cause of death, and in whom microscopy showed evidence of acute respiratory infection, sometimes limited to the larynx and trachea. Among the various lesions found was mural vascular oedema, which was a significant factor in the causation of death. He emphasised the importance of examining the mastoids, which commonly contained pus. D. A. SLADE thought that asphyxia was as common a cause of sudden unexpected death as infection ; but his remarks were based on only 30 cases, which, he admitted, did not G. R. have an adequate histological examination. OSBORN dealt with the " vernix membrane," which he gave as the cause of death in as many as 25% of 75 infants dying in the first 3 weeks. Clinically these cases may be misdiagnosed as pneumonia, but there is no pyrexia and the blood picture is normal. H. S. BAAR had seen 2 cases of MacMahon’s congenital alveolar dysplasia among 300 neonatal deaths, and considered that it was a genuine pathological entity, indistinguishable from the congested atelectatic lung without histological examination. J. E. MORISON found microscopic evidence of lung infection in 15% of 322 intrapartum stillbirths ; in 88% of these the placenta showed chorionitis, the incidence of which was directly proportional to the length of time that the membranes had been - ruptured, although about 5% of infections occurred through the intact membranes. In the subsequent discussion one speaker drew attention to the myocarditis found in some cases of sudden unexplained death. Doubt was cast on the nature of the vernix membrane by A. C. LENDRUM, who compared it with the membrane of rheumatic lungs, and by A. E. CLAIREAUX, who preferred the term " hyaline membrane " ; but G. R. OSBORN remained convinced of its origin from the liquor amnii. F. E. CAMPS mentioned a possible danger of artificial feeding, when a layer of fat may form in an unshaken bottle. J. E. MORISON was rather sceptical about congenital alveolar dysplasia. A. MACDONALD outlined the features of congenital toxoplasmosis, and gave some results of the serological tests used in Liverpool. A positive result in the mother means nothing ; 4% of 350 normal adults were positive. After accusing the pathologists of being too ready to diagnose infection in the newborn, J. -W. GERRARD showed that there was little to support his hypothesis that hypoglyc2emia was a factor in the causation of kernicterus in premature infants, unassociated with Rh iso-immunisation ; nor did the administration of glucose with a replacement transfusion prevent the development of the condition. "
"
KATERINA RHODES (West Indies) described the lesions in the liver caused by a low-protein diet in Jamaican children, as seen in biopsies taken from 50 cases. PATHOLOGY OF THE PULMONARY CIRCULATION
The injection of plastic materials of different colours into the bronchi and vessels by A. A. LIBOw (U.S.A.) showed anastomoses between the pulmonary and bronchial veins ; and when the former are obstructed blood can flow via the bronchial, mediastinal, and azygous routes. The venous anastomoses were greatest in bronchiectasis and emphysema. J. MCMICHAEL, using -cardiac catheterisation, found that in mitral stenosis the pulmonary arterial pressures range from normal to very high figures at rest, rising ’
on exercise. Vasoconstriction is probably responsible for this rise. In emphysema the reduction of capillary bed is not the fundamental cause of pulmonary hypertension ; but such loss is perhaps important during exercise, on account of the reduced expandability of the capillary bed. Attacks of bronchitis raise the pulmonary arterial pressure, which drops on recovery from the infection. Anoxia during the attacks may be a contributory but not the sole c--ause. R. KOURILSKY and M. MARCHAL (France) have devised a new technique-" cinedensigraphy." Pulsations in the lungs are recorded by means of X rays and radiosensitive cells. The method is of particular value in diagnosis of tumours, even in early stages. The Cardiff school have applied various techniques in the study of the effects of pneumoconiosis on the pulmonary circulation. J. GouGH and W. R. L. JAMES showed that pulmonary heart-disease was commonly associated with the massive lung fibrosis of Welsh coalworkers. This fibrosis alone or with associated emphysema caused high death-rate from heart-failure. A. L. WELLS injected radio-opaque material into pulmonary arteries and confirmed the reduction in blood-supply to areas of massive fibrosis. A. J. THOMAS found that in coalworkers the right ventricle is often heavier than the left. As a result of massive fibrosis the output of the right ventricle is at the lower limit of normal, differing from the high output in emphysema. C. V. HARRISON considered that chronic inflammation of the smaller bronchi is an important cause of pulmonary hypertension. Functional changes in the pulmonary arterioles play a major part in the pulmonary hypertension of bronchitis, emphysema, and mitral disease. It is not denied, however, that organic vascular obstruction is the main cause in such conditions as pneumoconiosis and carcinomatosis.
CHEMICAL PATHOLOGY RECENT ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMISTRY
R. M. ARCHIBALD (U.S.A.) speculated on the immediate horizons of biochemistry, with special reference to the shift in emphasis in enzyme chemistry from the isolation and characterisation of single units to the study of the dynamic equilibrium of multiple enzyme systems. He emphasised the limitations of many histochemical techniques now in vogue, and counselled caution in accepting too readily the glib interpretation of results obtained with them. Finally he discussed some of the newer research weapons, and in particular the group he showed some and resins ; exchange fascinating threedimensional spectrograms to illustrate possibilities in the accurate interpretation of spectrographic data from natural pigments. SERTJ-AF -PROTEINS SERUM-PROTEINS
N. H. MARTIN analysed the protein-flocculation tests in terms of their physicochemical characteristics. He suggested a rational" technique for using flocculation tests in batteries to gain greater insight into the and qualitative quantitative disturbance of the circulating "
of mitotic abnormalities and of degeneration, vascular effects, and increases in secretory activity and in keratinisation of some types of tumours. P. C. KOLLER emphasised the importance of stroma reactions for successful radiotherapy. A. GLUCKSMANN found that 92% of 77 radiocurable, but only ;L-2% of 248 radiocancers of the uterine cervix and oral cavity incurable, MORBID ANATOMY responded to radiation with well-marked increases in COLLAGEN DISEASES keratinisation. C. W. TAYLOR reported on serial biopsy findings in 286 cancers of the uterine cervix treated by the GuNNAR TEILUM (Denmark) discussed the interaction Paris method of radium therapy. The cellular com. and antagonism of cortisone and ascorbic acid with regard position of pre-radiation and post-radiation biopsies to their effects on mesenchymal tissue. He found that were compared, and the interpretation of the changes the experimental amyloidosis produced in mice by strikingly similar to that obtained from cell-counts repeated injections of sodium caseinate was prevented was made on the same material at the Strangeways Laboraor reduced by vitamin C, and considerably enhanced by tory, Cambridge. He concluded that it is possible in cortisone. The action of these substances, however, did routine laboratories to assess histologically the radiation be a one on not appear to direct the intercellular ground effects on individual tumours. C. P. CHERRY has of but mediated via the cells the reticulosubstance, found that of the uterine cervix do not adenocarcinomas endothelial system and the plasma cells. The developreact to radiation as quickly as do squamous-cell tumours, ment of amyloidosis was always preceded by the appearand do not undergo an irreversible differentiation though ance of pyroninophilia in these cells. This pyroninophilia some show marked increases in secretory activity. G. was increased by ascorbic acid and greatly reduced by LUMB has observed a marked correlation between dosage cortisone. He therefore recognised three phases in radiation effects induced in breast cancers. Doses mesenchymal disorders : (1) an active pyroninophilic and below 2000 r failed to produce pronounced changes, phase ; (2) an inactive phase of healing; and (3) a while doses between 3000 and 8000 r eliminated, in some or amyloid phase perverted, negative, preamyloid instances, the tumour entirely. P. R. REZEK (U.S.A.) associated with changes of the serum proteins. C. L. PIRANI (U.S.A.) also described an experimental reported squamous metaplasia of the normal prostate, as form of amyloidosis produced in guineapigs by the well as of primary and secondary deposits of prostate cancers, after oestrogen therapy, and without oestrogen induction of a chronic state of scurvy resulting from in patients suffering from liver cirrhosis. therapy reduction of the daily vitamin-C intake to one-tenth the normal requirement. Evidence was presented that PHYSICAL METHODS IN MORBID ANATOMY chronic scurvy is associated with depolymerisation, and hence increased solubility, of the ground substance. Part Discussing the application to clinical pathology of electron microscopy C. WOLPERS (Germany) emphasised of this substance, therefore, was leached out of the the technical difficulties of this method and drew attenconnective tissue, entered the blood-stream, and was precipitated elsewhere in the form of amyloid which is tion to the favourable results obtained by the use of chemically closely related to the glycoproteins of the osmic acid as a fixative and electron " stain." He ground substance. In support of this hypothesis, Pirani concluded that the research-worker should adapt his reported the finding of a considerably raised serum- thoughts to the relations between cells and molecules applying, in particular, the structural researches of glycoprotein in his scorbutic animals. L. E. GLYNN, G. IjOEWl, and R. CoNSDEN reported the Astbury, Frey-Wyssling, and Svedburg. G. LELLI (Italy), whose paper was read by A. H. T. results of an investigation into the nature of fibrinoid. The fibrinoid material was obtained from subcutaneous RoBB-SMITH, had examined the connective tissues by means of the electron microscope in order to establish nodules in cases of rheumatic fever. After removal of whether disease processes affected collagen, ground water and fat soluble substances, the collagen was extracted by autoclaving and the residue estimated. In substance, or both. As a preliminary, tissues were treated with testis hyaluronidase, and sometimes also with trypsin. normal subcutaneous tissue this residue averaged 10%, The collagen fibrils were found to resist both enzymes. while with nodules the residue averaged 30%. MicroR. REED and W. T. ASTBURY described a study of chemical and paper-chromatographic analysis, after hydrolysis of this residue from nodules, revealed that some collagen diseases by electron microscopy. They showed that in man the basic pattern of collagen was elastin and fibrin together could not account for more the same at 3 and at 81 years of age. Elastic tissue was than about two-thirds of it. The remaining one-third shown to consist of non-striated fibres held together by consisted of protein and polysaccharide presumably in a cementing matrix. The appearances in senile elastosis, the form of a glycoprotein, of which the sugar moiety Ehlers-Danlos and Werner’s syndromes, scleroderma, constituted about 15%. The origin of this substance was and pseudoxanthoma elasticum were described; and of in of but the cells the nodules obscure, many paucity the adjective "pseudo-elasticum" was suggested for studied suggested that it arose from the blood-stream the last. No elastic tissue was present in senile elastosis, rather than as a local cellular product. of the connecand electron studies only degenerated collagen. X-ray microscopic BRANTE (Sweden) discussed the collagen tive tissues in various " collagen diseases " were presented in R. J. J. H. and T. W. BALL, KELLGREN, REED, changes gargoylism. He believed that there were two by ASTBURY. In the fibrinoid areas of nodules from cases types of material in the characteristic granular inclusions -one a lipoid consisting mainly of gangliosides, and the of rheumatoid arthritis little change was found in the other a water-soluble polysaccharide sulphuric-acid ester. in fibres from reduction themselves, apart collagen He regarded gargoylism Both might occur together. number, but there was a considerable accumulation of as a disturbance of fixation of polysaccharide to protein. non-fibrous granular material resistant to tryptic digestion. R. BARER illustrated the use of phase-contrast microX-ray diffraction diagrams of these areas were characterised by a diffuse ring which possibly indicated the scopy, especially in conjunction with polarised light. He also briefly discussed the application of interference presence of a polysaccharide. microscopy to cytological subjects and showed photoHISTOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF IRRADIATION OF NEOPLASMS graphs of and by the new Burch reflecting microscope, whose mirrors were ground to a maximum error of R. J. LuDFORD surveyed the radiation effects induced one-millionth of an inch. in animal tumours, including mitotic inhibition, the
production
GuNNAR
’
’
167 G. N. C. CRAWFORD and R. BARER had applied phasemicroscopy to the examination of the immediate effects of 5% and 10% formalin, osmic acid, 80% alcohol, and 5% acetic acid on snail amoebocytes and salamander spermatogonia. The addition of saline to the first three considerably reduced the amount of swelling and vacuolation artefact. Finally, W. S. HARTROFT and P. M. HARTROFT (Canada) spoke of the alterations in the juxta-glomerular apparatus produced by dietary means. The specific granules were demonstrated in Bouin-fixed rat kidneys by Bowie’s neutral stain (Biebrich-scarlet/cresyl-violet) followed by light green. A juxta-glomerular index could be calculated, and the highest index" (storage) appeared in low sodium diets.- The lowest index (secretion) was recorded in high sodium diets with additional deoxycortone acetate. The granules might represent either a blood-pressure-elevating hormone or an anti-pressor substance released in response to extrarenal pressor factors-probably the latter. ,
contrast
PERINATAL PATHOLOGY
At this session attention was focused mainly on respiratory disorders in the newborn. J. WERNE (U.S.A.) described his findings in 200 apparently healthy infants who died suddenly with no obvious cause of death, and in whom microscopy showed evidence of acute respiratory infection, sometimes limited to the larynx and trachea. Among the various lesions found was mural vascular oedema, which was a significant factor in the causation of death. He emphasised the importance of examining the mastoids, which commonly contained pus. D. A. SLADE thought that asphyxia was as common a cause of sudden unexpected death as infection ; but his remarks were based on only 30 cases, which, he admitted, did not G. R. have an adequate histological examination. OSBORN dealt with the " vernix membrane," which he gave as the cause of death in as many as 25% of 75 infants dying in the first 3 weeks. Clinically these cases may be misdiagnosed as pneumonia, but there is no pyrexia and the blood picture is normal. H. S. BAAR had seen 2 cases of MacMahon’s congenital alveolar dysplasia among 300 neonatal deaths, and considered that it was a genuine pathological entity, indistinguishable from the congested atelectatic lung without histological examination. J. E. MORISON found microscopic evidence of lung infection in 15% of 322 intrapartum stillbirths ; in 88% of these the placenta showed chorionitis, the incidence of which was directly proportional to the length of time that the membranes had been - ruptured, although about 5% of infections occurred through the intact membranes. In the subsequent discussion one speaker drew attention to the myocarditis found in some cases of sudden unexplained death. Doubt was cast on the nature of the vernix membrane by A. C. LENDRUM, who compared it with the membrane of rheumatic lungs, and by A. E. CLAIREAUX, who preferred the term " hyaline membrane " ; but G. R. OSBORN remained convinced of its origin from the liquor amnii. F. E. CAMPS mentioned a possible danger of artificial feeding, when a layer of fat may form in an unshaken bottle. J. E. MORISON was rather sceptical about congenital alveolar dysplasia. A. MACDONALD outlined the features of congenital toxoplasmosis, and gave some results of the serological tests used in Liverpool. A positive result in the mother means nothing ; 4% of 350 normal adults were positive. After accusing the pathologists of being too ready to diagnose infection in the newborn, J. -W. GERRARD showed that there was little to support his hypothesis that hypoglyc2emia was a factor in the causation of kernicterus in premature infants, unassociated with Rh iso-immunisation ; nor did the administration of glucose with a replacement transfusion prevent the development of the condition. "
"
KATERINA RHODES (West Indies) described the lesions in the liver caused by a low-protein diet in Jamaican children, as seen in biopsies taken from 50 cases. PATHOLOGY OF THE PULMONARY CIRCULATION
The injection of plastic materials of different colours into the bronchi and vessels by A. A. LIBOw (U.S.A.) showed anastomoses between the pulmonary and bronchial veins ; and when the former are obstructed blood can flow via the bronchial, mediastinal, and azygous routes. The venous anastomoses were greatest in bronchiectasis and emphysema. J. MCMICHAEL, using -cardiac catheterisation, found that in mitral stenosis the pulmonary arterial pressures range from normal to very high figures at rest, rising ’
on exercise. Vasoconstriction is probably responsible for this rise. In emphysema the reduction of capillary bed is not the fundamental cause of pulmonary hypertension ; but such loss is perhaps important during exercise, on account of the reduced expandability of the capillary bed. Attacks of bronchitis raise the pulmonary arterial pressure, which drops on recovery from the infection. Anoxia during the attacks may be a contributory but not the sole c--ause. R. KOURILSKY and M. MARCHAL (France) have devised a new technique-" cinedensigraphy." Pulsations in the lungs are recorded by means of X rays and radiosensitive cells. The method is of particular value in diagnosis of tumours, even in early stages. The Cardiff school have applied various techniques in the study of the effects of pneumoconiosis on the pulmonary circulation. J. GouGH and W. R. L. JAMES showed that pulmonary heart-disease was commonly associated with the massive lung fibrosis of Welsh coalworkers. This fibrosis alone or with associated emphysema caused high death-rate from heart-failure. A. L. WELLS injected radio-opaque material into pulmonary arteries and confirmed the reduction in blood-supply to areas of massive fibrosis. A. J. THOMAS found that in coalworkers the right ventricle is often heavier than the left. As a result of massive fibrosis the output of the right ventricle is at the lower limit of normal, differing from the high output in emphysema. C. V. HARRISON considered that chronic inflammation of the smaller bronchi is an important cause of pulmonary hypertension. Functional changes in the pulmonary arterioles play a major part in the pulmonary hypertension of bronchitis, emphysema, and mitral disease. It is not denied, however, that organic vascular obstruction is the main cause in such conditions as pneumoconiosis and carcinomatosis.
CHEMICAL PATHOLOGY RECENT ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMISTRY
R. M. ARCHIBALD (U.S.A.) speculated on the immediate horizons of biochemistry, with special reference to the shift in emphasis in enzyme chemistry from the isolation and characterisation of single units to the study of the dynamic equilibrium of multiple enzyme systems. He emphasised the limitations of many histochemical techniques now in vogue, and counselled caution in accepting too readily the glib interpretation of results obtained with them. Finally he discussed some of the newer research weapons, and in particular the group he showed some and resins ; exchange fascinating threedimensional spectrograms to illustrate possibilities in the accurate interpretation of spectrographic data from natural pigments. SERTJ-AF -PROTEINS SERUM-PROTEINS
N. H. MARTIN analysed the protein-flocculation tests in terms of their physicochemical characteristics. He suggested a rational" technique for using flocculation tests in batteries to gain greater insight into the and qualitative quantitative disturbance of the circulating "