THE NOBEL PRIZEMEN.

989 since the purchase of fruit in this country during the winter and spring months was almost impossible. Now there is a plentiful supply of apples, oranges, and tomatoes, not to mention other varieties, all the year round. The prices are often high, it is true, but this is in part owing to wastage occurring during storing and handling. It has been one of the tasks of the Board to investigate the causes of this wastage, an inquiry which has involved a study of the fundamental biological processes that occur in fruit during the various stages of its career. The conception of an apple (for instance) as a living structure that is continually respiring and producing measurable quantities of heat has been borne in mind; it has been shown that the apple, after passing through the phase of immaturity, reaches a period which has been called the climacteric, during which there is a marked increase in the rate of respiration, and an alteration in the respiratory quotient which are apparently associated with the production of those chemical substances which confer upon the fmit its characteristic flavour and aroma. This period is followed sooner or later by senescence, which must terminate the useful life of the apple as far as consumption by man is concerned. It is obviously desirable that the factors which control the time of appearance of the climacteric and the subsequent length of the useful life of the fruit should be determined, and with this end in view a large amount of work has been carried out on the influence of the state of maturity at the time of picking, and the temperature, humidity, and .composition of the surrounding atmosphere during

Prof. CnRIsTIAAN EIJKMAN of Utrecht who, a quarter of a century ago, made quite clear the connexion of beri-beri with diet through his convincing experiments with whole and decorticated rice in relation to the polyneuritis of birds. EIJKMAN, too, has not been a man of one idea. He has had a long career of fruitful activity in bacteriology, has devised good practical methods of growing the colon bacillus, and has involved himself in the philosophy of the theory of disinfection. Though " vitamins " is the obvious word which occurs to one’s mind on reading the announcement in the papers, it is well to reflect how the many-sidedness of both men has given substance and comprehensiveness to their specialised investigations. And perhaps some of those who work at vitamins now would make better progress if they were not so exclusive in their interests.

Annotations. "Ne quid nimis."

PARTNERSHIP IN INDUSTRIAL HEALTH. BRIEF account appears in another column of a social meeting in connexion with the Industrial Health Education Society. At the luncheon given by Lord Melchett to a representative group of persons directly or indirectly interested in the objects of the Society the need for explaining in detail what had been done and what was being done did not arise because so in the room were familiar with what might have many storage. But it is probable that such knowledge been said. This work has not yet been completed, and is being is not at all general or shared by many of the medical carried on side by side with other important investiprofession, who may not know what is the actual work gations concerning the influence of various types of of the Industrial Health Education Society. This fungal invasion on the metabolic processes of the Society, first, is the only voluntary society concerned apple. It is clear that results of vital importance with occupational disease, and its work is directed have already been obtained by such investigation, towards securing one great object-namely, the inforand we may confidently look forward to a time in the mation of industrial workers as to the diseases and near future when our supplies of food will be improved disabilities to which they in their particular trade in regard both to quality and variety, and one may are liable, so that, at any rate during working hours, certain may be avoided. The instruction is given well hope, lowered in price as the result of the in the perils form of health talks by medical men and Food Board. activities of the Investigation dental surgeons, and on the invitation of the workers themselves-that is to say, the subjects of the health talks are chosen by the workers and the occasions for them are determined by the workers, the meetings THE NOBEL PRIZEMEN. organised in their own clubs and canteens. EVERYONE will be glad that a Nobel prize-at any In this way the presence is secured of workers who rate, half of one-has been awarded to Prof. Sir certainly would not usually assist at lectures on FREDERICK GOWLAND HoPKINS, if only because it health where general questions of hygiene, environnutrition, and welfare were to be discussed. .gives us an opportunity of expressing our affectionate ment, Yet these are the men who are deeply interested in a admiration of what he has done, and what he has been, practical way in the incidence of occupational disease and is, in English biochemistry. His laboratory and accidents, and through the medium of the Society - career has been spattered with the results of his they are asking for instruction along definite lines, and peculiar flair for seeing where the explanations of they obtain it as much from the results of the crossthings lie ; the pigments of white butterflies and a examination to which they are urged to submit the method of estimating uric acid are in the early years, lecturer as from any set delivery of his. The fact the efficacy of milk as a food and glutathione (very that the initiative comes from the workers is of great for the knowledge that the employers frankly qualified the other day) are more mature importance, are not at the back of the lecturer removes a suspicion products. And in between he has been the activating which has had malign influence in the United States, inspiration of a great number of young people. Their where the scientific management associated with the experience we envy, and it is not surprising that they name of Frederick W. Taylor came to be regarded flock so abundantly to the " Museum Hoppianum " as a new form of oppression under the eponym of in Tennis Court-road in Cambridge. HOPKINS did " Taylorism." The statistics which have appeared in -not, of course, "discover" vitamins; it is very the United States from many quarters, illustrating the doubtful, indeed, whether anyone really " discovers " increased efficiency of operatives who are maintained during their work in good health, have been collated anything in the ordinary sense ; they put links into a with equally interesting figures as to the increased chain. But the link which HopKiNS put into the from factories where sanitary environment is output process of finding out about the fat-soluble vitamins The result has been that the cynical provided. was important, and it came just at the right time, and feeling has often been expressed across the Atlantic it is, we suppose, with this particular activity of his that the interest shown by employers in the hygienic in mind that the Nobel electors have joined with him conditions of the workshop may have its inspiration A

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