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caught in a cicatrix or projection of callns, itsdeformity and a failure of the spread of the opaquesubstance can be demonstrated. After neurolysis,recovery of the nerve is shown by the graduallyincreasing length of the shadow in the X ray.Clinically, this change in the radiological picturesoccurs pari passu with the recovery of nerve

function. Disturbance of central spread has been themain feature of nerve lesions, as demonstrated in

radiograms taken before and after operations on theulnar, radial, and peroneal nerves. Perineuritis,according to Saito, produces a knotty defect in theshadow. Some interesting pictures were obtained inthe case of multiple neuromata, showing the varyingrelation of the tumours to the nerve trunks-arelation that was subsequently verified by operation.The only objection to the use of thorotrast seems tobe the extreme slowness of its absorption ; in fact,there seems no proof that it is finally absorbed fromthe substance of the nerve. It appears, however, tobe clinically inert, and its presence gives rise neitherto pain nor paresis along the area of nerve distribution

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or at the site of injection.MUSIC AND MEDICINE

THE time has come when the profession as a whole,we feel, might devote more study to music ; for itseffect upon our patients, for both good and evil, is

very potent. The use of music was encouraged byphysicians of classical times and in the Middle Ageson account of its beneficial action upon mind and

body ; this subject was studied in considerable detailsome years ago by Dr. Agnes Savill in an interestingbook, " Music, Health and Character." As a professionwe should endeavour, for the sake of the health ofthe people, to ensure that the original object of the"alternative programme " scheme of the B.B.C. isadhered to-namely, that on one of the programmesgood music should always be obtainable, so that ourpatients may be soothed towards the evening hours.An unpretentious little volume 1 of Dr. Keith Barryis written with the aim of being a guide to musicalunderstanding. It is addressed to those who " listenin " and switch off when good music is on the air,believing they cannot understand it. Simple explana-tions are given concerning the different instrumentsof the military band, chamber music, and the modernorchestra ; the meaning of the nomenclature used inmusical compositions is dealt with briefly : such as

adagio, andante, &c. ; the elements of the sonata,concerto, and symphony ; and the ignorant are toldhow to listen in order to obtain the most pleasure and’benefit. The book reads as if it were a series oflectures ; its matter could with advantage be drawntogether and presented more systematically ; but its

very simplicity and brevity may induce those whobelieve they dislike good music to listen .until theirprejudices are conquered.

SUPPLY OF INTERNATIONAL VITAMIN

STANDARDS

WE are asked to announce that the internationalstandards for vitamins A, Bl, C, and D, to whichreference was made in a leading article last week, arenow available for issue to laboratories, institutions,and research workers in Great Britain and NorthernIreland. These standards are kept at the NationalInstitute for Medical Research, London, which actsfor this purpose as central laboratory on behalfof the Health Organisation of the League of Nations.The required quantities of each of the vitamin

1 Music and the Listener. By Keith BarrY, M.B., Ch.M.Melbourne : Robertson and Mulling Ltd. 1934. Pp.126. 2s. 6d.

standards are now being scut to national centrallaboratories for subsequent local distribution incountries abroad. The National Institute for MedicalResearch will continue to supply the internationalvitamin standards for use in Great Britain andNorthern Ireland The standards for the vitaminsBI and D remain unchanged and their supply at

regular half-yearly intervals will be continued as

before. The standard for vitamin A has been changed,a pure specimen of (3-carotene having been adoptedin place of the impure preparation of carotene hithertoemployed. The unit of vitamin A remains unchanged,though it is now defined as the vitamin-A activitycontained in 0’6 microgramme of pure &bgr;-carotene.In accordance with the recommendations of theSecond International Conference on Vitamin Stan-dardisation the (3-carotene is issued in the form of a

solution in oil, of which 1 gramme contains 500International Units. The quantity of this standardsolution supplied to each applicant is approximately5 grammes, and, on account of the small quantityavailable, it can be supplied only at yearly intervals,and not half-yearly as formerly. It is suggested,therefore, that care and economv should be exercisedin its use and that subsidiary laboratory standards,exactly assayed in terms of the international standard,should be prepared for routine work. l-Ascorbicacid has been adopted as the international standardfor vitamin C, the unit of activity being defined asthe vitamin-C activity contained in 0’05 milligrammeof pure l-ascorbic acid. A quantity of approximately550 milligrammes will be supplied to all laboratories,institutions, and research workers in Great Britainand Northern Ireland who require it.

It is suggested that those laboratories, institutions,and research workers in Great Britain and NorthernIreland who do not receive the standards at present.and who desire to receive any or all of them, willapply to the Director of the Department of BiologicalStandards, The National Institute for MedicalResearch, Hampstead, London, N.W.3.

CENTENARY OF ST. MARK’S HOSPITAL

THE Lord Mayor of London, Sir Stephen Killik,presided on March 2l8t at the 99th annual meeting ofthe governors and supporters of St. :B1ark’s Hospital.City-road. His lordship gave a brief sketch of thedevelopment of the hospital from small beginningsuntil, at the dawn of its lOOth year, it had developedinto a centre for treatment of wide reputation. This,he said, justified the authorities of the hospital inappealing for 60,000 needed to meet the heavydemands now made upon its services. He recalled tothe audience that on St. Mark’s Day, April 25th, thecentenary banquet, in support of the funds of the

hospital, would be held at the Mansion House whenhe would have the pleasure of presiding-a well-deserved compliment to a great charity which had itsorigin in the City within a few yards of the centre.Contemporary with the centenary celebrations the

medical committee of St. Mark’s Hospital haveselected and produced in a sumptuous volume1 a seriesof papers written by surgeons to the hospital andcontributed to medical literature. These papers rangeover a period commensurate with the existence of theinstitution and form a running commentary on theoperative side of proctology for a century. The firstessay was contributed by Frederick Salmon, thefounder of the hospital, to THE LANCET in 1831, twoyears before the hospital existed; he was at that timesenior surgeon to the Aldersgate General Dispensary,and his paper was an excellent plea for intensive1 Collected Papers of St. Mark’s Hospital, London, 1835-1935.