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in academic research and in practice. His associates, a largehost over the years, held him in affection and the greatestrespect: small in stature, modest and unassuming by nature,he set up and maintained the largest and perhaps the mostimportant rheumatological post in the world by virtue of hisvision, conscientiousness, and seemingly inexhaustible energy.Of these qualities, much could be said; but perhaps what.ople will remember of Joe Bunim-his patients, his

illeagues, and the young folk from all over the world who camei<j work with him-were his kindness, his concern for the smalldetails of their lives, and the extent to which he would engagehimself on their behalf. He initiated a remarkable institutionand gave vigour, structure, and direction to it. Its presentposition is his memorial, and its future course will surelyjustify his endeavour."

PETER K. OLITSKYM.D. Cornell

Dr. Peter K. Olitsky, an eminent American virologist,died on July 20 at the age of 76. He was brought to theRockefeller Institute by the late Simon Flexner in 1917as a pathologist and microbiologist, and he spent the next35 years there engaged in virus research. -

C. H. A. writes:" Olitsky’s chief interest was in neurotropic virus diseases,

particularly those carried by mosquitoes. He helped to laythe foundation of our knowledge of the equine encephalitisviruses and of St. Louis encephalitis, all of them primarilyinfections of birds, not infrequently transmitted to man. Heelucidated their pathogenesis and the possibilities of immuni-sation against them. Valuable, too, was the work he did on anumber of virus infections of other species-foot-and-mouthdisease, vesicular stomatitis, epidemic tremor of chicks, andencephalomyelitis of mice: also that on the demyelinatingencephalitis which follows a number of virus infections in man." Some excitement was caused when, with F. Gates, he

described a filter-passing anaerobic bacillus as the probablecause of influenza: but this proved not to be the right answer.It was perhaps disappointing for him that no really big dis-covery will be associated with his name. Nevertheless thepainstaking work and the many solid published contributionsof this quiet, unassuming man assure for him an importantplace in the history of virology."

AppointmentsAFNAN, ABBAS, M.D. Teheran, D.L.O., D.P.H.: assistant M.o., Norfolk, and

M.o.H. Thetford, Swaffham, and Wayland.BOYD, W. D., M.B. Edin., M.R.C.P.E., D.P.M.: consultant psychiatrist, East

Lothian, based on Herdmanflat Hospital, Haddington.CARSWELL, JAMES, M.D. Glasg., D.P.H., D.T.M. & H.: medical superintendent,

Scottish Borders hospital group.HUNT, F. T., M.B. Lond., D.P.H., D.I.H : deputy M.o.H. and deputy principal

school M.o., Berkshire.McKNIGHT, R. F., M.R.C.S., D.T.M. & H., D.P.H.: assistant M.O.H. and school

M.o., Northamptonshire.MEADOWS, J. G., M.B. Brist., D.P.H.: senior assistant M.O.H., Dorset, and

M.O.H., Bridport, Lyme Regis, and Beaminster.ROBERTS, J. R., M.D. Lpool, M.R.C.P. : consultant paediatrician. United

Liverpool Hospitals.STEWART HUNTER, G., M.B. Lpool, M.R.C.O.G. : consultant in obstetrics and

gynaecology, Clwyd and Deeside hospital group.Sheffield Regional Hospital Board:BADHAM, N. J., M.B. Lond., F.R.C.S. : consultant E.N.T. surgeon, Leicester

area.

BLAKE, JOHN, M.B., B.SC. Lond., D.P.M.: senior assistant psychiatrist,Balderton Hospital, near Newark.

BREWARD, A. D., M.B. Birm., F.F.A. R.C.S.: consultant anaesthetist, Grimsbyhospital group.

DUFF, R. S., M.D. Glasg., M.R.C.P.: consultant physician (with interest in

cardiology), Nottingham area.SKEY, HAROLD, M.A., B.M. Oxon, D.P.M. : consultant psychiatrist,Saxondale Hospital, Radcliffe-on-Trent.

SHRIVASTAVA, B. D., M.B. Agra, D.o.: assistant ophthalmologist (s.H.M.o.),Boston hospital group.

Royal Air Force Medical Service:BRIGHT, E. B., A.F.C., M.B. Aberd., D.T.M. & H., group-captain: deputy

director, aviation medicine, on the D.G.M.S.’s staff.RICHARDSON, M. 0., B.A., M.R.C.S., D.P.H., group-captain: c.o., Medical

Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court, Surrey.THORBURN, W. B., M.B. Edin., D.P.H., D.I.H., group-captain: c.o., Institute

of Aviation Medicine, Farnborough, Hants.

Notes and News

HOSPITAL PHARMACISTS

THE following is the text of a letter sent by the Ministerof Health on Aug. 13 to Mr. Martin Maddan, M.P., who hadasked him to comment on recent reports in the Press abouthospital pharmacists:

"

I am, of course, aware that there are shortages especially incentral London, and that the difficulties which have previouslyoccurred during the summer holidays are more serious this year. But,of course, this does not mean that patients are being denied themedicines they need, though in some cases they are having to go toretail chemists to have them dispensed instead of to hospitalpharmacies.

" It has been suggested that recruitment is falling. The mostrecent figures show that the contrary is the case. Numbers of hospitalpharmacists (in whole-time equivalents) have gone up in the last10 years-from 1954 to September, 1963, the last year for which wehave figures-from 1237 to 1478 and, with one exception, there hasbeen a steady increase in recent years. In the same period the numberof dispensing assistants (in whole-time equivalents) has risen from789 to 1203.

" It seems to have been overlooked that pharmacists’ salaries weresettled by the Industrial Court as recently as last February and inreaching their decision they took into account both the salaries ofpharmacists in retail pharmacy and elsewhere, and also numbers ofhospital pharmacists.

" I see it is reported in the Press that the Staff Side may be con-sidering a new claim. If a new claim is submitted I am sure thatthe Whitley Council will take account of the problems of recruit-ment."

HOSPITAL BUILDING

THE Ministry of Health’s sixth progress report 1 brings thefigures for hospital building up to March, 1964. At March 31,193 schemes, each costing over E100,000, and 29 schemes, eachcosting over El million, were in progress. The total work inprogress was to the value of n25,634,000. In the six monthsschemes to the value of over E24 million were completed, and1877 beds were provided.

CHAIR FOR GERIATRIC WARDS

Dr. A. E. R. CAMPBELL writes:" The chair illustrated here was developed in the geriatric

department of Mearnskirk Hospital, Glasgow. The patientsseem to like a low chair for comfort; the present high chairsused by incapacitated patients tend to be uncomfortable after atime. Several modifications were proposed, such as increasingthe height of the arms and allowing the patient to climb upthem, or decreasing the height and forming a projection, thusallowing a better grip. All present modifications depend on thepatient pushing themselves forward. We noticed that patientswho could not rise out of a chair properly were unable to push

their centre of grav-

ity forward suffi-

ciently to let thembalance on their two

feet, with the resultthat they strainedand eventually fellback exhausted intoa low chair. Thearms of an ordinarylow chair were thenextended forward,but this was foundto be insufficientunless the chair wassteadied. A sole

plate was eventuallyadded across thefoot of the exten-

sions, and this over-came all difficulties.

1. Hospital Building in England and Wales. Progress Report 6. H.M.Stationery Office. 1964. Pp. 59. &pound;1.