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climate of the coast was comparable with that in theAlps, it had not the disadvantage of increasing depthand rate of respiration and of pulse-rate that weresometimes associated with high altitudes. Moreover,the important question of diet was much more satis-factorily arranged at home where plenty of freshmilk and vegetables were available. There was acertain robust type of consumptive, capable of rapidreaction, whose progress could be expedited bywintering in Switzerland, but the large majority madejust as good if not better progress at sanatoria at home.Dr. Morland illustrated his thesis by graphs, oneshowing that the mortality rate from phthisis wasappreciably less in countries bordering on the NorthSea than elsewhere on the continent, and anotherthat the gain in weight showed less seasonable varia-tion in England than abroad. As regards seekersafter health in general, Dr. Morland considered thatone of the chief factors inducing people to go abroadwas the irritating restrictions of D.O.R.A. at homeresorts.

Dr. VALENTINE BLAKE (Great Yarmouth), presidentof the Norfolk and Norwich Medico-ChirurgicalSociety, presided at the afternoon session held atCromer.

Climatic Factors in Treatment

Dr. FORTESCUE Fox (London) opened a discussionon " Climatic and allied factors in the incidence andtreatment of disease, with special reference to thecoast of East Anglia." He said that the invigoratingclimate of the coast, due to a remarkable combinationof warm sunshine and cool air-currents, was in hisopinion a great national asset. Too little attentionhad been paid in the past to the study of climate, andhe pleaded for systematised observation and thecollection of data by medical men practising in thecoastal resorts, so that the matter could be placed ona more scientific basis.

Dr. S. H. LONG (Norwich) referred to the Norfolkand Norwich Hospital’s convalescent home at Cromer,and said that over a period of 25 years the rapidityand degree of improvement of the patients sent to thecoast had been remarkable ; the home was in constantuse except for a period of six weeks in the winter.

Dr. W. J. PEARSON (London) also stressed theimmediate nature of the response shown by thedebilitated to the tonic effects of the Norfolk climate.While it was true that in adults certain diseases eitherin themselves called for sedative treatment or resultedin so much pathological change as to render theirvictims incapable of reaction, this was rarely if everthe case in children. It followed that if the coast wastoo stimulating for adults in some circumstances, forchildren no better climate could be found.

Mr. L. C. W. BONACINA, F.R.Met.S., said there wasa great deal of public misconception about the coast,particularly as regards its winter climate, owing to thefalse association of East coast with East winds. TheNorfolk coast got no larger share of East winds thanthe country generally, for they blew with equalfrequency elsewhere ; neither was the direction of thewind the deciding factor in its pleasantness or thereverse. The temperature of a wind approachingEngland from the continent of Europe might beraised ten degrees by its passage across the Channelor the North Sea. On the contrary, a south-westwind reaching the East coast across a snowclad

England might be distinctly colder. Taking the yearround, wind, sunshine and vapour-pressure-theclimatic factors that mattered most for health-were

ideally blended on the coast of Norfolk.Among the other speakers in the morning or after-

noon were Sir Holburt Waring, Prof. Langdon Brown,

Sir Stanley Woodwark, Drs. Leonard Findlay, HowardHumphris, M. B. Ray and J. B. Alexander, of London,and a number of Norfolk practitioners. The discus-sions were remarkable for their frankness and unani.

mity, especially regarding the contra-indications ofthe coast. As might be expected, these are illnessesof a type which at home would be treated on sedativelines, such as borderline mental cases, asthmatics ofthe type in whom the predominant factor is probablynervous, sufferers from migraine and epilepsy, thosewith hyperarterial tension, and elderly bronchiticswith cardiac failure.The members of the conference were received by

the vice-chairman of the Cromer Urban DistrictCouncil on the evening of their arrival, and entertainedat dinner on Saturday evening, when Lord Mestonwas the principal guest. They were also entertainedby the Sheringham Urban District Council to luncheonon Saturday, while Sunday was devoted to motorexcursions along the coast.

THE SERVICESROYAL NAVAL MEDICAL SERVICE

Surg. Rear Admiral R. W. B. Hall, C.B., O.B.E., hastaken up his duties as Director-General of the MedicalDepartment of the Navy in succession to Sir ReginaldSt. G. S. Bond, K.C.B.The following appointments have been notified:-Surg. Comdr. A. W. Gunn to Sussex on recommg.Surg. Lts. J. G. Slimon to Vernon; ; D. D. Steele.

Perkins to Gnat A. D. Hepburn to Victory, for R.N.B. ;S. H. R. Price to Victory for R.N.B., Portsmouth, and toExeter ; H. E. B. Curjel to Drake for R.N.B., Devonport ;H. A. Clarke to Victory for R.N.B., Portsmouth ; andF. H. Ward to Sussex on recommg.

Surg. Lt. (Short Service) C. D. D. de Labillieretransferred to Permanent List.

ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS.

Capt. D. K. Weston relinquishes his comrnn.Short service commission.-The undermentioned to be

Lts. on Prob.: W. M. E. Anderson, H. B. Wright, J. Boyle,R. H. Foster, J. S. Ruddell, A. G. D. Whyte (fromR.A.M.C., T.A., Supern, for serv. with the O.T.C.), A. L.Pennefather, C. G. O’Driscoll, D. T. Swift, F. E. Buckland,A. MacLennan, J. H. J. Crosse, J. Morgan, R. A. Stephen,E. H. P. Lassen, R. S. Vine, 1. Buchanan, J. E. Jameson,M. W. Allen, W. T. Bermingham, and K. H. Clark.The undermentioned Lts. on prob. are seed. : A. G. D.

Whyte, C. G. O’Driscoll, A. MacLennan, J. Morgan,R. A. Stephen, K. H. Clark, and M. J. Horgan.

ARMY RESERVE OF OFFICERS

C. M. Fraser to be Lt.TERRITORIAL ARMY

Capt. A. H. G. Down resigns his commn.Lts. L. F. Richmond and N. H. Leslie to be Capts.D. S. Anderson (late Offr. Cadet, St. Andrews Univ.

Contgt., Sen. Div., O.T.C.) and A. D. Forgie to be Lts.The King has conferred the Efficiency Decoration upon

Maj. R. J. Bruce.TERRITORIAL ARMY RESERVE OF OFFICERS

Lt.-Col. and Bt.-Col. J. W. Keay, Lt.-Col. J. H. Stephenand Maj. J. A. Morris, having attained the age limitretire and retain their rank, with permission to wearthe prescribed uniform.

INDIAN MEDICAL SERVICE

Majs. to be Lt.-Cols. : B. Z. Shah, V. R. Mirajkar,A. J. D’Souza, B. C. Ashton, M. M. Khan, E. R. Daboo,and B. G. Mallya.

Capts. to be Majs. : F. R. W. K. Allen, M. Taylor, andW. Lawie.

Temp Lts. to be temp Capts. : S. S. Ahluwalia, M. Singh,and P. Papatla.

It is announced that Surgeon Rear-Admiral R. W. B.Hall and Surgeon Rear-Admiral W. W. Keir havebeen appointed Honorary Physician and HonorarySurgeon respectively to the King.