INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY,
1
651 SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF STERILITY IN THE MALE. I Deficiency of vitamin 1), on the other hand, is followed by defects in the alveolar bone. Once again the vital importance of diet in the early months of life has been demonstrated, for if a puppy’s diet has been deficient in the two vitamins the dog may develop periodontal disease later, however perfect his adult diet, while the badly fed dog is partly or wholly protected if he has had an ample supply of the vitamins in his puppy days. The attempt to produce caries in dogs under experimental conditions has met with many diffi- culties and very little success, but the negative results are interesting. Even large quantities of glucose do not produce dental decay in dogs, nor does the presence of Streptococcus mutans and Bacillus acidophilus, which are supposed to cause caries in man. More promis- ing results have been obtained with rabbits, for their exposed dentinal tubules are often invaded by bacteria. There seems, however, to be less tendency to invasion when fat-soluble vitamins are abundant in the diet. Another factor that appears to depend on vitamin D is the response of a tooth to attrition. When the surface-enamel is destroyed the osteoblasts of the pulp become active, and secondary dentine tubules are formed. When the diet contains plenty of vitamin D much well-calcified secondary dentine is produced, I but a cereal diet containing little vitamin causes pro- duction of poorly calcified secondary dentine or none at all. The response is independent of the structure of the primary dentine in the teeth. These results will be related to human problems in Part III. of the report, for dental caries is another stimulus to the production of secondary dentine. Calcification of the teeth in rats and rabbits depends on vitamin D just as much as it does in the dog, and these three mammals offer such different types of teeth that it seems highly probable that the calcification of all mammalian teeth is controlled in the same way. With an abundance of vitamin D in the diet-whether obtained by natural foods or by the irradiation of ergosterol-containing substances- the teeth are properly formed. With a deficiency of vitamin D the calcium-phosphorus ratio becomes a significant factor. Irradiation greatly improves calcification when the diet is poor in calcifying properties. Mrs. Mellanby’s patient and careful research is of great interest. The publication of the third part, which will deal more directly with medical and dental problems, will be welcome because her complete findings to date will then be available in compact form, and their implications discussed. INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY, THE tenth annual report of the National Institute of Industrial Psychology shows that, despite trade depression, the work is going from strength to strength. More and more firms are asking the help of the Institute in the elucidation of the human factor in industry. A new scheme of personnel selection has been devised for smaller employers of labour and a confidential written statement is sent to the firm after a short examination of the applicant. The report gives a brief summary of the various investigations that have been carried out during the year. In one chocolate factory, for instance, improved methods of packing have been devised, while another chocolate company submitted the problem of unsatisfactory sales of one of their most important products. The Institute investigated the publicity methods employed 1 Annual report for the year ended 1930. Aldwych House, W.C.2. Pp. 36. and their report was followed by a great improvement in the sales. In an engineering works the Institute drew up a detailed plan to increase the control of production. Many citizens will be glad to hear that it has had under its fatherly care some of the labours of the General Post Office. In the tongue-packing department of a potted meat factory the Institute’s improvements will produce a saving of over £5000 a year. Alterations to the lay-out of the work bencli in a rubber factory will enable the workers to increase their earnings from 20-30 per cent. In addition to these and many other practical services to industry, experiments in vocational guidance have been carried out ; the full report of the London experiment will be published shortly. A series of occupational analyses is being made for the help of the vocational guidance section and the investigator is starting on secretarial work, drawing up letters and questionaires to discover the duties of the work and the qualities necessary for success. The Institute also carries out an extensive lecture programme and a great deal of research. Among the matters investigated during the year are factory assembly operations, colour discrimination, daily fluctuations of industrial efficiency, and tests for perseveration. Such incentives as pay-day and the making-up of the worker’s output for the week seem to have a strong influence on the worker’s efficiency. The effect of the monthly period seems to be variable ;. in general the output is unimpaired, but in some it is higher and in some lower than at other times.. Some factories regard menstruation as a grave problem, while others take the opposite view. Dr.. W. J. Pinard’s work on perseveration suggests a basis of division into three types. The moderate perseve-- rators and the moderate non-perseverators form a stable, reliable group who, in particular, have most- of the qualities included in ‘‘ leadership." Both. extreme perseverators and extreme non-perseverators prove to be unstable and " difficult," but. while the former are rebellious, "nervous," sensitive, and effeminate, the latter are irritable, suspicious, critical,. and inconsiderate. Mrs. M. Milner has begun a research. on methods of diagnosing social ability, especially the ability to " handle people." She has distinguished two aspects : strength of personality and social judg-- ment ; and two main lines of attack : the distinction between explicit rational thinkers and implicit intuitional thinkers, and the devising of methods for studying the individual as a whole. Her work is likely to form a supplement to Dr. Pinard’s work on measuring the strength of personality. An interesting piece of research is that being undertaken by Mr.. G. W. Harding on rhythm on various types of motor activity. He has already found that improvements can be made in the method of training typists. SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF STERILITY IN THE MALE. ALTHOUGH methods of diagnosis have improved considerably during the last ten years, the treatment of male sterility has made but little progress. Instigated by the work of Dr. Edward Martin, of Philadelphia, attempts have from time to time been made to cure sterility caused by a blockage of the epididymal canal by a short-circuiting operation. The operation of vaso-epididymostomy, however, has proved a failure owing to cicatrisation at the site of anastomosis, and most surgeons have abandoned the procedure as useless. In Surgery, Gynecology, and Obstetrics (February, 1931) Dr. Francis R. Hagner"
Transcript of INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY,
651SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF STERILITY IN THE MALE. I
Deficiency of vitamin 1), on the other hand, is followedby defects in the alveolar bone. Once again the vitalimportance of diet in the early months of life has beendemonstrated, for if a puppy’s diet has been deficientin the two vitamins the dog may develop periodontaldisease later, however perfect his adult diet, while thebadly fed dog is partly or wholly protected if he hashad an ample supply of the vitamins in his puppydays. The attempt to produce caries in dogs underexperimental conditions has met with many diffi-culties and very little success, but the negative resultsare interesting. Even large quantities of glucose donot produce dental decay in dogs, nor does the presenceof Streptococcus mutans and Bacillus acidophilus, whichare supposed to cause caries in man. More promis-ing results have been obtained with rabbits, for theirexposed dentinal tubules are often invaded by bacteria.There seems, however, to be less tendency to invasionwhen fat-soluble vitamins are abundant in the diet.Another factor that appears to depend on vitamin D
is the response of a tooth to attrition. When thesurface-enamel is destroyed the osteoblasts of the pulpbecome active, and secondary dentine tubules are
formed. When the diet contains plenty of vitamin D much well-calcified secondary dentine is produced, Ibut a cereal diet containing little vitamin causes pro-duction of poorly calcified secondary dentine or noneat all. The response is independent of the structureof the primary dentine in the teeth. These resultswill be related to human problems in Part III. of thereport, for dental caries is another stimulus to theproduction of secondary dentine.
Calcification of the teeth in rats and rabbitsdepends on vitamin D just as much as it does in thedog, and these three mammals offer such differenttypes of teeth that it seems highly probable that thecalcification of all mammalian teeth is controlled inthe same way. With an abundance of vitamin Din the diet-whether obtained by natural foods or bythe irradiation of ergosterol-containing substances-the teeth are properly formed. With a deficiency ofvitamin D the calcium-phosphorus ratio becomes asignificant factor. Irradiation greatly improvescalcification when the diet is poor in calcifyingproperties.
Mrs. Mellanby’s patient and careful research is of
great interest. The publication of the third part,which will deal more directly with medical anddental problems, will be welcome because her completefindings to date will then be available in compact form, and their implications discussed.
INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY,
THE tenth annual report of the National Institute of Industrial Psychology shows that, despite tradedepression, the work is going from strength to strength.More and more firms are asking the help of theInstitute in the elucidation of the human factor inindustry. A new scheme of personnel selection hasbeen devised for smaller employers of labour and aconfidential written statement is sent to the firmafter a short examination of the applicant. The reportgives a brief summary of the various investigationsthat have been carried out during the year. In onechocolate factory, for instance, improved methods ofpacking have been devised, while another chocolatecompany submitted the problem of unsatisfactorysales of one of their most important products. TheInstitute investigated the publicity methods employed
1 Annual report for the year ended 1930. Aldwych House,W.C.2. Pp. 36.
and their report was followed by a great improvementin the sales. In an engineering works the Institutedrew up a detailed plan to increase the control of
production. Many citizens will be glad to hear thatit has had under its fatherly care some of the laboursof the General Post Office. In the tongue-packingdepartment of a potted meat factory the Institute’simprovements will produce a saving of over £5000 a
year. Alterations to the lay-out of the work bencliin a rubber factory will enable the workers to increasetheir earnings from 20-30 per cent. In addition tothese and many other practical services to industry,experiments in vocational guidance have been carriedout ; the full report of the London experiment will bepublished shortly. A series of occupational analysesis being made for the help of the vocational guidancesection and the investigator is starting on secretarialwork, drawing up letters and questionaires to discoverthe duties of the work and the qualities necessary forsuccess.
The Institute also carries out an extensive lecture
programme and a great deal of research. Among thematters investigated during the year are factoryassembly operations, colour discrimination, dailyfluctuations of industrial efficiency, and tests for
perseveration. Such incentives as pay-day and themaking-up of the worker’s output for the week seemto have a strong influence on the worker’s efficiency.The effect of the monthly period seems to be variable ;.in general the output is unimpaired, but in some it ishigher and in some lower than at other times..Some factories regard menstruation as a graveproblem, while others take the opposite view. Dr..W. J. Pinard’s work on perseveration suggests a basisof division into three types. The moderate perseve--rators and the moderate non-perseverators form astable, reliable group who, in particular, have most-of the qualities included in ‘‘
leadership." Both.extreme perseverators and extreme non-perseveratorsprove to be unstable and " difficult," but. while the
former are rebellious, "nervous," sensitive, and
effeminate, the latter are irritable, suspicious, critical,.and inconsiderate. Mrs. M. Milner has begun a research.on methods of diagnosing social ability, especiallythe ability to " handle people." She has distinguishedtwo aspects : strength of personality and social judg--ment ; and two main lines of attack : the distinctionbetween explicit rational thinkers and implicitintuitional thinkers, and the devising of methods forstudying the individual as a whole. Her work is
likely to form a supplement to Dr. Pinard’s work onmeasuring the strength of personality. An interestingpiece of research is that being undertaken by Mr..G. W. Harding on rhythm on various types of motoractivity. He has already found that improvements
can be made in the method of training typists.SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF STERILITY IN
THE MALE.
ALTHOUGH methods of diagnosis have improvedconsiderably during the last ten years, the treatmentof male sterility has made but little progress.Instigated by the work of Dr. Edward Martin, of
Philadelphia, attempts have from time to timebeen made to cure sterility caused by a blockage of theepididymal canal by a short-circuiting operation.The operation of vaso-epididymostomy, however,has proved a failure owing to cicatrisation at the siteof anastomosis, and most surgeons have abandonedthe procedure as useless. In Surgery, Gynecology, andObstetrics (February, 1931) Dr. Francis R. Hagner"
