KEEPING QUALITIES OF PENICILLIN
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824 in recommending research to determine which varieties of English wheat " will produce flour (a) of good bread- making quality, and (b) containing the maximum proportion of the desired nutrients without appreciable loss of yield on average soils." They further recommended that our farmers should be encouraged to use such varieties. This selection of the best varieties is a sound preliminary measure, but research should be carried further than that. Sir Rowland Biffen showed many years ago how, by controlled breeding, to combine quality and yield in wheat with resistance to disease. A research programme on wheat-breeding should be drawn up to produce new varieties of wheat suitable for our soils and climate which will combine the two factors of bread-making quality and high nutrient content. The work would have to be done at several coordinated centres, such as Rothamsted, the National Institute of Agricultural Botany, and the Cereals Research Station. It would take many -years to bring the research to successful fruition ; but the investigation should be undertaken, and its inception should not be delayed if wheat-growing is to remain a corner-stone of agricultural policy in this country. EMPIRE MEETING THE Empire Scientific Conference arranged by the Royal Society is to be opened by the King on June 17 in London, but some of the later meetings will be held in Cambridge and Oxford. Among the subjects on the agenda are the aetiology and control of infectious and transmissible diseases, particularly those which are insect- borne (Cambridge, June 28) ; physiological and psycho- logical factors affecting human life and work under tropical conditions and in industry (Oxford, July 1) ; and the science of nutrition (Oxford, July 3). General subjects include methods of improving the interchange of scientists throughout the Empire ; scientific organisa- tion ; measures to secure greater uniformity in physical standards of measurement and the use of units, terms, and symbols ; a scientific information service (for scientists) ; and Empire cooperation with international organisations. The topic that may rouse the greatest public interest is the dissemination of scientific news to the public generally, which will be discussed in London on the last day of the conference, July 8. Many have felt for some time that the public’s desire for accurate informa- tion of scientific progress should be met by the establish- ment of a scientific news agency. 200 YEARS OLD THE Middlesex Hospital’s bicentenary celebrations last week were a happy mixture of the formal and the friendly. On three afternoons the president and the chairman of the hospital received guests at tea in the board-room before a lecture. On Monday Sir Robert Robinson, P.R.S., spoke on Chemistry and Medicine, contrasting the biologist’s tendency to more and more detailed analysis with the chemist’s attempts at more and more complex synthesis. On Wednesday Sir Edward Mellanby, F.R.s., introduced by Sir Alfred Webb-Johnson, r.R.c.s., considered -the Future of the Medical Sciences ; and on Thursday, Sir Lionel Whitby, in an address on The Middlesex and Medicine, brought some of the great dead to life. On this occasion Colonel J. J. Astor, as chairman of the board, read a message from Prof. Elliott C. Cutler conveying affectionate greetings from the Harvard Medical School, and his own reply looking forward to ever-increasing cooperation with the United States. Since all Earl of Northumber- land was chosen as president of the hospital 200 years ago his successors have always been presidents of the hospital and the new Duke, in thanking Sir Lionel Whitby for his address, was able to add his tribute to medicine as one fresh from the battlefield. On Saturday afternoon and evening between two and three thousand subscribers, helpers, and friends of the hospital attended an exhibition of its work. The exhibits included the synthesis of stilboestrol, models of micro- organisms 50,000 times their natural size, the electro- encephalograph, and films. Short services of thanks- giving were held in the chapel. FUNCTIONS OF THE G.M.C. A COMMITTEE of the General Medical Council has been preparing a draft Bill for consolidating and amending the Medical Acts. Sir Herbert Eason, the president, told the council on Tuesday that the pressure on parliamentary time makes it unlikely that a comprehensive Bill of this kind could be introduced " within any period which can now be foreseen." Accordingly the committee has pre- pared the draft of a short Bill including only those pro- visions for amendment which it deems urgent. The recommendations, said the president, involve not only the constitution of the council but their powers"; and it is significant that in a previous passage he recalled proposals to the Ministry of Health in 1943 and to the Privy Council in 1944 " that legislation should empower the council to form and maintain a register of specialists, and to make regulations for prescribing the manner in which applications for admission to the register should be made." KEEPING QUALITIES OF PENICILLIN THERE is some confusion about the loss of potency in penicillin during storage. Its stability varies widely according to the preparation being used. Solutions for injection should be used within 48 hours of prepara- tion and even so should be kept at a temperature not exceeding 40° F during this period. Aqueous prepara- tions such as creams must be stored in a refrigerator, but when taken out will remain effective for about a week if kept in a cool place. Penicillin in the powder form in which it is usually supplied in bulk can be stored for a year in cool dry conditions, such as a dry cellar, if the temperature does not exceed 60° F. Anhydrous pre- parations, such as lozenges and ointments with a greasy base, may be kept in the same way. Thus the doctor who has no refrigerator can keep a supply of penicillin powder in rubber-capped vials or ampoules for injection, oint- ments for local application, and lozenges for treating mouth and throat infections. THE NEW WELLCOME CHAIR THE University of London has accepted an offer from the trustees of the estate of the late Sir Henry Wellcome of a capital sum of 74,000 for the endowment of the chair of pharmacology at the College of the Pharmaceutical Society, now occupied by Dr. G. A. H. Buttle, which will henceforth be called the Wellcome chair. Since its foundation in 1936 the department of pharmacology at the college has made important contributions to research and teaching. ABOUT 2000 people are expected to attend the Royal Sanitary Institute’s health congress at Blackpool on June 3-7. Among the subjects to be discussed are the social pathology of rheumatic fever, the future place of the special hospital, the care of children away from their parents, the future of paediatrics, the care of the aged in health and sickness, and housing and slum clearance. Dr. Adrianus Pijper and Miss Freda Troup have compiled a life of the late Dr. J. MacD. Troup, of Pretoria (see lancet, 1945, ii, 514), for private circulation. The biography, which is entitled Pfay.sicia,n and Friend, is being published by sub- scription at 30s. a copy. After expenses have been met the profits will be divided between the South African Medical Benevolent Fund and King’s College Hospital, of which Dr. Troup was a student and a governor. Those wanting copies are asked to write as soon as possible to the authors; at Box 5783, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Transcript of KEEPING QUALITIES OF PENICILLIN
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in recommending research to determine which varietiesof English wheat " will produce flour (a) of good bread-making quality, and (b) containing the maximumproportion of the desired nutrients without appreciableloss of yield on average soils." They further recommendedthat our farmers should be encouraged to use suchvarieties. This selection of the best varieties is a sound
preliminary measure, but research should be carriedfurther than that. Sir Rowland Biffen showed manyyears ago how, by controlled breeding, to combine
quality and yield in wheat with resistance to disease.A research programme on wheat-breeding should bedrawn up to produce new varieties of wheat suitablefor our soils and climate which will combine the twofactors of bread-making quality and high nutrient content.The work would have to be done at several coordinatedcentres, such as Rothamsted, the National Institute ofAgricultural Botany, and the Cereals Research Station.It would take many -years to bring the research tosuccessful fruition ; but the investigation should beundertaken, and its inception should not be delayed ifwheat-growing is to remain a corner-stone of agriculturalpolicy in this country.
EMPIRE MEETING
THE Empire Scientific Conference arranged by theRoyal Society is to be opened by the King on June 17in London, but some of the later meetings will be held inCambridge and Oxford. Among the subjects on theagenda are the aetiology and control of infectious andtransmissible diseases, particularly those which are insect-borne (Cambridge, June 28) ; physiological and psycho-logical factors affecting human life and work under
tropical conditions and in industry (Oxford, July 1) ;and the science of nutrition (Oxford, July 3). General
subjects include methods of improving the interchangeof scientists throughout the Empire ; scientific organisa-tion ; measures to secure greater uniformity in physicalstandards of measurement and the use of units, terms,and symbols ; a scientific information service (forscientists) ; and Empire cooperation with internationalorganisations.The topic that may rouse the greatest public interest
is the dissemination of scientific news to the publicgenerally, which will be discussed in London on thelast day of the conference, July 8. Many have felt forsome time that the public’s desire for accurate informa-tion of scientific progress should be met by the establish-ment of a scientific news agency.
200 YEARS OLD
THE Middlesex Hospital’s bicentenary celebrationslast week were a happy mixture of the formal and thefriendly. On three afternoons the president and thechairman of the hospital received guests at tea in theboard-room before a lecture. On Monday Sir RobertRobinson, P.R.S., spoke on Chemistry and Medicine,contrasting the biologist’s tendency to more and moredetailed analysis with the chemist’s attempts at moreand more complex synthesis. On Wednesday SirEdward Mellanby, F.R.s., introduced by Sir AlfredWebb-Johnson, r.R.c.s., considered -the Future of theMedical Sciences ; and on Thursday, Sir Lionel Whitby,in an address on The Middlesex and Medicine, broughtsome of the great dead to life. On this occasion ColonelJ. J. Astor, as chairman of the board, read a messagefrom Prof. Elliott C. Cutler conveying affectionate
greetings from the Harvard Medical School, and his ownreply looking forward to ever-increasing cooperationwith the United States. Since all Earl of Northumber-land was chosen as president of the hospital 200 yearsago his successors have always been presidents of thehospital and the new Duke, in thanking Sir LionelWhitby for his address, was able to add his tribute tomedicine as one fresh from the battlefield.
On Saturday afternoon and evening between two andthree thousand subscribers, helpers, and friends of thehospital attended an exhibition of its work. The exhibitsincluded the synthesis of stilboestrol, models of micro-organisms 50,000 times their natural size, the electro-
encephalograph, and films. Short services of thanks-
giving were held in the chapel.
FUNCTIONS OF THE G.M.C.
A COMMITTEE of the General Medical Council has beenpreparing a draft Bill for consolidating and amending theMedical Acts. Sir Herbert Eason, the president, told thecouncil on Tuesday that the pressure on parliamentarytime makes it unlikely that a comprehensive Bill of thiskind could be introduced " within any period which cannow be foreseen." Accordingly the committee has pre-pared the draft of a short Bill including only those pro-visions for amendment which it deems urgent. Therecommendations, said the president, involve not onlythe constitution of the council but their powers"; andit is significant that in a previous passage he recalledproposals to the Ministry of Health in 1943 and to thePrivy Council in 1944
" that legislation should empowerthe council to form and maintain a register of specialists,and to make regulations for prescribing the manner inwhich applications for admission to the register should bemade." .
KEEPING QUALITIES OF PENICILLIN
THERE is some confusion about the loss of potency inpenicillin during storage. Its stability varies widelyaccording to the preparation being used. Solutionsfor injection should be used within 48 hours of prepara-tion and even so should be kept at a temperature notexceeding 40° F during this period. Aqueous prepara-tions such as creams must be stored in a refrigerator,but when taken out will remain effective for about aweek if kept in a cool place. Penicillin in the powderform in which it is usually supplied in bulk can be storedfor a year in cool dry conditions, such as a dry cellar, ifthe temperature does not exceed 60° F. Anhydrous pre-parations, such as lozenges and ointments with a greasybase, may be kept in the same way. Thus the doctor whohas no refrigerator can keep a supply of penicillin powderin rubber-capped vials or ampoules for injection, oint-ments for local application, and lozenges for treatingmouth and throat infections.
THE NEW WELLCOME CHAIR
THE University of London has accepted an offer fromthe trustees of the estate of the late Sir Henry Wellcomeof a capital sum of 74,000 for the endowment of the chairof pharmacology at the College of the PharmaceuticalSociety, now occupied by Dr. G. A. H. Buttle, whichwill henceforth be called the Wellcome chair. Since itsfoundation in 1936 the department of pharmacologyat the college has made important contributions toresearch and teaching.
ABOUT 2000 people are expected to attend the RoyalSanitary Institute’s health congress at Blackpool on June 3-7.Among the subjects to be discussed are the social pathologyof rheumatic fever, the future place of the special hospital,the care of children away from their parents, the future ofpaediatrics, the care of the aged in health and sickness, andhousing and slum clearance.
Dr. Adrianus Pijper and Miss Freda Troup have compileda life of the late Dr. J. MacD. Troup, of Pretoria (see lancet,1945, ii, 514), for private circulation. The biography, whichis entitled Pfay.sicia,n and Friend, is being published by sub-scription at 30s. a copy. After expenses have been met theprofits will be divided between the South African MedicalBenevolent Fund and King’s College Hospital, of whichDr. Troup was a student and a governor. Those wantingcopies are asked to write as soon as possible to the authors; atBox 5783, Johannesburg, South Africa.
