The frequency with which new drugs become available to the psychiatrist emphasizes the need for quantitative evaluation of their therapeutic effect. Comparable statements, scales of measurement and base-lines are required (Ref. 1–6).

Ritalin (methylphenidate) is a drug which was developed by the firm of Ciba Limited. It resembles amphetamine in its central stimulant and sympathomimetic action but has quite a different chemical structure. Its general properties have been described by Meier et al. (1954) and by Drassdo and Schmidt (1954 a, b). Geller (1955) and Stier (1955) used Ritalin in the treatment of depressive states associated with apathy, while Ferguson (1955) found it of value in countering the depressive effects of reserpine therapy. Ferguson also notes that Ritalin seemed to have a beneficial action in cases of chronic schizophrenia and considered that his findings warranted a clinical trial.

It has now been established that megaloblastic anaemia may develop in patients receiving the anti-convulsant drugs phenytoin sodium (“Epanutin”) and primidone (“Mysoline”), given alone or in combination with phenobarbitone. Hobson et al. (1956) found 16 such cases described in the literature, and reported a case of their own in which megaloblastic anaemia developed in a patient addicted to a preparation (“Tuinal”) containing equal parts of amylobarbitone sodium (“Sodium amytal”) and quinalbarbitone sodium (“Seconal Sodium”), which are closely related chemically to primidone, sodium phenytoin and phenobarbitone. Characteristically the anaemia is not related to a deficiency of nor does it respond to treatment with vitamin B12, nor is there achlorhydria, thus distinguishing it from true Addisonian pernicious anaemia. The condition however responds promptly to the administration of folic acid by mouth.

Anthropometry has benefited in the last 20 years from two distinct advances, the use of standardized photography by Sheldon (1940) and the application of factor analysis to physical measurements as initiated by Burt (1944). Tanner in a critical review (1947) compared these two main approaches to interpretation of body type. Later (1954) he defended photoscopic somatotyping against the charge of subjectivity in ratings by stating the degree of consistency obtained by experts, although such consistency is admittedly less common among less expert somatotypists. Factor analysis can claim some theoretical advantages, and certainly greater mathematical exactness than photoscopic typing: but here the question arises as to whether the measurements so far employed for factor analysis yield the best information; statistical treatment by itself, however sophisticated, is no substitute for the best or right choice of measurements.

Some years ago we began to evaluate steroidal compounds in the treatment of mental states and now report some results obtained with 6β-hydroxy-3:5-cyclopregnan-20-one (I), the most promising of the compounds studied.

Pacatal is one of the newer so-called tranquillizing drugs. It is a synthetic phenothiazine derivative—N-methyl-piperidyl-(3)-methylphenothiazine which was first investigated in Germany in 1954. It has the same basic structure as chlorpromazine but a different side chain.

We preface this short communication by emphasizing that it originates as a by-product from some work that is still in progress at the Burden Institute on the balance of electrolytes in various normal psychological and neurotic conditions. This research is chiefly being conducted by McLeod, Morrison and Fosbrooke, in the Biochemical Department, and Grey Walter in the electrophysiological laboratory.

Reserpine was first used extensively in psychiatric practice in the U.S.A. where many favourable reports on its use were published in 1954 and 1955. Subsequently a series of reports appeared in the U.K. These reports were more critical and sought to establish more precise indications for the use of the drug. It soon became apparent that the drug was of most value in schizophrenia and the organic hyperkinetic states. The value of reserpine in psychoneuroses is limited but that it is going to have a more than temporary place in the treatment of schizophrenia is suggested by the continued appearance of favourable reports. These last authors emphasize that not only is the drug an effective sedative but also that it does appear, in some places, to induce genuine remissions. The present difficulty is to predict which patients will respond in this way.

There have been many new types of sedatives and hypnotics evolved in recent years. The term “tranquillizing drug” is a recent innovation which suggests a calming effect without a hypnotic effect. Methylpentynol (“Oblivon”) is one such drug which has little hypnotic action, but is said specifically to relieve anxiety. This action was noted by the relief of apprehension observed in patients prior to dental treatment (Trotter, 1953). Methylpentynol is a higher alcohol which in high dosage has a hypnotic effect in animals (Margolin et al., 1951). No toxic effects have been reported. It is made up in rather large, blue-green capsules containing 250 mg. of methylpentynol, and also as an elixir.

Some workers have claimed that nalorphine is as potent an analgesic as morphine and does not lead to addiction.

In recent years electrophoretic methods for the analysis of the serum proteins have been extensively and fruitfully applied to studies of diseases of the nervous system (Volk, Saifer, Rabiner and Oreskes, 1955; Volk, Saifer, Rabiner and Hinterbuchner, 1956; Press, 1956).

It is the aim ofthis paper to present some ideas for a new and practical approach to some of the problems of assessment and placing of mental defectives with respect to motor abilities. Attention will be drawn to some theoretical confusion about the relationship between mental and motor abilities in the mentally deficient population and finally some experiments illustrating the possibility of a new approach will be described.

This paper reports a double-blind type of clinical trial with hyperactive low-grade mental defectives. Chlorpromazine has previously been used with this group but a high incidence of toxic effects has been noted (McColl (1)). Reports on reserpine have been conflicting but a careful trial by Kirk and Bauer (2) reports the action of this drug if anything to be detrimental.

While Visiting Psychiatrist to a convict prison, the author used the M.M.P.I. as an aid to clinical diagnosis. The test did not prove helpful in that respect. Impressive, however, was a profile recurring so often as to appear typical of the recidivist in prison.