Meclofenoxate (Lucidril), a synthetic substance related to plant auxins, is claimed to cause an increase in the glucose uptake of the mouse brain, and to influence the EEG tracings of rats deprived of oxygen (Nickel, et al., 1963). Other animal experiments show Meclofenoxate to protect rabbit brains against experimental anoxia induced with nitrogen (Dereymaeker et al., 1962), and against histoxic anoxia induced by potassium cyanide (Nakajima et al., 1964).

The foundation of the new Department of Psychiatry in the University of Birmingham in January, 1962 was followed by the development of a post-graduate training scheme in psychiatry operating within the area administered by the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board. It was clear at the outset that the Regional psychiatric hospitals were looking to the new Department for positive help in post-graduate training and research and that its creation was accompanied by an air of expectancy. Because, judging from enquiries received, the scheme has excited some attention from outside the Region, it would seem appropriate to give an account of how it operates.

The ancient Greeks likened people who withdrew into themselves, were slow, and had a distant and frowning expression, to those who had consulted the holy oracle of Trophonius in Lebadeia about what was to happen to them in the future. King Croesus of Lydia consulted it about his expedition against the Persians (Herodotus I), Mardonius about his war against the Athenians (Herodotus VIII), the Thebans in the war against the Spartans (Pausanias IV) before the battle of Leuctra. Others consulted the oracle about their spiritual and mental state. There is evidence that among them were men who were concerned with psychological or metaphysical problems, a preoccupation which sometimes indicates the presence of psychological disorder. Timarchus, to whom we shall refer later, belongs to this category.

1. The Sub-Committee was formed at the Annual General Meeting of the Mental Deficiency Section, 1962, following discussion of the inadequacy of postgraduate training in the speciality. A draft report was presented to the Section at the meeting held at Basingstoke in July 1964 and referred back to the Sub-Committee for reconsideration of certain items. Latterly there have been rapid developments towards the reorganization of the Association and the formation of a College, and it became necessary to defer discussion of some educational matters until the structure of the proposed new higher qualification was known.