Reviews field, Sir Charles gives a lucid and concise survey of a complicated subject.He shows that, although medicine owes a debt to chemistry, the reverse is also true for the stimulus provided by medical research has led chemists to discover chemical structures so complicated that no chemist could have developed them ab initio.Prof. A. Haddow's paper on the contribution of chemistry to cancer research and Prof. Catcheside's on chemistry and genetics belong to the realms of 'unfinished business', for these subjects are still in early stages of development.Their inclusion shows that the organizers ofthe Congress are aware that history is a continuing process.Both papers give fascinating accounts of these two important and involved subjects.Dr. T. F. Macrae in 'Chemistry and Nutrition' shows how research into food constituents, especially vitamins, has enabled several previously widespread and fatal diseases, such as scurvy, to be conquered, at least in those countries where the results of this research have been applied.Dr. W. A. R. Thompson, in a paper entitled 'From Antisepsis to Antibiosis', as well as tracing the development of the control of sepsis from Lister's work to the discovery of the antibiotics by Fleming, gives a few interesting glimpses of the pre- history of the subject.The final paper, by Dr. F. L. Rose, 'Origin and Rise of Synthetic Drugs', gives an appropriate ending to the Proceedings for it is the systematic examination of many series of compounds, started by Ehrlich, that has led to the development of many important drugs and gives promise of future conquests of disease.Dr. Rose illustrates his paper with examples from Ehrlich's work up to the development of modem drugs such as antimalarials and diuretics.The volume will take its place with its predecessor in what promises to be a most important and interesting series of contributions to the history of medicine and pharmacy.
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A 1963 study studied this question.