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INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY

To the Editor of THE LANCETSiR,-In consequence of the sudden death of Prof.

Adler at Aberdeen on May 28th it has become necessaryto remodel the programme of lectures and vacationcourses in individual psychology arranged for thissummer. Dr. Alexandra Adler, Prof. Adler’s daughterand herself a brilliant exponent of individual psycho-logy, has very courageously undertaken to carry out,as far as possible, the programme arranged for herfather. Certain adjustments and cancellations have,however, been necessary and the programme now isas follows :—

Lecture course, non-resident, in the.. June 21st-July 2ndB.M.A. Hall, Edinburgh.

Vacation course at University Hall, .. July 7th-l2thLiverpool.

Vacation course at Bishop Otter.. July 17th-26thCollege, Chichester, Sussex.

We, the undersigned, being convinced of the greatvalue of individual psychology in throwing light onthe fundamental problems of human life in an age ofgreat perplexity, would appeal to the medical andteaching professions, and the Church and parentsespecially, for as large a measure of support as possiblefor these courses. This would be the finest tributethat could be paid to the memory of a great benefactorof the human race, who devoted his life to freeingmen and women from the burden of misconceptionand misunderstanding which lies so heavily upon thehuman family.We wish to take this opportunity of thanking the

University and City of Aberdeen for having doneeverything in their power to honour the memory ofProf. Adler by arranging an official funeral service inthe chapel of King’s College on June 2nd.

We are, Sir, yours faithfully,NINA HAMILTON AND BRANDON,ALBERT LIVERPOOL,ISABEL MARGESSON,ALFRED BEIT,PHYLLIS BOTTOME,IAN L. FLEMING,ELIZABETH HOARE,

(Chairman, Adler Vacation Courses).

METHODS OF DESTROYING BED-BUGS

To the Editor of THE LANCET

Sm,-Fumigation against bed-bugs needs expertsto do it. There are millions of bug-infested houseswhich are unlikely to be fumigated for years, and itwould be an advantage if we could suggest ways inwhich the inhabitants could at least keep down thebug population in the meantime. The only methodsthey can use are contact insecticides, and, as I sug-gested in my letter of June 5th, dilute methylatedspirit may be useful in this way. While fully appre-ciating the improvements which Ashmore and

McKenny Hughes have described in their article andrecent letter, I see no reason why the victims shouldhave to wait until all local authorities have been

persuaded to use " heavy naphtha."I cannot understand why Ashmore and McKenny

Hughes should say (The Lancet, June 12th) that" contact insecticides ... are helpful in dealingwith a light infestation, but in our opinion a heavyinfestation can only be dealt with successfully by afumigation process." Surely any inefficient process-even soap and hot water-will do much damage ina really heavy infestation and so produce a light one.It is the light infestations (perhaps the remains ofheavy ones !) which are difficult to eradicate, and

efficient fumigation which penetrates every creviceis the best method. Fortunately a light infestationcauses less suffering in the house.

Contact insecticides can be used unknown to the

neighbours, who always realise when fumigation is

being carried out. The odour of heavy naphtha maybe "not unpleasant," but the neighbours may be !There is still a stigma attached to having a bug-infested house, even when it is a case of the " pot andthe kettle." I am, Sir, yours faithfully,

KENNETH MELLANBY.Sorby Research Laboratory, Sheffield

University, June 17th.

INFECTION THROUGH OLFACTORY MUCOSA

To the Editor of THE LANCETSiR,-In reply to Dr. Rake’s request for further

information (The Lancet, June 12th) all his difficultiesare due to a slight acidity of the solutions he employs.Prussian blue is not formed when iron ammoniumcitrate and potassium ferrocyanide are mixed in

faintly alkaline solutions. We still have some suchsolution made up July 4th, 1933, continuouslyexposed to light, which is crystal clear and with onlyslight deposit. It still contains practically all the

ingredients in true solution, as shown by the amountof deposit on acidification.Although Dr. Rake’s mixture contained granules

it also contained some true solution, and the latterwould naturally permeate easily, as demonstrated byLe Gros Clark. I am still unconvinced with regardto the passage of pneumococci from the nose to thesubarachnoidal space within two minutes, and I hopeDr. Rake will continue his researches in order tosubstantiate this very important statement.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully,F. A. PICKWORTH,

Director, City and University of Birmingham JointJune 21st. Board of Research for Mental Disease.

PRESENTATION TO SIR FREDERICK HOBDAY

To the Editor of THE LANCETSiR,—An appeal has been launched for funds for

the purpose of making a presentation to Sir FrederickHobday on his retirement from the position of

principal and dean of the Royal Veterinary College,as a mark of appreciation of his services to veterinaryscience in general and the Royal Veterinary Collegein particular.

Sir Frederick has intimated his ’wish to devote thesum raised to the furtherance of the collaborationbetween the medical and veterinary branches ofmedicine in their mutual crusade against the diseasesof animals which are common to, or communicablebetween, animals and man. Since the preliminaryletters were issued the method of carrying this outhas been considered by Sir Frederick and he desiresto found a research scholarship fund in order toencourage research by veterinary and medical menin connexion with the diseases of animals and man.It is hoped that this will further the liaison betweenthe two professions and be of great benefit to thescience of medicine in its widest sense. The fund isto be called the Hobday Research Endowment Fund.The committee feel that these details, and

particularly the idea itself, will be of the greatestinterest to members of the veterinary and medicalprofessions. It is hoped that amongst his numerousfriends and well-wishers a substantial sum will beraised which will be sufficient to enable this schemeto be carried out adequately.

I am. Sir. vours faithfullv,ED. T. COX, Hon. Secretary.

St. Ermins, Westminster, S.W., June 19th.