180 THE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH

fringe benefits and opportunities; qualification requirements; basis for rating; certifi- cation; veterans’ preference; time imit for consideration of application; recompeting in examination; how to apply; where to obtain forms; when and where to file. Free. Personnel Office, U. 8. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Communicable Disease Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30333. 6 pp. 1964.

NUTRITION (Posters) These attractive and colorful posters, 17x22 inches, each containing the caption,

“For Form and Figure, Eat Well,” y t r a y a young woman in graceful, diving form and a young man in a symmetrical atting stance. Each poster contams four, food groups re resenting breakfast, lunch, “snack” dinner and shown in quantities calculatecffor the youn person’s daily needs. ”he background of the posters is in soft shades of blues wit! contrasting colors for the food inseta. (A) Diying (young woman): 25 cents; (B) Soft Ball oung man): 25 cents. National Dairy Council, Chicago, Illinois. 111 North Cana P Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. 1963.

GENERAL (Magazine) This new ma asine, l O y X l 3 x titled, “American Education,” which replaces

“School Life” and ‘(Hi her %ducation,” is published for all Americans, educators, and laymen alike. Expfaining the work of the U. 8. Office of Education, it embraces preschool to adult education; new research and demonstration projects; major educa- tion legislation; school and college bond data; grants, loans, contracts, and fellow- ships. The first issue January, 1965 includes, among other excellent articles, one concerning deafness and the deaf child. Published ten times yearly, the various articles are written by distinguished leaders in their field. Single copy: 40 cents; yearly subscription: $3.00. U. 8. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Office of Education, Washington 25, D. C. Volume I, Number I. 34 pp. January, 1965.

GENERAL HEALTH (Catalog) This valuable catalog titled, “Public Health Service Numbered Publications

(195&1962),” lists titles in numerical order by the Public Health Service publication number, including brief description of each publication, accompanied by the issuant or latest revision date preceding 1962. This publication, containing all the numbered publications of the Public Health Service from 1950 through 1962, presents the follow- ing three, different methods of referring to these publications: an alphabetically- arranged title listin a series listing; and a subject index. Single copy: $1.00. U. S. Department of Heagh, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Serwce, Washington, D. C.20201. 1Wpp. 1964.

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R E S E A R C H OF I N T E R E S T JAMES HUMPHREY, PH. D., RUSSELL F. WHALEY, M.P.H., Ph.D.,

AND LOUIS J. PETERSON, ED. D.

McCaffrey, Isabel, “Persistence of Emotional Disturbances Reported Among Second and Fourth Grade Children” (Onondaga County School Studies Interim Report NO. 1, Mental Health Research Unit, N. Y. State Department oi Mental Hygiene in cooperation with the Onanda a County School Boards Association).

All children in sixty public s&ools who had been reported by their teachers to have emotional disturbances in grades two and four were rated again in grades four and six. One out of three (31.1 per cent) emotional disturbances persisted to the end of tho two year interval between the 1981 and 1963 surveys. These children will be rated again in grades six and eight. It is considered probable that the children manifesting persistent emotional disturbances are those for whom existing services are inadequate, and that further studies of their needs and problems will suggest the kinds of services required to prevent the development of permanent disabilities.

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Johnston, Francis E. “Individual Variation in the Rate of Skeletal Maturation

In a mixed longitudinal sample of 120 normal, Philadelphia white children interindividual differences in the skeletal maturation rates were studied. Skeletai ages were obtained by the Greulich and Pyle standards and maturation rates repre- sented by straight line formulae, there being no significant deviation from straight line regression. The Atlas rate of maturation was found to be a mean rate, about which there existed considerable individual variation. Thus, one hand-mst film gives relatively little information concerning the maturation rate of a given child. In addit.ion, the average maturation rate of girls was significantly reater than the Atlas controls. Implications of those variations are discussed. (Au&or’s Abstract).

Kagan, Jerome,“ American Longitudinal Research on Psychological Development,”

This report contains descriptions of the sample, methods, and goals of 10 longi- tudinal projects that have been active for a long period of time. Each summary describes the characteristics of the subjects studied, the type and fre uency of tests administered, the character and frequency of interviews and behavioraq observations, nature of the hysical growth data obtained and the past and future goals of the project. A serected bibliography is appended to each summary. A general discus- sion of the theoretical advantages of a longitudinal design is presented. (Author’s Abstract).

Between Five and dighteen Years,” Child Development, 1964, 36.

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Child Development, 1964, 35.

* * * * * Rousey, Clyde L., and Averill, Stuart, “Speech Disorders Among Delinquent Boys,”

Bull. Menninner Clin.. 1963, 27. The results of this‘survey of 165 committed delinquent boys suggests that the

incidence of speech disorders among these boys is unusually hgh. At the present time, recognition of and attention to communication difficulties during the rehabilita- tion process of delinquent children is not a common practice. (Author’s Summary),

The Public Health Service of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare issued a new publication, “Research Project Summaries,” describing 19 projects sponsored through the research grants program of the National Institute of Mental Health. Projects dealing with schizophrenia; the chemical and psycho- logical nature of the brain; dreaming and sleeping- the use of hypnosis; stuhes of learning emotions, sensory experiences; effects of dru s; and other projects are included. The Program Analysis Section of the N I d Research Grants Branch pre ared the pamphlet to resent detailed information on a selected number of pro’ects in t\e biological, medicaf ps chological, and social sciences. Other pro‘ects o i the more than 1,OOO making up t i e Institute’s research grants program ~ 1 1 be included in later publications. Single copies of “Research Project Summaries Public Health Service Publication No. 1208, can be obtained without charge from the Public Health Service, Washington, D.C., 20201. Copies in bulk can be purchased from the Super- intendent of Documents, U. s. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., 20402, for 40 cents each.

Mulford, Harold A., “Drinking and Deviant Drinking, U.S.A., 1963.” Quarterly

The author in cooperation with the National Opinion Research Center used a modified random sampling procedure involvi about 200 interviewers and 1515 respondents in the summer of 1963 to discover%at 71 per cent or near1 80 million Americans over 21 years of age are drinkers of alcoholic beverae;es. gventy-nine per cent of the men and 63 per cent of the women drink, with four times as many men as women alcoholics. Unfortunately, the Quantity-Frequency Index does not collect “alcoholics” into one category; the author indicates that this needs to be improved. This survey, the first major national assessment since 1946, further shows that there has been a 7 per cent increase for women and a 4 per cent increase for men-a 12 per cent increase in drinking among women 21-25 years of a el The over-all rate will increase if the rate among women continues to approach &at for men. Of the total sample, 8 per cent are exdrinkers-both sexes abandon the practice in about the same

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Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 25: 4, 634-650, 1964.

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numbers. About 10 per cent of those surveyed are heavy or troubled drinkers, the latter are not necessarily the former. Trouble appears to occur where drinkin is less prevalent and to depend in large part upon the reactions of others. The afidi- tional drinkers tend to be light and moderate drinkers. Besides the general drinking practices, the study disclosed that increased urbanization, education, and prosperity related to the increased drinking and that interesting contrasts appeared in different social segments-religious, nationality, regional, economic occupational, and marital status groups. A set of norms as seen among the Jews and Italians might be evolved which would reduce the kind of drinking that leads to alcoholism. Since individual drinking patterns are socially determined, attitudinal studies might prove helpful. Where the rate of drinking was the lowest there appeared to be greater success in motivating drinkers to abandon the practice. The author believes that it is impor- tant to identify target populations and design and evaluate action programs of educa- tion and treatment.

Jacobzinger, Harold, “Attem ted Suicides In Adolescents,” Journal of the American

The attempts at suicide by 597 adolescents were studied in the greater New York City area. The study was restricted to those who attempted suicide with oisonous agents; many different chemical substances were tried. Those 19 years o!a e had the highest incidence; those 18 years of age were close behind. Puerto k c a n s accounted for 22 per cent of the total attempts, although they represented only 11 per cent of the total population. Fifty per cent were of medium socioeconomic status, and 38 per cent of low economic status. Twenty-one per cent were from broken homes. The reasons listed were: quarrels with relatives and friends (48.8%), depres- sion (16.7%) school difficulties 8.4 “nervous” and “emotionally upset” (8.3%) pregnancy-illegitimate (6.3%), Lea?% (4.3y), difficulties with the law (5.4%), and unspecified (8.3%). Many attempts incluxed a “love” factor. There was an increased incidence during the spring, and the month of Ma had the highest rate. A prior attempt had been made by 8 per cent of the individuafs studied. The author warns that special attention must be iven to those who talk about committing suicide. The ratio of attempts to comJetion is in excess of 100: 1. Although more males completed the act, females made more attempts-76 per cent of those in the study. Most attem ts were impulsive and not aimed at destruction, but at getting attention. The auttor cited the importance of education in anti-suicide campaigns, the need to motivate concern for smcide prevention, and the necessity of providing facilities for diagnosis and therapy of emotionally disturbed adolescents.

THE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH

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Medical Association, 101: 1 fianuary 4, 1965). 101-105.

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Cahill, Michael, Anthony Shaw, and Vincent J. Fontana, “Hazards to Health- Escalator Avulsions.” The New England Journal of Medicine, 271: 26 (December 17, 1964), 1310-1312.

Though there are few serious injuries in accidents associated with escalators, this article is of interest to health personnel because it illustrates the potential danger and the efforts made by the industry to decrease the accident fre uency. Ninety-two and six-tenths per cent of injuries occurred in adult females or in c%ildren under twleve years of age. The newer installations of escalators are predominantly in the suburbs, where casual footwear and laying children are more numerous and tend to accentuate the accident potential an: counteract the benefits derived from improved safety practice. The major danger points on escalators are where moving and stationary parts are in close approximation; these points include the narrow space between the moving step and stationary comb plate a t the top and bottom of the escalator and the space between the moving handrail and the stationary balustrade, particularly the opening at the top or bottom of the balustrade where the handrail enters it. The authors give four case histories of serious injuries, and, together with the manu- facturers, offer these recommendations: local governments should adopt and make mandatory the standards and recommendations in the latest edition of the American Standard Safety Code for Escalators; legislation should be enacted to make some of the important code regulations retroactive to eliminate hazards that exist in older installations and to make mandatory periodic inspections; suitable warning signs should be posted’ and physicians and public health officials should become aware of this problem and take appropriate measures in preventive medicine.

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Betke, Klaus, “Civilization and the Child,” Universitas-A German Review of the

The medico-sanitary revohion, now almost a century old, brings radical chan es to the well-balanced system of birth and death. It offsets natural selection, enabfes man to tolerate extraordinary stress and frees children from deterrents to growth and allows them to mature hysicaliy and intellectually at an earlier age-the six year old today is a year a n f a half ahead of a child of that age at the turn of the century. Puberty is concomitantly earlier. Today, the lack of physical exercise replaces ricketts and premature heavy physical work as the major contributor to postural faults. Our congested environment aids the spread of respiratory diseases. Paradoxically good hygiene prolongs our susceptibilit to poliom elitis until young adulthood-vaccination exposes us earlier in a harm? Jmotional hazards are found in “excessive sensory stimulation” of mass m ~ ~ . w % m - f a m i l y e nences are fewer and children of working mothers (“key” children) lose their%ling of family safety. Physical fitness ma be the antithesis of survival, for it is the active, energetic, and enterprising child wzo is the likely victim of an accident. To create space for children to play is as necessary m constructin sewage plants. This is part of preventive hygiene-other accidents, such as scal6, falling out of Windows, etc. will likewise be fewer. As each generation of children comes to grips with the changes in its civilization, it may be difficult to say whether it is facing new diseases or simply new situations.

Ar ts and Sciences, (Quarter1 English Language Edition), 6: 2 (1963/64), 131-143.

* * * * * Fish, Barbara, “Screening Psychiatric Dru s for Children,” Research Project Sum-

maries, National Institutes of Health, Pubfic Health Service, Publication No. 1208 (December, 1963), 38-39.

ychiatric drugs on emotionally disturbed children has been developef by the Childlsn’s Psychopharmacology Unit of the New York University School of Medicine. The researchers have confirmed that children respond to drugs differently than do adults. For example, drugs that may calm adults may cause excitement in children, and drugs that may prove meffec- tive for adults may prove helpful for children. Dosages have to be careful1 deter- mined separately for children. In the study, disturbed subjectn were dividYed into four groups: (1) severely im aired schizo hrenics, (2) borderline schizophrenics, (3) predominantly neurotic cEildren, and b) those with paranoid characteristics Placeboes were given to control groups. Thorazine (a tranquilizer) and benadryi an anti-histamine which acts as a mild tranquilizer in children) were administered.

bighty per cent of the individuals of groups one and two improved on thorazine and 50 er cent improved on benadryl. The im rovement among those of groups three anffour given thorazine did not differ si i!xmtly from the control groups. There was improvement with the use of b e n a g l , however. In eneral, two improved on use of dru s; roups three and four respondea well to !z:%l%E: ps chotherapy, and speciaf efucation. If the children had not been clmsified, the edctiveness of drug therapy may have appeared e ually great for all groups. The investigators estimate that 60 per cent of severely (disturbed children can be moder- ately improved by the dru s presently available. Amon children in an outpatient population who were too gsturbed to benefit from psysotherapy, drugs enabled one-fourth to go to regular school and another half t o participate m group activities and special classes.

I I JOINT SESSION WITH

AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ‘The Seventh Annual Meeting on School Health arranged jointly

by the American Medical Association and the American School Health Association will be held on June 20th, 1965 in New York City. Further announcement of the time and place of the meeting will be made in a subsequent issue of the JOURNAL.

An improved method for evaluatin the effect of

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