Forensic skiagraphy

Since roentgenograms are merely skiagraphs and not photographs, and since they are accordingly subject to erroneous interpretations or deductions, it would seem highly desirable that courts rely upon expert analysis of them, rather than demonstration of the negatives themselves. Such practice is customary in connection with clinical laboratory work, pathology, bacteriology and many other medical fields. Interpretations of skiagraphs should be clear, complete and consistent.     

Cancer detection centers; the experience to date in California

Cancer "detection centers" (that is, centers for the examination of presumably well or asymptomatic persons) have been tried out in four different California communities during the last three years. In all instances-as in most other such centers throughout the United States-they have not been successful in restricting examination to well persons.The detection centers in California may therefore be described more accurately as "cancer examination and detection clinics."Three of the four centers have been closed owing to the small yield of cancer cases discovered, plus the fact that the cost of operation exceeded the total available funds of the local branch of the Cancer Society. In addition, it was extremely difficult to obtain and maintain competence on the part of the professional staff in such centers.A more practical approach to the problem of earlier tumor detection would appear to be emphasis on making "every physician's office a detection center," and stressing the annual examination of persons over 40 years of age for tumors in the five common accessible sites. These are the tumors most readily curable today.     

Results of irradiation in cancer of the lip,tongue and ear

CANCER OF THE LIP: The primary lesion can be controlled by irradiation in approximately 80 per cent of cases. For lesions with metastases there is only about a 25 per cent chance of five-year arrest (irradiation of the primary lesion followed by excision of involved nodes). CANCER OF THE TONGUE: Lesions in the anterior two-thirds are controllable by irradiation in about 50 per cent of cases if the nodes are not involved; the salvage is only about 15 per cent if the nodes are involved (nodes treated surgically). Lesions in the posterior third of the tongue are seldom controlled in the author's experience. CANCER OF THE EAR (AURICLE): Five-year arrest of basal-cell lesions should be attained by irradiation in about 80 per cent of cases; of squamous-cell lesions in about 60 per cent. If the lesion is extensive, radiation does not offer a superior cosmetic result to operation and entails danger of late chondronecrosis. Therefore extensive lesions are probably best treated surgically. In either event, it appears probable that results of irradiation can be improved by the use of more adequate fields and greater fractionation.     

Time Budgets, Thermoregulation, and Maximal Locomotor Performance: Are Reptiles Olympians or Boy Scouts?

SYNOPSIS. DO ectothermal vertebrates routinely make full useof their locomotor capacities in nature? We address this questionby asking whether reptiles ever sprint at maximum burst speedsand whether they often move at speeds near maximum aerobicallysustainable levels. Relevant data are largely anecdotal butsuggest that lizards (and perhaps other vertebrate ectotherms)do not routinely perform at maximal capacities. They appearto do so only in situations that have a critical impact on fitness.Nevertheless, active lizards do thermoregulate carefully suchthat they usually maintain the potential for performing at maximalcapacity. We consider alternative, but not exclusive, explanationsfor why reptiles might maintain apparently "excessive" capacitiesand conclude with suggestions for new field and laboratory studiesthat would more rigorously address these issues.