PSYCHOLOGY
Head of Department : Professor O. A. Oeser.
(1) The Establishment of Norms for Heights and Weights of Infants and Pre-School Children in the City of Melbourne, 1946
Workers : Dr. D. W. McElwain, Mr. S. B. Hammond and 9 students.
No adequate tables and graphs of height-weight norms have been made since 1936, and in that period considerable changes in general economic conditions, diet and disease control have occurred. Techniques being used are identical with those for establishing standard norms for psychological tests, and the investigation gives an opportunity for training psychologists in group investigations.
(2) Studies in Social Tensions: Part I, Immigration and Antisemitism Workers : Professor O. A. Oeser, Mr. S. B. Hammond and 40 students
of Collective Behaviour.
There is an absence of rigorous scaling studies in the field of social tensions and prejudice, and little is known about the dimensions of prejudice. This study investigates some of the conditions affecting such social attitudes and, at the same time, is being used as a method of intensive training in field work and field interviewing for psychologists.
(3) Grading Tests for Immigrants
Workers : Dr. D. W. McElwain, Mr. J. J. Pratt, Mr. H. A. Presser and Mr. B. B. Harold.
The Commonwealth Office of Education undertakes to teach English language and the Australian way of life to batches of immigrants at Bathurst and Bonegilla. The problem is to devise language and aptitude tests for non-English speaking immigrants, as well as for those who already have some knowledge of English, so that they may be effectively graded into classes appropriate to their levels of attainment and aptitude. Information is also required about the process of adaptation to a new cultural environment.
(4) Pilot Morale
Worker : Mr. A. A. Gilchrist.
A breakdown of relations between pilots in flight and flight-controllers may have serious consequences. The relations are complicated by_the fact that communication is not face-to-face, by the personality character- istics of both pilots and flight-controllers, and by the social symbols regulating their interaction.
PHYSIOLOGY
Head of Department : Professor R. D. Wright.
A. GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY
(b) Workers: Dr. D. A. Denton, Dr. V. Wynn, Dr. I. McDonald, Mrs. S. Simon.
An investigation is being carried out on the problems of renal behaviour when electrolytes are subtracted from the body in disproportionate amounts. There is evidence that a new factor, hitherto unrecognized, is responsible for the kidney's maintenance of the homeostatic state under conditions of disproportionate electrolyte loss. At the same time an investigation is being made of nitrogen metabolism under these circum- stances. The techniques of paper partition chromatography are being developed to enable the study of amino acids and peptides in biological fluids to be undertaken.
(c) Worker : Mr. R. H. J. Morris.
Mr. Stratmann's work on some aspects of the mechanism of electrolyte distribution in biological systems has been continued. Procedures have been developed using dog erythrocytes as experimental material.
(d) Worker: Mr. C. T. Pringle.
The manner in which the parathyroid hormone brings about an increased excretion of inorganic phosphate in the urine is being investi- gated. The experimental work is designed to see if the parathromone affects in any way the alkaline phosphatase and the phosphorylation processes of the cells of the proximal convoluted tubule of the kidney.
(2) Blood Supply of Regenerating Tissues
Workers : Professor R. D. Wright and Dr. M. J. Etheridge.
Work on the blood supply of regenerating tissues has continued, and it has been proved that regenerated liver tissue develops its blood supply from perfectly normal sources. The study of regeneration has been extended to the lung where a dual circulation similar to that in the liver exists. Regenerating lung tissue, as in the case of the liver, develops its blood supply from each of the two systems to give a perfectly normal blood supply in the regenerated tissue.
(3) Relationship of Muscle Activity to the Erect Posture Workers: Professor R. D. Wright and Mr. I. W. Kelton.
The work referred to last year on the erect posture in man has been completed and the general conclusions are that the locking mechanism of joints in the human being is of the utmost importance, but muscular action occurs occasionally to restore the position. The normally accepted explanation of the stretch reflex for this muscular action is insufficient.
(4) Role of Skeletal Muscle Worker : Dr. S. Rose.
Skeletal muscles play an important quantitative part in metabolic activity. The present investigation is to determine this exact quantitative relationship and its application to therapeutics.
(5) Electrophysiology
(a) Workers: Associate Professor F. H. Shaw and Miss M. Mac- Callum.
The action of yohimbine and other drugs on the action current of nerve has been investigated. Yohimbine depresses the action current
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reversibly, the depression lasting for only a few seconds. Velocity and threshold changes have also been noticed. This is the first occasion on which a so rapidly reversible action of a drug on the spine has been noticed.
(b) Workers : Associate Professor F. H. Shaw and Mr. J. F. Main- land.
Retrograde impulses from a completely curarised frog nerve muscle preparation have been discovered. Whether these occur in the sensory or motor fibres is being investigated.
(c) Workers : Associate Professor F. H. Shaw and Dr. I. A. N.
McCallum.
It has been possible to separate the conductile from the contractile elements in muscle by treating the preparation with yohimbine.
(6) Effect of Calcium on Contraction of Muscle Worker : Dr. W. T. Agar.
The effect of the calcium ion on the contraction of different types of muscle shows variations which have caused some confusion. Analysis of the action of calcium has shown that some of the difficulties can be resolved by recognizing that it has independent actions on contractility and threshold for stimulation which may be present in different degree in different types of muscle.
(7) Relationship of Venous Pressure to Increased Pulmonary Venti- lation in Exercise
Worker : Dr. W. T. Agar.
Known factors do not satisfactorily explain the increased pulmonary ventilation accompanying exercise. Experiments have been conducted to determine whether changes in venous pressure could be a contributory factor.
(8) Neuromuscular Transmission
(a) Workers: Dr. G. Reid and Mr. D. Dewhurst.
Work is proceeding on a study of neuromuscular transmission in the toad and in the extraocular muscles of the mammal. The response of the latter muscles to intra-arterial injection resembles that of a denervated mammalian muscle.
(b) Worker: Dr. G. Reid.
The potentiating action of adrenaline on neuromuscular transmission (Orbeli Effect) has been found to be unaffected by adrenolytic agents.
(9) Vasoconstrictor Substance of Serum Worker : Dr. G. Reid.
Work continues on this substance. Rabbit platelets although rich in histamine, as is well known, also form the basoconstrictor substance like the platelets of other animals.
(10) Action of Sulphonamides on Cell Division Worker : Miss D. Dyason.
During the period December 18th to February 20th, numerous un- successful attempts were made to obtain ripe sea urchin eggs for the
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purposes of investigating the action of sulphonamides on cell division.
It would appear that the spawning period of Heliocidaris erythrogamma commences towards the end of February or early in March.
(11) Tissue Oxidation Mechanisms
Workers : Dr. E. M. Trautner and Dr. E. A. H. Roberts.
Work begun in Oxford on the mechanism of non-enzymatic oxidation of amino acids by adrenochrome, o-quinone and related substances has been continued and concluded.
A. PHARMACOLOGY
(12) Pharmacology of Acridine Antiseptics Worker : Mr. G. Bentley.
An assay for monacrin in plasma has been developed and using this method blood levels were followed in animals which had been intraven- ously injected. The compound disappears apparently into the muscles at a very rapid rate. During the course of this work it was discovered that monacrin was an analeptic for morphine. Various other acridine derivatives have been tested for this activity.
(13) Pharmacology of Sympathetic Ganglia
Workers : Associate Professor F. H. Shaw and Miss M. MacCallum.
Investigation has shown that there are probably two pharmacologically distinct types of cells in sympathetic ganglia, one of which has been hitherto unsuspected. They can be used to account for the constrictor and dilator activity of the postganglionic fibres.
(14) Body Temperature in Anaesthesia
Workers : Associate Professor F. H. Shaw and Mr. K. H. Shankly.
The effect of body temperature on the duration of Nembutal anaesthesia in white rats was investigated, a sex variation being noted at the same time. The relation between body temperature and mortality was seen, and an LD50 determined.
(15) Toxicity Testing
Worker : Mr. K. H. Shankly.
Toxicity of the following substances was investigated: Dulcin, Triton X100, Triton A20, Triton WR1339, Tween 80, 2-amino-4-nitro-phenol propyl ether.
(16) Isolation of Alkaloids from Native Flora
Workers : Dr. E. M. Trautner and Dr. O. E. Neufeld.
The esterified alkaloids from Heliotropium Europeum growing in Australia were isolated. The main alkaloid appears to be a new one and was called iso-heliotrine ; the by-alkaloid was identified with lasiocarpine.
(17) Pharmacology of Adrenaline and Acetylcholine
(a) Workers : Dr. E. M. Trautner and Dr. I. A. N. McCallum.
Esterified alkaloids of the tropine and heliotridine group were examined in their action on action potential and conduction of the isolated frog
sartorius. Two different effects were observed and it was possible to ascribe them to specific groupings of the esterifying acids.
(b) Workers: Dr. E. M. Trautner and Mr. R. Bradley.
The oxidation of adrenaline was investigated with a view to deter- mining the nature of a shortlived, strongly fluorescent oxidation product of adrenaline which has recently been shown to effect sensitization of the surviving f rogheart and other organ preparations.
(18) Extraction of Drugs from Australian Plants Worker : Mr. J. McKenzie.
Extraction and assay of the Cryptopleurine content of Cryptocarya pleurosperma has been carried out. Tests were made of extracts of Laportia moroides for histamine-like activity, but so far attempts to isolate the active principle have been unsuccessful.
VETERINARY SCIENCE Head of Department : Dr. H. E. Albiston.
(1) Streptococcal Mastitis Worker : Mr. E. M . Pullar.
The investigation into the stimulation of immunity against Str.
agalactiae, and the detection of circulating immune bodies in the blood- stream is continuing.
(2) Swine Erysipelas
Worker : Mr. E. M. Pullar.
A survey of the incidencé of this disease in pigs in Victoria has been commenced, and investigations are being made into the bacteriology of the environment of infected piggeries with special reference to soil infection with Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. The field work is being carried out by officers of the Livestock Division, Department of Agri- culture.
(3) Chemical feminization of Cockerels
Workers : Mr. E. M. Pullar and Miss N. Swift.
A study of the effects of the subcutaneous implants of oestrogens in cockerels, and a chemical analysis of the carcase of treated birds, to determine the relation of fat to the increase of body weight.
(4) Trichinella spiralis Worker : Mr. E. M. Pullar.
As far as is known, this parasite does not occur in Victoria, but to determine whether this is so, an examination of the diaphragms of domestic cats is being undertaken for cysts of T. spiralis.
(5) Avian Spirochaetosis Worker : Mr. C. J. R. Gorrie.
The administration of a vaccine prepared in developing eggs for the prevention of tick fever in fowls has given promising results in laboratory
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experiments. Field trials are being undertaken in districts where spiro- chaetosis causes serious losses.
(6) Fowl Pox
Worker : Mr. C. J. R. Gorrie.
The control of fowl pox during an epidemic is always a problem, and the effect of vaccination with pigeon pox virus is being studied to determine its immunizing properties, and its effect on the development of the disease.
(7) Biochemical Investigations Worker : Miss N. Swift.
In this work, blood and urine specimens from cattle suffering from metabolic diseases such as grass tetany and hypocalcaemia are being examined systematically. Work on the determination of the mineral constituents of the blood of cattle and sheep in health and disease is continuing.
ZOOLOGY
Head of Department : Professor O. W. Tiegs.
(1) Investigation of Lamarckian Inheritance
Workers : Professor Agar, Professor Tiegs, Dr. F. H. Drummond and Miss M. M. Gunson.
This is a repetition of the famous experiment of William MacDougall, in which a striking claim was made for the inheritance of "acquired characters." The experimental animals are rats, and the experiment consists in measuring, generation after generation, of the rate at which the animals learn a particular task. The experiment has been in progress since 1932, and is likely to continue for many years. The results to date, covering generations 1-42 show, as expected, no positive effect. A third report on the experiment has recently been published.
(2) Insect Wing Muscle Histology Worker : Professor O. W. Tiegs.
As is well known, the muscles that move the wings in insects are the most highly specialized of all muscles. The present research, which is directed towards determining their structure, innervation and develop- ment, has been in progress for several years, and will require several more before it is completed.
(3) Innervation of Muscle Worker : Mr. H. Hoffman.
Mr. Hoffman is at present examining histologically the re-innervation of muscle-fibres from intact nerves, when one of several nerves to a muscle is severed.
(4) Electron-microscopy of fowl-sperm Worker : Mr. G. W. Grigg.
In collaboration with Mr. Hodge of C.S.I.R.O., Mr. Grigg is examining the minute structure of sperm of fowls. This work is now ready for publication.
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MILDURA BRANCH BIOLOGY
Senior Lecturer in Charge : Mr. W. Boardman.
(1) Work on.the hair tracts of the vertebrate skin Worker : Mr. W. Boardman.
Systematic examination of the series of marsupial embryos that form the basis of this work is now completed and the final paper on this section
—
Hair Tracts of Marsupials. Part III. Description of species, concluded—has been submitted to the Linnean Society of New South Wales for favour of publication. Two further papers have reached an advanced stage, and should be published during 1949, viz. Hair Tracts of Marsupials. Part IV. The Concept of Primary and Secondary Characters; Hair Tracts of Marsupials. Part V. The Biology of Whorled Systems.(2) Lake Ecology
Workers: Mr. W. Boardman and Staff.
Preliminary field work on the biology of lakes in north-western Victoria has been commenced. Two lake series have been visited—Lake Hattah and the Pink Lakes. In each case collections were made and recorded. The staff of the Biology Department as a whole participated in this work. When sufficient data have been accumulated from the preliminary surveys it is proposed to narrow the field of investigation for more intensive work.
(3) Anatomy of the Australian Periwinkle Worker : Miss J. Liddell.
The anatomy of some of the most common species of the Australian periwinkle, Austrocochlea Fischer 1885, have been examined. This mollusc was chosen as a type because of its wide distribution, the variety of its forms and its common occurrence. The species studied were :-
A. obtusa—Dillwyn, 1817
A. torri—Cotton and Godfrey, 1934 A. zebra—Menke, 1828
A. adelaidae—Philippi, 1949 A. odontes—Wood, 1828 A. concamerata—Wood, 1828.
A survey of the literature concerning the historical development of the present classification of these forms is almost completed.
Dissection has largely been confined to A. obtusa, but the external features and natural habitats of several other species have also been recorded. Microscopical examination (by means of serial sections) has proved to be of limited application, because of the presence of sand in the stomach.
Ecological notes and field collections were made possible by excursions during vacations to Cronulla, N.S.W., and to Port Noarlunga, Outer Harbour and Port Lincoln, S.A.
CHEMISTRY
Senior Lecturer in Charge : Mr. L. R. D. Pyke.
(1) Active Principles of Certain Plants in the Mildura Area Workers : Mr. W. E. Badcock and Mr. I. C. Parsons.
The first plant examined was Zypophyllusn Apiculatum (Twinleaf).
This excited interest because it is a fleshy-looking, attractive plant which, however, is not eaten by stock.
Preliminary investigations failed to isolate any alkaloid. Analysis of the leaves and non-woody stems indicates that the high salinity would account for the avoidance by stock of this material as a food.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE AND LITERATURE PUBLISHED BY MEMBERS OF STAFF, RESEARCH
WORKERS AND STUDENTS March 1st, 1948, to February 28th, 1949
AGRICULTURE
Professor S. M. Wadham, M.A. (Cantab. and Melb.), Agr.Dip.
(Cantab.).—
(1) The Humus Controversy. (The Annie B. Cunning Lecture on Nutrition delivered to the Royal College of Physicians, Brisbane, Pp. 20, June, 1948).
(2) Some Problems in Agriculture. (Education Mag. (Viet.), 5 : 147, 1948).
(3) The Agricultural Position as I See It. (South Aust. J. Agric., 52: 117, Sept., 1948).
(4) Proposals for Forestry Training in New Zealand. (Report prepared for University of New Zealand, 1948.)
Associate Professor G. W. Leeper, M.Sc.—
(1) Introduction to Soil Science. (Melb. Univ. Press, 1949, pp. 222.) 222 (2) The Need for Destructive Criticism. (J. Aust. Inst. Agric. Sci.,
14 : 33, 1948.) A. J. McIntyre, M.Agr.Sc.-
Sunraysia—a sociological survey of the dried fruit industry in the irrigation areas around Mildura. (Melb. Univ. Press, 1948, pp. 149.)
I. Molnar, B.Agr.Sc. (Melb.),.Ph.D. (Budapest)—
The Peanut Production Scheme in British East Africa with a com- parison between the climates of certain localities in British East Africa and tropical Australia. (J. Aust. Inst. Agric. Sci., 14 : 125, 1948.)
ANATOMY
Professor S. Sunderland, D.Sc., M.D., B.S., F.R.A.C.P.-
(1) Observations on injuries of the radial nerve due to gunshot wounds and other causes. (Aust. N.Z. J. Surg., 17 : 253, 1948.) (2) Distribution of the sympathetic fibres in the brachial plexus in
man. (Brain, 71: 81, 1948.)
(3) Neurovascular relations and anomalies at the base of the brain.
(J. Neural., Neurosurg. and Psych., 11 : 243, 1948.)
(4) Trends in anatomical research. (Roy. Melb. Hosp. Clin. Rep., Centenary Vol.: 158, 1948.)
Professor S. Sunderland and L. J. Ray, M.B., B.S.-
The intraneural topography of the sciatic nerve. (Brain, 71: 242, 1948.)
Professor S. Sunderland and M. Kelly, M.D.-
The painful sequelae of peripheral nerve injuries. (Aust. N.Z. J. Surg., 18: 75, 1948.)
Associate Professor K. F. Russell, M.B., M.S., F.R.A.C.S.-
The Royal Melbourne Hospital and its early surgeons, 1841-1900.
(Roy. Melb. Hosp. Clin. Rep., Centenary Vol.: 15, 1948.) BACTERIOLOGY
Professor S. D. Rubbo, Ph.D., Dip.Bact. (Lond.), B.Sc., M.P.S. (Syd.), M.B., B.S.-
(1) Some Problems Concerning the Aetiology of Rheumatic Fever.
(Med. J. Aust., i: 133, 1949.)
(2) Infection—A hospital problem. (Med. J. Aust., ii: 627, 1948.) (3) Immunity in Tuberculosis. (Med. J. Aust., ii: 427, 1948.) (4) Cross-Infection in Hospital due to Salmonella derby. (J. Hyg.
(Camb.), 46 : 151, 1948.)
(5) Mode of Action of 8-Hydroxyquinoline (oxine) . A biological approach. (Proc. 4th Int. Congress Microbiol., 149, Copen- hagen, 1949.)
D. F. Gray, D.Sc. (Q'land), B.V.Sc. (Syd. and Q'land), Dip.Bact.
(Lond.).—
Pertussis Immunization—Additional Factors governing the Potency for Mice of Phase 1 Vaccines. (J. Immun., 61 : 35, 1949.) R. Mushin, M.Sc.-
An outbreak of gastro-enteritis due to Salmonella derby. (J. Hyg.
(Camb.), 46: 151, 1948.)
Nancy Lewis, M.D., D.O., F.R.A.C.S. (Oph.) and A. A. Ferris, M.B., B.S.-
A Case of Primary Meningococcal Conjunctivitis. (Med. J. Aust., 15th May, 1948.)
BIOCHEMISTRY
Professor V. M. Trikojus, B.Sc., D.Phil. (Oxon), M.Sc., and D. E.
White (University of Western Australia).—
The Synthesis of Myristicin. (J. Chem. Soc., 436, 1949.) F. J. R. Hird, M.Agr.Sc. and Professor V. M. Trikojus.-
Paper Partition Chromatography with Thyroxine and Analogues.
(Aust. J. Sci., 10: 185, 1948.)
Dora Winikoff, M.Sc. (Cracow) and Professor V. M. Trikojus.- Nl-Diethylsulphanilamide : A Reagent for the Colorimetric Estimation
of Thyroxine. (Biochem. J., 42: 475, 1948.)
Mary T. McQuillan, M.Sc., Professor V. M. Trikojus and A. D.
Campbell and A. W. Turner (Division of Animal Health and Production, C. S.I.R.O.) .—
64
The Prolonged Administration of Thyroxine to Cows, with Particular Reference to the Effects on Thyroid Function and on Pituitary Thyrotrophic Hormone. (Brit. J. Exp. Path., 29: 93, 1948.) J. W. H. Lugg, Ph.D. (Lond.), D.Sc. (W.A.), D.I.C., F.R.I.C.-
Extension of our Understanding of Protein Function in Living Organ- isms. (Aust. J. Sci., 10: 132, 1948.)
J. W. H. Lugg and B. T. Overell, M.Sc.-
"One-" and "Two-Dimensional" Partition Chromatographic Separa- tions of Organic Acids on an Inert Sheet Support. (Aust. J.
Sci. Res. (A) , 1: 98, 1948.)
J. W. H. Lugg and P. Stanley, M.Sc.-
Heats of Combustion of Leaf Proteins and Incidentally of Linseed Mucilage and Citrus Pectin. (Brit. J. Nutrition, 2: 21, 1948.) J. W. H. Lugg and R. A. Weller (Division of Biochemistry and General
Nutrition, C.S.I.R.O., Adelaide).—
(1) Partial Amino-acid Compositions of some Plant-leaf Protein Preparations : the Arginine, Histidine and Lysine Contents.
(Biochem. J., 42: 408, 1948.)
(2) Protein in Senescent Leaves of Trifolium subterraneum: Partial Amino-acid Composition. (Biochem. J., 42: 412, 1948.)
BOTANY
D. W. Goodall, B.Sc., A.R.C.Sc., Ph.D. (Lond.), D.I.C., F.L.S.- (1) Studies in the diagnosis of mineral deficiency.—IV. The mineral
content of barley plants in relation to potassium deficiency.
(Ann. Appl. Biol., 35: 605, 1948.)
(2) A quantitative study of the early development of the seedling of Cacao (Theobroma cacao). (Ann. Bot. (N.S.), 13: 1, 1948.) P. S. Parsai, B.Sc.-
Histological studies of the pustules on orange leaves due to boron- toxicity effects. (J. Dept. Agric., Vict., 47: 183, 1948.)
CIVIL
ENGINEERINGProfessor J. A. L. Matheson, M.B.E., M.Sc. (Manchester), Ph.D.
(Birm.), M.C.E., A.M.I.C.E., A.M.I.Struct.E., M.I.E. Aust.- The Mechanics of Locked Coil Wire Ropes. (Engineering, 578, 1948).
Associate Professor G. J. Thornton-Smith, B.E., B.Surv. (W.A.), M.C.E., L.S., A.M.I.E. Aust.-
Curvature Correction to Azimuth Angles and Hour Angles Calculated from the average of Observed Zenith Distances. (The Aus-
tralian Surveyor, March-June, 1948.)F. Laszlo, D.Ing. (Darmstadt), Dip.Ing. (Budapest).—
Discussion on "Internal Stresses." Symposium in the Institute of Metals, 1948.
CHEMISTRY