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Acute neuritis of the optic nerve may be due to any one of the following conditions: (1) syphilis; (2) tuberculosis; (3) the acute infectious diseases—including erysipelas, mumps, influenza, tonsillitis, measles, pneumonia and malaria; (4) toxic conditions—caused by disease of the kidneys, extensive skin burns, methyl alcohol, the excessive or long continued use of quinine, salicylates, iodoform, arsenic, tobacco, ethyl hydrocuprein and, rarely, carbon monoxide; (5) multiple sclerosis; (6) infection of the accessory nasal sinuses. In each of these conditions there is a stage in which the inflammatory process may be confined to the optic nerve posterior to its entrance into the eye, and little may be learned from inspection of the eyegrounds. Later, the changes in the papillomacular bundle may cause a wedged-shaped area of pallor on the temporal side of the disk.The nerve fibers and interstitial connective tissue that make up the papillomacular bundle are the parts of

A program for reducing the incidence of streptococcic disease was instituted in a system of primary schools involving 6,460 children. All children with symptoms of respiratory infection were inspected daily; a culture was made from the nasopharynx of every child with signs of streptococcic infection; any child found infected with betahemolytic streptococci was excluded from school until antibiotic therapy had been started or (if such therapy was refused) until a negative culture was obtained. The program was found to be workable without any disruption of school routines. The co-operation of parents was excellent, and the project was financed without difficulty. On the basis of experience in the past, 18 and 27 new cases of rheumatic fever would have been expected for the school years 1955-1956 and 1956-1957 respectively; instead, only 3 and 2 cases were found. Enforced treatment or exclusion of school children infected with streptococci was found to be practicable. It was effective in reducing the incidence of rheumatic disease and valuable as a community educational effort.

1.With increased utilization of commercial jet aircraft, the possibility of loss of cabin pressurization and subsequent high altitude exposure of the occupants increases. The adverse effects of exposure to the reduced barometric pressure of high altitude, per se,has not been publicized. Therefore, it becomes important for physicians to become familiar with the manifestations of altitude dysbarism.2.The effects of reduced barometric pressure result from the gases trapped within the body cavities or the evolution of gases from the liquid phase within the tissues or body fluids.3.In general, trapped gases can be quite discomforting, but not usually dangerous unless the pressures generated are sufficient to cause the rupture of a hollow viscus, and this is quite rare. Generally, re-establishment of a patent foramen between the cavity and the atmosphere will result in relief.4.However, the problems that arise when the nitrogen in the body fluids or fat tissue comes out of solution can be life threatening. Since this is more apt to occur in older and more obese individuals, a significant percentage of the flying public can be considered “dysbarism prone.” Here the manifestations are bends (with extremity pains), chokes (with the respiratory distress, substernal pain, and dry cough) and neurocirculatory collapse. Neurocirculatory collapse may present a bizarre pattern of neurologic aberrations which resolve if the patient recovers. When circulatory failure becomes evident, mortality can be expected to be high and intensive care is essential.5.Since neurocirculatory failure has been reported to develop rapidly after a relatively symptom-free period, it is advocated that individuals who experience any manifestation of dysbarism be observed for at least two hours after removal from altitude exposure.6.Generally treatment is supportive and includes the administration of oxygen. However, it appears that the early correction of reduced circulating plasma volume is also essential.

The maintenance of an Eye Protection Programme is a logical extension of the implementation and introduction of that programme. There is no real line of demarcation where one finishes and the other begins, thus It Is difficult to avoid some duplication in presenting the follow‐up programme.

Experience of physicians, especially those in the armed forces, has demonstrated the important contribution the medical profession can make to aviation safety. Many complex factors are involved in the investigation of an air disaster and careful planning is important for the physician in overcoming obstacles that may be encountered. Collection and correlation of medical data with other factors relating to an accident are of paramount importance. The disciplines of pathology and toxicology play key roles in accident investigation. Only by gathering detailed data from each accident can the responsible safety agencies document their requirements for the materiel and the operational changes needed to make flying safer.