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ABSTRACTS FROM CURRENT LITERATURE 215 Early Detection of Lead Exposure. E. H. Schiotz, J. Norweg. M. A. 70:607 (Oct. 1) 1950. Stippled cell counts performed in 1,066 cases in which workers in Oslo had been exposed to lead revealed pathologic values in 20 per cent of the cases. Counts varying from 500 to 900 stippled cells per million were obtained in 11.6 per cent of the cases, from 1,000 to 2,400 in 5.6 per cent and more than 2,500 in 3 per cent. Lead absorption was obviously most marked in lead welders (2,500 or more in 50 per cent). Next came storage battery workers, lead foundry workers, fingerprint experts, ceramic workers and automobile radiator workers. Printers were less exposed (only 0.5 per cent showed 2,500 or more). Clinical evidence of lead poisoning was encountered in 5 cases. If the count exceeds 5,000, the worker is temporarily removed frorii lead exposure. In 10 storage battery workers, the coproporphyrin content of the urine varied from 0.24 to 1.72 mg. per liter. Simultaneous counts of stippled cells and basophilic aggregations were carried out in 188 cases. Good correlation was found. Simultaneous counts of basophilic aggregations and reticulocytes in 96 cases (in 79 of them the patients had been exposed to lead) showed that the number of reticulocytes exceeded the. number of basophilic aggregations in 21 per cent. In 6 cases in which there were more than 1,000 stippled cells per million and reticulocyte counts varied from 12 to 22 per thousand, the values of basophilic aggregations were normal (11 per thousand or less). It is concluded that as compared with the counting of stippled cells the counting of basophilic aggregations is less time wasting and is an easier method for untrained personnel. On the other hand, it fails in a certain percentage of cases, for which reason the Factory Inspection Board of Oslo keeps the stippled cell count as the standard hematological method for early detection of lead absorption. Adaptation of Author's English Summary. The Toxicity of "Cold-Wave" Fluids. A. P. J. van der Burg, Nederl. tijdschr. v. geneesk. 93:3400 (Oct. 1) 1949. A female hairdresser, aged 22, complained of malaise, nausea, vomiting and giddiness for about a year. During this time she had been using "cold wave" solutions for permanent waving and had at first suffered from a swelling and erythema of the skin of her hands, followed by desquamation'. This had ceased to trouble her since she had been wearing rubber gloves for the application. Physical examination revealed no abnormality of any kind, but it was discovered that her symptoms were those of mild thioglycollic acid poisoning and that this is the main constituent of these cold wave solutions. Reference was made to a publication on the subject, issued by the U. S. Food and Drugs Administration (The Percutaneous Toxicity of Thioglycolates, The Toilet Goods Association, no. 7, May 16, 1947), from which it emerged that these substances are certainly potentially toxic but, except for those with an idiosyncrasy, are safe enough if carefully applied. A warning is given that such cases may occur more frequently in view of the introduction on a large scale of home permanent waving outfits, which make use of similar solutions. (See also Bull Hyg. 24:1019, 1949.) a. l. Winner [Bull. Hyg.]. Medicine and Surgery Vocational Rehabilitation of Psychiatric Patients. Thomas A. C. Rennie, Temple Burling and Luther E. Woodward, Pp. 133. New York, The Commonwealth Fund, 1950. This paper reports the results of a survey conducted by the Division on Rehabilitation, of the National Committee for Mental Hygiene, in New York, Connecticut and Michigan to determine vocational needs and opportunities for the psychiatrically handicapped patient. A group of 215 postpsychotic patients with varying histories of mental illness were studied in the posthospitaliza tion period. N The survey attempts to discover during which phase of mental rehabilitation the patient's vocational rehabilitation should begin, and how the patient can be approached most satisfactorily. Certain mental patients are not suitable for vocational rehabilitation counseling; some should tik: I' *t \a . )Au.. if . p> S. V. ` - If P: , t(i. , r.