184 C. M. McCay 



children in comparison with the control group continued 

 upon the institutional diet but from appearances they 

 seemed to develop better colour and better condition of the 

 hair. Recently, the dietician told us that she believed they 

 are seeing fewer attacks in a group of children fed this diet 

 and subject to epileptic type of seizures. This makes one 

 wonder if a complete diet according to modern nutritional 

 knowledge may yield results similar to those found during 

 the past year when a deficient infant food was supplemented 

 with pyridoxine. 



In many fields we could learn how to improve human well- 

 being by having those trained in research work in this manner 

 with the patients. Much of such work could be done in part 

 by time contributed either by retired or active researchers. 



The hindrances to such programmes are lack of under- 

 standing of research by the public. The common impression, 

 even among scientists, is that there is usually one group in a 

 research programme that is injured. Such need not be the 

 case if one studies some current practice compared with a 

 supplemented one. 



Most mental hospitals are administered by psychiatrists 

 who have a very limited interest or understanding of physical 

 research. This restricts progress in the whole field of mental 

 disease and is partly responsible for the philosophy of building 

 more and more mental hospitals instead of spending more 

 efforts in the field of prevention and cure. The day may come 

 when the psychiatrist will work side by side with other 

 specialists inside and outside the mental hospitals instead 

 of functioning as now like a semi-blind feudal overlord. 



Another area that affords great opportunities for research 

 with people is in our prisons. Long ago, the biochemist, 

 Folin, called attention to our neglect of our life- term prisoners. 

 He felt that participation in a research venture might add 

 much to the lives of many prisoners because it is the only way 

 they could contribute something to the world around them. 

 As far as we are aware no progress has been made in this field. 



Finally, there is great need for continuous study of the 



