308 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION I. 



is stiimilated by a real or by an imaginary pin-prick, and a sharp deflection of 

 the galvanometric spot of light is seen about two seconds after the stimulus has 

 occurred. 



The magnitude of the response can be measured in ohms, but is more con- 

 veniently expressed in terms of reciproca/1 megohms or 'gemmhos.' A person's 

 hand having an original resistance of, e.g., 50,000 ohms has a conductance of 

 20 gemmhos indicated by a galvanometric deviation of 20 mm. A painful 

 thought causes an augmented temporary deviation of, say, 5 mm. to 25 mm. or 

 ' gemmhos,' signifying a diminution of resistance of 10,000 ohms. 



Any sudden discharge of nerve energy, such as, e.g., a cough or sneeze, is 

 attended by a sudden temporary augmentation of conductivity of the skin of 

 the palm of the hand ; this augmentation begins two seconds after the muscular 

 contraction by which the discharge is signalled. The emotive change, as it 

 may be called, varies in magnitude in different persons under similar conditions ; 

 in the same person it varies in magnitude with the magnitude of its exciting 

 cause. It varies also in the same person with state of health and time of day. 

 It is most conveniently measured and studied by means of photographic records 

 of the galvanometric spot of light. 



WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10. 



Discussion on the Role of the Capillaries in the Regulation of the 

 Blood Flow. Dr. H. H. Dale, F.R.S., Professor W. M. Bayliss, 

 F.R.S., Professor E. H. Stabling, F.R.S., Professor A. D. 

 Waller, F.R.S., Professor D. Noel Paton, F.R.S. 



The following Paper was then read : — 

 2. Butter and Margarine. By Professor W. D. Halliburton, F.R.S. 



THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11. 



Joint Meeting with Subsection of Psychology and luith Section F, 

 at which the following Papers were read: — 



1. The Influence of the Six-hour Day on Industrial) Efficiency and 

 Fatigue. By H. M. Vernon, M.D.^ 



Lord Leverhulme suggests that, instead of the usual eight-hour shift system, 

 in which, as a rule, the machinery is running only forty-foiu' hours a week, the 

 workers should be put on to_ two six-hour shifts every day, viz., from 7 a.m. 

 to 1.30 P.M., and 1.30 p.m. to 10 p.m., with half -hour breaks for meals. By this 

 means the macliinery would be kept running for seventy-two hours per week, 

 and, as the overhead charges for machinery are often higher than the cost of 

 wages, it would still be possible to pay the workers as much for six hours' work 

 as for eight hours' work, even if their rate of production did not improve in 

 consequence of the shorter hours. 



The available evidence does not indicate that there would be much improve- 

 ment of output in many industries. In the tinplate trade the milbnen eome- 

 times work eight-hour shifts and sometimes six-hour shifts, and their hourly 



^ See Reports Nos. 1 and 5 of the Industrial Fatigue Research Board, London, 

 1919 and 1920. 



Memo. — No. 18 of the Health of Munition Workers' Committee, London, 1917 

 (col. 8628). 



