SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—J. 543 
scene. represented should look large enough. The stray light in a cine- 
matograph theatre, which gives the screen the character of a definite object 
at a considerable distance, favours phenomenal regression which increases 
apparent size. For a small screen at a short distance (such as that of a 
television apparatus) the best results would, on the contrary, be obtained 
by conditions of observation eliminating phenomenal regression as far as 
possible. 
Ability to drive a car quickly and accurately through traffic obviously 
depends on ability to judge the real size of a gap at whatever distance it 
may be observed. Experiments have been performed in order to determine 
how far this ability depends on the individual’s amount of the tendency7to 
phenomenal regression (that is, on the amount of his tendency to see objects 
in their ‘ real ’ sizes irrespective of their distance from him) 
Dr. J. H. QuasteL.—Narcosis and mental function (2.45). 
The psychological effects of oxygen want (anoxzmia) resemble in many 
ways the reactions present in psychotic and neurotic conditions, and those 
found also in alcoholism and light narcosis. ‘The study of the biochemical 
basis of narcosis has shown that narcotics act, apparently, by preventing the 
nerve cells from receiving the amount of energy necessary for their functional 
activity. This they do by bringing about a condition equivalent to anoxemia, 
not by interfering with the amount of oxygen present, but by diminishing 
the ability of the cells to oxidise substances (glucose, lactic acid) which 
form the main fuel of the cells. Further study has shown that substances 
normally formed in the body and normally broken down in the liver have 
effects similar to narcotics, so that a disturbance of the detoxicating powers 
of the body might lead to conditions whose psychological reactions would 
resemble those found in oxygen want. ‘The treatment of psychotic con- 
ditions by prolonged narcosis is extremely important ; it is suggested that 
the success of the treatment depends on the removal, during the narcotic 
state, of toxic metabolites (or fatigue products) in the brain. The main 
danger to the narcosis treatment is the disturbance in the carbohydrate 
metabolism in organs such as the liver whereby intense ketonuria may be 
established. ‘The introduction of the glucose-insulin modification of 
prolonged narcosis treatment has removed this danger, so that the treatment 
is now comparatively safe. 
Dr. C. C. Hurst.—Genetics of intellect (3.30). 
Two thousand one hundred and eighty-two parents and offspring in 
406 families individually graded for general mental ability (Spearman’s g), 
using scale of 11 grades (o-10) each approximately equivalent to 20 I.Q. 
Data include 194 modern Leicestershire families, objectively graded by 
author, and 212 ancient Royal Families of 11 countries in eight centuries 
histriometrically graded by Dr. Adams Woods. Both groups show same 
genetical types of families : non-segregating with like offspring and segregating 
with unlike offspring. Neither family environment, simple heredity nor 
free will can account for co-existence of these two family types exhibiting 
dominance and segregation. Analyses show that 98:1 per cent. of data are 
consistent with genetical formula of type Nu + (AaBbCcDdEe) where Nn 
is a major pair of genes for Normal (N) and Abnormal (m) Intellect and 
Aa. .Ee are minor pairs cumulatively modifying nn as in experimental wheats 
where A. .E are increasers and a..e decreasers. ‘Thus NN and Nm produce 
normal mediocre intellect of mid-grade 5, unaffected by the modifiers, while 
