398 SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.— I. 



of these products suggests that the substances more intimately concerned 

 with the processes of living organisms — above all the chromosomes them- 

 selves — may also be crystalline. A molecular model for the chromosome 

 is suggested consisting of molecules of protamine-nucleate (cp. Nature, 

 vol. 134, p. 978 (1934) ; vol. 135, p. 799 (1935) ; Protoplasma, vol. 25, 

 P- 55° ( J 936) ). Molecular models of the protein molecule are also put 

 forward for consideration (cp. Nature, vol. 137, p. 411 (1936) ; vol. 138, 

 p. 241 (1936)). 



Mr. J. S. Mitchell. — The chemical mechanism of the action of ultra- 

 violet radiation on proteins. 



Mr. O. Gatty. — The electrical potential differences across the frog 

 skin — some observations on the relationship with oxygen uptake. 



Dr. P. Eggleton. — The diffusion of solutes through muscles. 



Dr. J. H. Quastel. — Enzymic activity of the cell and cell structure. 



General Discussion. 



Afternoon. 

 Dr. H. M. Vernon. — The relation of alcohol to road accidents (2.0). 



Everyone admits that the liability of motor vehicle drivers to road acci- 

 dents is increased by the consumption of excessive quantities of alcohol, 

 but in spite of the large mass of evidence to the contrary obtained by labora- 

 tory tests, some drivers maintain that moderate quantities have no effect, 

 or improve their driving. Direct tests on the roads are very difficult to 

 make, and as an alternative the motor driving apparatus designed by Miles 

 and Vincent, and installed at the National Institute of Industrial Psychology, 

 was used. The subject drives a dummy car along a track projected as a 

 moving picture on the screen in front of him, and the path taken by the car 

 is automatically recorded. The subjects performed tests 1 hr., \ hr. and 

 o hr. before taking the experimental dose, and \ hr., 1 hr. and z\ hrs. after 

 it. The dose — which was taken on an empty stomach, three hours after 

 the last meal — consisted of whisky containing — as a rule — 30 c.c. of alcohol 

 (i.e. rather more than a ' large ' whisky), or of mild beer containing only 

 5 c.c. of alcohol. On the fifteen experienced drivers examined the mild 

 beer had no effect, but the whisky, in contrast, caused a reduction of 6 per 

 cent, in the driving time, and an increase of 12 per cent, in the driving 

 errors. In the five non-drivers tested, however, the mild beer had more 

 effect in reducing time and increasing errors than the whisky. The various 

 subjects differed greatly in their reactions, but half of them had their driving 

 time reduced by 10 to 24 per cent. As a rule the drivers were quite un- 

 conscious of any speeding up after drinking alcohol, and this suggests that 

 (a) even moderate quantities of alcohol should be avoided before driving, 

 and (b) all cars ought to be fitted compulsorily with speedometers. 



Alderman W. Melland. — Playing fields and their relation to character and 

 health (2.30). 



The paper deals primarily with the birth of the Playing Fields movement 

 in this country. It was discovered ten years ago that there was a sad 

 dearth of playing fields owing to no one realising in the past the great need 

 for these fields. Our forefathers showed no vision in this respect. 



