View report page

70
the hallucinogen mescaline, a close chemical relative of adrenaline.
It is suggested that a genetic defect prevents the breaking down of
this substance (D.M.P.E.) which then circulates in the body and is
finally eliminated. This poses an interesting but extremely complex
biochemical problem, the solving of which can only be to the advantage
of the schizophrenic.
In other instances, some dramatic successes have been obtained
by the use of phenothiazine derivatives but, inexplicably, there have
been many failures and much more research into the reasons is
needed.
Some neuroses are precipitated by modern environmental
conditions found in some satellite towns and at some new housing
estates. In the quest for higher density housing, wholesale destruction
of older and more mellow houses occurs which breaks up thriving
communities and isolates the displaced families in unfamiliar areas
among complete strangers. As completion of clearance areas often
takes up to six or seven years, the community has little chance of
regaining the balance and cohesion of former years. Moreover,
multi-storey dwellings are producing family isolation and a neurosis
in mothers who are cooped up in small self-contained flats, insulated
from normal sights and sounds of everyday life, deprived of the
daily neighbourly 'chat' and cut off- from easy contact with friends
and relations. With children constantly under their feet and full of
apprehension as to whether these children will fall from the balcony
or down the stairs or get trapped in the lift—worried in case the
break-down in the lift will deter the milkman, baker or other
tradesman from delivering—anxious as to whether, before closing
time, she will get to the shopping centre which has been planned
some half-a-mile or so away—it is no wonder that mothers with
these worries and frustrations exhibit signs of neurosis. Children of
the multi-storey flat family, starved of play space to expend energies
in a harmless way, are eventually constrained to look away from the
home for hobbies and pastimes. Sometimes these pursuits are not
provided in the 'space' saved by high-rise housing which tends to
combine the defects of congestion with none of the merits of 'neighbourliness'.
All too often vandalism, destruction and other antisocial
behaviour are the outward and visible signs of a community's
subconscious protest against the limitations of skyscraper accommodation,
which are giving rise to unstable personalities. It is
conceivable that such instability in young adults could form part
of the 'battered baby' syndrome which has been the subject of much
publicity recently.
Legislation
During the current year the following new legislation concerning
infectious disease was enacted.