A survey was made of 37 dairy farms in Wirral, mid-Cheshire, mid-Somerset and Dyfed, Wales, to assess the incidence and prevalence of lameness in the cows between May 1989 and September 1991. The incidence was obtained from records made whenever a cow was examined for lameness or received preventive foot-trimming. The mean annual incidence was 54.6 new cases per 100 cows with a range from 10.7 to 170.1 and the mean values during summer and winter were 22.9 and 31.7, respectively. The prevalence of lameness was measured by regular visits at which locomotion was scored on a scale of 1 to 5, and the prevalence of lameness was calculated for each visit as the proportion of cows with scores of 3 or more. The mean annual prevalence over the whole period was 20.6 per cent with a range from 2.0 to 53.9 per cent for the 37 farms. The mean prevalences during summer and winter were 18.6 and 25.0 per cent, respectively. The prevalence measured at a single visit in midsummer or midwinter was significantly correlated with the mean prevalence over the whole corresponding period and may be useful as an assessment of the extent of lameness in a herd and the efficacy of control measures. There was evidence that training farmers to recognise early cases of lameness and request veterinary treatment resulted in a marked reduction in the duration of cases of lameness.

Information from 37 dairy farms, in four regions of England and Wales provided data on 8991 lesions and the preventive trimming of 4837 cows' feet. Of the total of 13,828 forms returned, veterinary surgeons treated 32 per cent and farmers or stockmen 46 per cent. Of the 8645 lesions associated with episodes of lameness, lesions in the hindlimbs accounted for 92 per cent, of which 65 per cent were in the outer claw, 20 per cent in the skin and 14 per cent in the inner claw. Sole ulcers (40 per cent) and white line lesions (29 per cent) were the predominant diseases of horn, and digital dermatitis (40 per cent) was the most common disease of the skin. Subjective assessments showed that sandcrack, penetration of the sole by foreign bodies and interdigital necrobacillosis were associated with the most severe cases of lameness. There was a significant seasonal effect in the reporting of lesions.

A survey of cubicles and indoor and outdoor walking surfaces on 37 farms served by four veterinary practices in Somerset, Cheshire, Wirral and west. Wales was carried out in 1989 to 1991. A study of the space requirements of Friesian/Holstein cows at pasture showed that they required approximately 240 cm x 120 cm lying space and a further 60 cm lunging space for rising. By these standards, 87 per cent of the cubicles were too short and 50 per cent were too wide or too narrow. Over 1500 observations on cows lying down, rising and standing indicated that only 12 per cent of the cubicles permitted real freedom of movement; 91 per cent of top partition rails were judged to be too low and 70 per cent of bottom rails too low or too high. In addition, the kerb was very high in 76 per cent of the cubicles. As a result, 10 per cent of cows appeared moderately or severely restricted when lying down, 33 per cent when rising and 55 per cent when standing. Over 2000 cubicle beds were also studied; 75 per cent had a concrete base and of those, 63 per cent were judged to have too little bedding and 11 per cent next to none. Higher incidences and prevalences of lameness were associated with limited borrowing space (P < 0.01) low bottom rails (P < 0.05), high kerbs (P < 0.05) and inadequate bedding (P < 0.01). Of 3190 walking surfaces, only 25 per cent were classified as satisfactory in the first winter and 34 per cent in the second. In general, surfaces in silage bays were too rough and those in other sites were too smooth. The farms with the smoothest indoor walking surfaces had a significantly higher incidence of lameness (P < 0.01). Of 3335 outdoor walking surfaces only 25 per cent were classified as satisfactory, and 70 per cent were too rough. The incidence of lameness was not significantly related to these findings.

Radiographs of 152 cats under four years of age were examined for evidence of physeal closure. Radiographic closure was compared between entire male, castrated male, and female (neutered and entire] cats. Physeal closure in castrated males was delayed when compared to that of entire males.

The prescnt investigation differs from these two studics5.6 in two respccts. Firstly, younger children are included, as a pilot study rcvealed that young children could answer questions if sufficient time were taken to win their contidence and care taken to avoid leading questions. Secondly, thc growth in popularity of daycase surgery has increased the number of unpremedicated or lightly premedicated paticnts, and hence the possibility of awarcness.Drcrzniing is defined as any experience (excluding awarcness) which a patient thought occurred between the induction o f anacsthcsia and the first moment of consciousness after anacsthcsia. Children who report dreams cannot say precisely when drcaming occurred; tnany have a postoperative sleep during which dreaming could occur and be indistinguishable from pcranaesthetic dreaming. This problem has becn noted in adults.: Furthermore, the preinduction 'pattcr' in thc anacsthetic room may give rise to hypnagogic phenomena which arc remembered as dreams. Patients and methodsConsecutive patients scheduled to undergo elcctivc daycase surgery at Alder Hey Children's Hospital ovcr a h i o n t h period, and in whom either wxamethonium chloride or atracuriurn bcsylate was used for musclc relaxation, were studied. Patients were cithcr unpremedicated or received a weight-related dose of 'Ponstan Mix' (mefenamic acid, trimcprazine and atropine) one hour before induction of anaesthesia. The 'Liverpool technique' of paediatric anaesthesia was uscd in all cases. This comprised an intravenous induction. the use of a muscle relaxant to allow tracheal intubation, and controlled hand ventilation using an Ayre's T-piece with Jackson-Rees modification. The paticnt's lungs were ventilated with the Jackson-Rccs bag to an end tidal carbon dioxide tension of 4.5-5.0 kPa measured with a Datex infrared carbon dioxide analyser. Anaesthesia was maintained with 70% nitrous oxide in 30% oxygen, and increments of musclc relaxants and andgcsic drugs were given as required peroperatively. Volatile agents were not used.Six anaesthetists were involved in the study. One anaesthetist assessed thc patient's mood with a linear analogue scale which ranged from 0 (very calm) to 100 mm (very agitated). Anaesthesia was then induced with sodium thiopentone 5 mg/kg and the chosen muscle relaxant. Thc choice of either suxamcthonium or atracuriurn depended upon the proposed duration of anaesthesia; intermittent ~-