SummaryTwo large-scale surveys of body temperatures in elderly people living at home were carried out in the winter of 1972. Most of the homes visited were cold with room temperatures below the minimum recommended by the Department of Health. Deep body temperatures below 35 5'C were found in 10% of those studied, and the difference between the skin temperature and the core temperature was also reduced in this group. Such individuals are at risk of developing hypothermia since they show evidence of some degree of thermoregulatory failure. Further research is needed, but meanwhile there are practical measures that could be taken to reduce the risk of hypothermia in the elderly.
The twelve years of the Wilson and Callaghan governments are a particularly interesting period for anyone studying the contributions made by academics to social and urban policies in Britain. They were never more active in the corridors of power. This paper begins by outlining the origins and priorities of policy during these years. An account is then given of the "drama" through which British social reforms usually proceed, and the parts played by different kinds of people in each act of that drama. In the more important debates a crucial stage is often reached when the issues at stake are reformulated. A new "story" about society's problems comes to be accepted in the nation's policy forums. This analysis sets the scene for an exploration of the contributions made by academics during the Wilson and Callaghan years, throwing some light on their strengths and weaknesses. The paper ends with conclusions which may be helpful today.
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