Last February Miss Dunsdon, our psychologist, made a survey of 8,000 Bristol school children to assess the incidence of strain following air raids. Her findings were that about 4°,b of this large sample of the school population showed some signs of strain, either purely psychological or else psychosomatic. Among the psychological symptoms noted were general nervousness, trembling, crying, and aggressive behaviour. Among the psychosomatic symptoms were headaches, anorexia, indigestion, enuresis, soiling, pallor, and epistaxis.Of the 300 children showing signs of strain 120 suffered from fraiikly psychological symptoms. These occurred twice as often in the 5-7 group as in the senior school group (aged 11-14). About 170 children suffered from psychosomatic disorders. These were especially frequent in the oldest group of senior school children, and this form of anxiety disguised as physical symptoms was the characteristic reaction of the 11-14 group.Taking

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The author, who is acting director of the Child Guidance Clinic in Bristol, England, made a survey of inmates of a children's hospital damaged in an air raid: 61% showed signs of strain from 3 weeks to 2 months, but the majority recovered after that time. Eleven cases were specifically described. "Children showed great ability to recover well from air raid effects; but the strain of separation from parents by evacuation is generally greater, and the effects more profound."

I am deeply conscious of the honour you have done me in asking me to serve as your Chairman for the coming year. I feel this promotion is somewhat premature and that there are others better qualified for this responsible task. But I bow to your wishes and will do my best to serve you.

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