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Over a one-year period, i858 episodes of suspected acute heart attack occurring in the Edinburgh population under the age of 70 were documentedfrom a notification survey conducted by a special team in liaison with general practitioners, hospitals, and police surgeons.The overall annual incidence of episodes of acute heart attack in the population aged 40 While epidemiological studies have made a major contribution to knowledge about some of the causes of coronary heart disease, the natural history of acute heart attacks is still obscure. Though it is now known that efficient intensive care can prevent some early deaths in those surviving long enough to reach hospital (Lawrie et al., i967), further advances must depend upon a better understanding of this natural history. In order to obtain information about the sequence of events immediately after such attacks, an attempt was made to record data about every acute coronary heart attack in the city of Edinburgh over a period of one year. The preliminary findings have already been reported (Fulton, Julian, and Oliver, I969) and this definitive report sets out 'to complete the clinical picture' (Morris, i964) of acute heart attacks and thus to provide a factual basis for

The effect of blood-lead on children's behaviour was investigated in a sub-sample of 501 boys and girls aged 6-9 years from 18 primary schools within a defined area of central Edinburgh. Behaviour ratings of the children were made by teachers and parents using the Rutter behaviour scales. An extensive home interview with a parent was also carried out. Multiple regression analyses showed a significant relationship between log blood-lead and teachers' ratings on the total Rutter score and the aggressive/anti-social and hyperactive sub-scores, but not the neurotic sub-score when 30 possible confounding variables were taken into account. There was a dose-response relationship between blood-lead and behaviour ratings, with no evidence of a threshold.

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The relation between alcohol consumption and dietary intake was examined in 164 middle-aged Scottish men taking part in a study of risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). A 7-d weighed dietary record was used to assess alcohol and nutrient intake. The mean daily intake of alcohol was 26 g (SD 31 g). Energy derived from alcohol tended to replace energy derived from other nutrients and increasing intake of alcohol was associated with a decrease in the amounts of carbohydrate, total fat, and saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids in the diet. Those with a low alcohol intake (0.1-9 g alcohol/d) had a higher intake of total fiber, cereal fiber, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and linoleic acid and a smaller proportion smoked cigarettes. The differences are small but may contribute to the lower mortality from CHD reported by other studies in those with a low alcohol intake.