[Surgery and medical ethics (author's transl)].

The article deals with problems caused by the new biomedical technology and its consequences for the surgical profession. The psychological situation of the surgical in-patient is analysed, especially that of the seriously ill and the dying. Medical ethical principles are defined as what we ought to do in a given situation and what should not be done.

[Computer tomographic densitometry of formalin-fixed and frozen human tissue (author's transl)].

The degree of radiation absorption of various human tissues of known histology and known water content was measured at temperatures below freezing point and after fixation in formalin of various concentrations. Computer tomographic "density" showed the least change with tissues in 6% formalin. Higher and lower concentrations of formalin caused considerable changes in radiation absorption.

Ocean energy: forms and prospects.

The nature and distribution of power sources of the sea other than petroleum are discussed, along with possible entrées for their use. Waves, tides, currents, and salinity and temperature gradients all have the potential to contribute useful power. Submarine geothermal sources, salt domes, ice, and other marine-associated concentrations may be more important.

[Specialization and integration in surgery. An attempt].

Today surgery has reached a very high standard of specialisation, where economic and social borderlines come into sight. From time to time it seems necessary to look back and to check what of the new knowledge became mature to add-to integrate-it to the armamentarium of the surgical and the general practitioner. Reflexions concerning curricula; postgraduate training; structure, organisation and site of medical institutions are dealt with.

[Immunological and electrophoretic characterization of flagellins of different H-types of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (author's transl)].

P. aeruginosa flagella of the complex serotype a (a0, a2, a3) and the uniform serotype b were isolated, purified, and depolymerized by heat. The flagellins obtained form one precipitin band each and show reactions of non-identity in Ouchterlony tests.

[Long-term follow-up of stress injuries to the metaphyses and apophyses of the spinous processes of juvenile thoracic spines (Schmitt's disease) (author's transl)].

Unlike the clay-shoveller's fracture in adults, stress injuries in juveniles trend to be localised at the tip of the spinous process, i.e. in the metaphysis, the apophyseal line and the apophysis.

[Computer tomographic densitometry of human blood. The effect of absorption by parenchymatous organs and effusions (author's transl)].

In vitro measurements of human blood with varying haemoglobin and plasma concentrations have shown a linear relationship between haemoglobin concentrations and attenuation values. A change of haemoglobin content of 1 g/100 ml. blood produced and equivalent density change of 1.

[Martin Kirschner on the occasion of his 100th birthday (author's transl)].

This paper is dedicated to Martin Kirschner one of the outstanding German surgeons of the first half of this century. Many of the inventions and improvements Kirschner made have stood the test of time till today. It was Kirschner who recommended to stretch the stomach for replacing the oesophagus.

[Antiseptics and aseptics in changing times].

The history of wound healing is a series of errors not to be understood today. Historical aspects of anti- and aseptis are dealt with; the merits of Ignaz Semmelweis, Joseph Lister and Robert Koch are stressed; conclusions for the time being are drawn.

[Computer tomographic diagnosis of abscesses (author's transl)].

The computer tomographic diagnosis of an abscess must be related to the clinical condition of a patient. In the presence of pyaemia or following an operation, with high fever, tenderness on palpation, leucocytosis and rapid development of the illness, an abscess may be suspected. The computer tomographic findings depend on the stage of the development of the abscess.

[Attenuation values of normal and pathological liver tissue as a basis for computer tomographic densitometry of fatty livers (author's transl)].

Measurements of the density of normal and diffusely disease liver parenchyma show a significant difference only in the presence of fatty livers. A linear relationship between the fat content and density (g/cm3) has been demonstrated. Computer tomographic densitometry of liver tissue correlates well with physical in vitro measurements and permits measurements of fat content which are sufficiently accurate for clinical use.

[Antibody response to somatic and flagellar antigens of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (author's transl)].

Using the indirect fluorescent antibody technique, the production of antiflagellar and antisomatic antibodies in rabbits immunized with different P. aeruginosa strains is measured. After 6 injections of formalinized cultures in graded doses over 3 weeks, the antiflagellar antibodies reach the peak in the 4th to 5th week, followed by a rapid fall.

[Non-traumatic myositis ossificans circumscripta (author's transl)].

The clinical, pathological and radiological features and the differential diagnosis of the very rare condition of non-traumatic myositis ossificans circumscripta are illustrated by one patient. The characteristic radiological appearances make a correct diagnosis of this localised, non-malignant process possible.

[Disseminated branching pulmonary ossification combined with heterotopic bone formation in the muscles (author's transl)].

Idiopathic disseminated pulmonary ossification is a rarely recognised condition in which small pieces of marrow containing bone are found in the interstitial tissues of the lungs. The case reported here is unique in showing combination with myositis ossificans circumscripta. The extent of the lung changes was also unusual.