SUMMARYHuman infections withSalmonella saintpaulhave become more frequent in New Zealand in recent years. Most cases now occur in Otago. It is shown that wild lizards in Otago, particularly the common skink (Leiolopisma zelandica), carryS. saintpauland that most if not all human outbreaks of this salmonella serotype are associated with either lizards or lizard infested areas. So far as is known this is the first report incriminating lizards as the probable cause of human salmonellosis.

One hundred and twenty-one regular soldiers between the ages of 18 and 34 years, who had lived and worked under identical conditions for the two previous years were examined. All subjects with respiratory symptoms of wheeze, dyspnoea, persistent cough or sputum were excluded. Smoking, per se, was not a reason for exclusion. Eighty-three "respiratorily fit" men, comprising 47 Maoris and 36 Europeans, were studied to see whether height, weight or obesity could account for the ethnic differences in lung function. The forced vital capacity in the Maoris was found to be about 9% lower than in the Europeans. The one-second forced expiratory volume of the Maoris was about 8% lower than in the Europeans. No significant difference could be found in the peak expiratory flow rates between the two ethnic groups. The only significant physical difference found between the two ethnic groups was that the Maoris were heavier for their height than the Europeans. Statistical tests showed that neither weight nor an obesity index accounted for the ethnic differences in lung function. Full laboratory investigation of these ethnic differences is recommended.

517provided temptation for use in promotional activities.It is premature to assume that all betablocking drugs are equally effective in preventing sudden death and at present it is not known which subgroups of patients might benefit or for how long, and what doses are optimal. Every effort should be made to minimise speculation and over-simplification because of the danger of causing delays in the discovery of relevant mechanisms-or even worse of increasing scepticism and so depriving patients of effective treatment.

The factors associated with smoking in 80 per cent of an entire adult New Zealand community have been studied on two occasions exactly three years apart and compared with other studies. The smoking habits of a population are dynamic and there is today a very much higher proportion of young adult smokers, particularly women, than there was 15 years ago and this p r o p o r t i o n i s i n c r e a s i n g . C i g a r e t t e consumption is associated with the father's smoking habit in the case of men and the mother's habit in the case of women; early school leaving age; being a member of a large family; being of lower socio-economic level; the taking of oral contraceptives or any minor tranquilliser in the case of women; considerably greater alcohol consumption, especially beer, by either sex; preference for a brand of cigarette with a higher tar and nicotine content; and a tendency to inhale the smoke deeply. However it is shown that most if not all of these factors are interactive and not simple cause-and-effect relationships. Light smokers smoke proportionately much more at weekends than do heavy smokers and this is not directly attributable to varying opportunities to smoke during the week. Weight increases markedly when smoking stops and this is not due to a compensatory increase in alcohol intake. It is suggested that obesity, excess beer drinking, heavy smoking and anxiety may all be part of an identifiable tetrad of symptoms.

580 adult men and 616 adult women from an entire community were asked to estimate the heights of both of their parents. Estimations by the men were consistently greater at all ages and for both parents than the equivalent estimations by the women. The men's estimation of their mothers' heights was on average four centimetres greater than that of the women's estimations, but their estimations of their fathers' heights was only on average about one centimetre greater. Actual measurement of parental heights (for 180 subjects) showed that these differences were perceptual and not factual. It is shown that the men consistently overestimated the heights of their parents, the mothers' more than the fathers'. In both sexes overestimation increased after middle age. It is argued that overestimation of parents' heights is an indication of perceived parental importance.