need to deal with the problem of osteoporosis. Ideally, we should identify the most vulnerable women at the menopause and reduce the physiological decline in bone mineral, without undue risk to other systems. There is interest in ultrasound screening.20 Further studies may show that measurement of ultrasonic attenuation through the os calcis, although lacking the precision of low dose radiation techniques, may be able to identify women at greatest risk of later sustaining a hip fracture.