28 FEBRUARY 1964, Page 12

Dr. Braindrain—Bon Voyage!

Alan R. King, William Phillips Mercy in Southern Rhodesia R. N. Serpell Trouble in Africa G. 1. Greig

Towards A New SS? A. Edkins

Saving the Cinema Ian A. Cameron Aerials for BBC-2 L. W. Turner Opus Dei R. A. P. Stork

The Makropulos Case Dennis Gray Stoll Biblical Criticism 'Churchman' DR. BRAINDRAIN—BON VOYAGE!

SIR,—II is the policy of learned societies to refer manuscripts for the opinion of expert and anony- mous referees, when considering material for publi- cation. Had Mr. Fairlie's article been subjected to the same screening procedure, I have little doubt of its fate. To repeat, since this debate is beginning to weary all of us : a competent 'Dr. Braindrain' dis- charges two responsibilities, research and teaching. Wherever he finds work, a diligent scientist must con- tinue to make his research contribution; in this sense he cannot be lost, as Mr. Fairlie points out. However, the emigration of a teacher is a problem. A good teacher influences many lives, not least by arousing the enthusiasm of future generations. A good teacher must have his students around him. Research will reach a wide audience through immediate publication.

Mr. Fairlie is happy to see research absorbed by the big American institutions. I hope he has also thought that many teaching skills must also be absorbed as well. I wonder?

ALAN R. KING

Department of Experimental NeuropharmacologY, The Medical School, Birmingham 15 ,