The history of congenital malformations with special reference to conjoined twins. 1. From ancient times to the 18th century

Congenital malformations are mentioned in Assyrian and Babylonian literature, and the opinions of Democritus, Empedocles and Aristotle regarding their origin persisted in modified form until the Middle Ages. Following the invention of printing, illustrations of congenital malformations began to appear on pamphlets. Although not always realistic, these illustrations provide a rich source of information regarding the spirit of those times. The first monographs containing collections and interpretations of malformations appeared in the 16th century. These were followed in the 17th century by increasingly realistic illustrations, and superstitious ideas regarding the causes of malformations, although still predominating, gradually started to recede.     

A genetic map of reovirus. II. Assignment of the double-stranded RNA-negative mutant groups C, D, and E to genome segments

The double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) of recombinants derived from crosses of the dsRNA-negative, temperature-sensitve (ts) mutants of reovirus type 3 and reovirus serotypes 1 or 2 were examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Analysis of deletions and replacements in the recombinants allowed identification of genome segments containing the ts lesions. In this way the location of the mutation of the group C prototype mutant tsC(447) os genome segment S2, that of the group D prototype mutant tsD(357) is genome segment L1, and that of the group E prototype mutant tsE(320) is genome segment S3. In addition the location of the temperature-sensitive lesion of serotype 2 is genome segment S1.     

II. A Brief Introduction to the thought of Armando B. Ferrari

This paper describes the work of Armando Bianco Ferrari whose central tenet is the very direct relationship between the body (Concrete Original Object) and the mind to which it gives rise, but which is also mind's first and essentially only real object. Ferrari's approach offers an important avenue of approach to the treatment of psychosis, psychosomatic illness and anorexia, for instance, as is recorded in a by now growing Anglophone literature. The direct relationship between body and mind is in contrast to the object relations model in which this relationship is mediated through the breast. The paper starts with a short biological sketch of Ferrari's life before describing his theoretical position. This is largely concerned with the relationship between the mind and its body, the so‐called ‘vertical axis’, and that with the external world which he calls, the ‘horizontal axis’. The relationship between body and mind is achieved through the means of a ‘contact net’ (as opposed to Bion's contact barrier) and the evolution of ‘language registers’ out of patterns of bodily experience. Ferrari's formulation also involves modifications of the ways he conceives the ego and the oedipal situation (‘Oedipal constellation’), especially in the light of what he takes to be an innate femininity and masculinity in either sex, as well as the way in which he frames ideas about health and illness. The fact that the emphasis is directed towards the subject's direct apperception of the sensational and emotional life of his body rather than one mediated exclusively via the object involves a parallel shift away from the transference as always necessarily central to interpretation, without of course dispensing with it or suggesting that it is not ubiquitous. This is one of the various clinical implications of Ferrari's model which is discussed before offering an illustrative clinical vignette, and finally relating Ferrari's thought to some other current theoretical and clinical formulations.