Rapid Rh-Typing

is therefore an unwelcome feature of the post-operative phase, and its presence may well exert an unfavourable effect on the eventual course of the disease. Methylandrostenediol has proved disappointing in its effect. We have made no attempt at direct measurement of nitrogen balance in this investigation. Even though part of the weight loss may be due to oxidation of fat, it is reasonable to attribute most of it to nitrogen loss. It seems justifiable to assess the efficiency of an anabolic hormone in the post-operative phase by the method we have used. We feel that only when a drug can be shown to influence the weight pattern can it be regarded as effective therapy. Our results do. not indicate that methylandrostenediol has no effect on nitrogen metabolism, but only that its effects are not strong enough to be apparent clinically. It remains a possibility that a fivefold increase in dose might have some measurable effect, but at this level its virilizing effect, too, would be apparent, particularly in women treated for five weeks or longer. In most reports to date, the dosage has been in the range that we have used.