MORE TRUTH ABOUT ODOUR and are very sensitive to the action of organic non-electrolytes even in very low concentration--De Jong and Saubert, for technical reasons, studied instead oleates which behave in much the same way as do the phosphatides. Emulsified oleates, in the form of minute droplets known as coacervates, were examined microscopically and it was shown that the vapours of some organic substances caused shrinking of the droplets when the concentration was low but swelling when it was high. When the vapour passed out of the coacervate, restoration of the original volume occurred. It is not difficult to conceive how certain olfactory phenomena can be correlated with these findings. For example, neutralisation (or compensation) would occur when the shrinking produced by one odorous substance was counteracted by the swelling produced by another, acting simultaneously. Again, the gradation in quality often observed in homologous series is paralleled by a change from swelling to shrinking. Thus, methyl, ethyl and propyl alcohols cause swelling whilst butyl, amyl, hexyl and heptyl alcohols cause shrinking. Substances which cause shrinking when in low concentration but swelling when in high or conversely may be those which have one odour quality when dilute and another when concentrated. And the model could doubtless be used to throw light on other related phenomena. Since the present article was written, Davies and Taylor have described "A model system for the olfactory membrane" in Nature, 1954, 174, 693-t394. Davies, moreover, had previously published a paper entitled "Olfactory stimulation. Some ideas and possible model systems" (Internat. Per. fumer, 1953, s, 17-22). It is not to be expected that study of any or all of the works discussed above would lead to a rapid solution of the many complicated and difficult problems of olfaction. Nevertheless, those who now attempt to solve such problems are not likely to succeed if they will not study carefully the work of their predecessors. The whole truth, perhaps, will never be known, but the true searcher will be happy if he can reveal even a small part of it. Such an investigator was Cloquet, the author of "Osphr•siologie," who wrote in that book long ago: "Quel que soit, au reste,-le mode d'action de ces organes, notre intention ne sera point de vouloir remonter & l'essence de la sensation, ni de d•montrer comment elle peut •tre eprouv•e. C'est une cause plac•e hors de la sphere de nos recherches, et derobae, probablement pour tourjours, aux moyens d'investigation que l'homme a resus avec la vie. L'6tre anim• pr•sente une foule de probl•mes qu'il n'est point donn• aux sciences accessoires •t la m•decine, ni •t la madecine elle-m6me de resoudre." 211

Part of a Lecture delivered to the Society on the zznd November, •954 THE MERGHANDISE MARKS AGTS By R. L. LLOYD* LET ME start with a quotation which will indicate the opinion of those who come in contact with the subject of my talk tonight: "It is a most difficult Act to construe and has given rise to many appeals. Those responsible might well consider whether new legislation should not be introduced to set out the law on this matter in clear language, which lay justices and others concerned with its administration could understand." So said Lord Goddard in a case a few years ago, and I regret to say that since then nothing has been done to implement his suggestion. The Merchandise Marks Acts have been in existence for a long time-- 66 years---but to the general public they were completely unknown until the Parliamentary debates in 1953 brought them temporarily into the limelight. There are several of these Acts, the first dating from 1883, and the last, as you know, passed last year. You will first want to know what are Merchandise Marks. They can be broadly defined as any marks which are applied to, or used in association with, goods which are either possessed for the purpose of sale or manufacture, or are exposed for sale. This definition can therefore include not only descriptions or statements printed on the articles and their wrappers, but also leaflets, advertising matter, catalogues, showcards, trade lists. Laws concerned with the marking of goods are not new. The most noteworthy was passed in 1423 and concerned the marking of gold and silver articles, and since then several laws concerning other specific goods have been made. Nor does the series of Merchandise Marks Acts compose the whole law on the subject of marking, for there are numerous other enactments concerned with specialised aspects of the same subject, such as the Sale of Food Act, 1926, and the Pharmacy and Medicine Act, 1941, as well, of course, as the large body of Weights and Measures legislation. But I think you will find that there is enough to consider in our subject to-night without straying into these strange fields. The various Merchandise Marks Acts stretching from 1887 to 1953 with which we are dealing lay down certain offences against the criminal law, and these may be conveniently divided into offences committed by manu- facturers and those committed by traders. * Patents and Trade Marks Officer, Beecham Group Ltd. 212