Eurasian water milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.) declined significantly in Chesapeake Bay from 1965 to 1967. This decline generally exceeded 95%, and was associated with several pathologic conditions, previously named Northeast disease and Lake Venice disease. We believe that these pathologic conditions have been responsible for the decline. No study of Lake Venice condition has yet been undertaken, but this paper presents evidence that Northeast condition is an infectious disease. Northeast disease symptoms can be transmitted in the laboratory by a bacteriologically sterile filtrate passed through a 0.2 μ filter. This indicates a virus, virus-like particle, or a toxin as the etiologic agent. The primary pathogen is probably a virus, and the evidence for this will be presented in a later paper. Gram-negative bacilli obtained from diseased milfoil probably represent secondary infections.

In September 1967, diseased milfoil showed a resurgence of growth and successfully flowered in several areas of the Bay. This may represent the development of genetic resistance to the pathogen, or it may be a natural cyclic pattern with reduced virulence of the pathogen. In November 1967, however, milfoil in Middle River collapsed to a greater extent than expected from normal winter kill, and that remaining was in very poor condition.

Sequence of invasion of estuarine benthic organisms into a man-made pond was followed over a 2-year period. Dominant animals established early and developed aMya- Macoma- Nereis association similar to that in nearby estuarine waters. Estimated biomass, faunal abundance, and growth measurements indicate that the benthic populations were near maximum levels within the first year, and that a stable association continued through the second year. Control of benthic populations will be essential if maximum production from selected food organisms is to be realized in artificial ponds.

A 1966 summer survey on fish fauna was made in the upper Patuxent River to evaluate the effect of sewage pollution on fish with respect to species diversity and abundance. Results of this study indicate that chlorinated sewage effluent acts first as a toxic material which seriously reduces fish species diversity and abundance immediately below the effluent outfalls. It also enriches and deoxygenates the water, causing a species shift without affecting species diversity downstream.

Experiments were performed on 9 volunteers in which the changes in rectal temperature and sweat rate were recorded under different levels of metabolic rate (100, 306 and 560 kcal/hr), air temperatures (30° and 40°C), vapor pressure (15, 22 and 31 mm Hg) and air velocity (50, 200 and 400 cm/sec).Analysis of the results enabled the development of a formula for the prediction of the elevation of body(rectal) temperature after 30 min of work at known metabolic rates in given thermal environments. The elevation in body temperature is considered to express both the amount of heat dissipated through the heat dissipating mechanism,as well as the heat which has not been dissipated and is stored in the body.With the aid of the proposed formula, the permissible metabolic rate of work at various external heat loads can be calculated.

Summary

A case is reported which shows that in conformity with information provided by other authors there is a possibility of resorptive intoxication after parenteral penetration of metallic mercury. Even if the injury does not always result in intoxication, diverse factors contribute to the symptoms of the illness e.g. the quantity of the metal, general condition, individual disposition etc., and we are of the opinion, that the dangers of intoxication by mercury should not be underrated. In our opinion parenterally penetrated metallic mercury should not be ignore as it may cause local reactions of tissue as well as to a potential resorptive poisoning.

Therefore we consider it indispensable to remove the metal by surgical means as completely as possible also with regard to prophylactic treatment of intoxication.

A previously developed Comfort Index based on subjective reactions of man was applied to the entire earth. It was calculated for every month. A preliminary attempt was made to show some of the aspects of the annual regime of the monthly Comfort Index. The maps presented do not generally conform to patterns established by climatic classifications which utilize non-physiological parameters.Amarked zonal character is apparent on the maps. The northern hemisphere Afro-Eurasian region exhibits greatest physioclimatic extremes. In contrast, areas associated with coolcurrent littorals and low latitude highlands show conditions most desirable to man.