which Dr Coope and her colleagues based their statistics are not available and may, in fact, not differ markedly from the range of normal for their laboratory. For example, although they comment on raised levels of factor X, there is no significant difference in this parameter between their oestrogentreated and placebo groups. The thromboelastogram also showed no significant change. The clinica...

lives and visits are often infrequent. To this extent, therefore, I see the community hospital in populations in excess of 40 000 being of primary significance to the community in respect of acute diagnostic and surgical services at an appropriate level, and the geriatric and long-stay element as a part of the overall picture rather than the predominant feature. In populations less than this fi...