The institutionalization of History and Philosophy of Science as a distinct field of scholarly endeavour began comparatively earl- though not always under that name - in the Australasian region. An initial lecturing appointment was made at the University of Melbourne immediately after the Second World War, in 1946, and other appoint­ ments followed as the subject underwent an expansion during the 1950s and 1960s similar to that which took place in other parts of the world. Today there are major Departments at the University of Melbourne, the University of New South Wales and the University of Wollongong, and smaller groups active in many other parts of Australia and in New Zealand. "Australasian Studies in History and Philosophy of Science" aims to provide a distinctive publication outlet for Australian and New Zealand scholars working in the general area of history, philosophy and social studies of science. Each volume comprises a group of essays on a connected theme, edited by an Australian or a New Zealander with special expertise in that particular area. Papers address general issues, however, rather than local ones; parochial topics are avoided. Further­ more, though in each volume a majority of the contributors is from Australia or New Zealand, contributions from elsewhere are by no means ruled out. Quite the reverse, in fact - they are actively encour­ aged wherever appropriate to the balance of the volume in question.

The institutionalization of History and Philosophy of Science as a distinct field of scholarly endeavour began comparatively earl- though not always under that name - in the Australasian region. An initial lecturing appointment was made at the University of Melbourne immediately after the Second World War, in 1946, and other appoint­ ments followed as the subject underwent an expansion during the 1950s and 1960s similar to that which took place in other parts of the world. Today there are major Departments at the University of Melbourne, the University of New South Wales and the University of Wollongong, and smaller groups active in many other parts of Australia and in New Zealand. "Australasian Studies in History and Philosophy of Science" aims to provide a distinctive publication outlet for Australian and New Zealand scholars working in the general area of history, philosophy and social studies of science. Each volume comprises a group of essays on a connected theme, edited by an Australian or a New Zealander with special expertise in that particular area. Papers address general issues, however, rather than local ones; parochial topics are avoided. Further­ more, though in each volume a majority of the contributors is from Australia or New Zealand, contributions from elsewhere are by no means ruled out. Quite the reverse, in fact - they are actively encour­ aged wherever appropriate to the balance of the volume in question.

At first sight it may appear strange that a volume of Progress in Pediatric Surgery should be devoted to the history of our specialty. One assumes that progress is concerned primarily with recent developments whilst history deals with matters of the past. However, in the past there has also been considerable progress in the development of our understand­ ing of paediatric surgical problems, otherwise we would not have pro­ gressed to our present achievements. The editors, therefore, do not apologize for compiling this volume but, on the contrary, feel that the publication of this volume is most timely. Modern paediatric surgery has now been practised for three genera­ tions. The handful of pioneers who were the founders of our specialty worked mainly before the last world war. A few dozen of the inter­ mediary generation started work immediately after the war, while the new generation who are now dominating our specialty must be counted in thousands. Two factors have radically altered paediatric surgery as practised by the intermediary and the present generation of surgeons.

Mental retardation has probably existed for as long as mankind has inhabited the earth. References to seemingly retarded persons appear in Greek and Roman literature. Examination of Egyptian mummies suggests that some may have suffered from diseases associated with mental retardation. Mohammed advocated feeding and housing those without reason. There is other evidence for favorable attitudes toward the retarded in early history, but attitudes var­ ied from age to age and from country to country. The concept of remediation did not emerge until the nineteenth century. Earlier, in 1798, ltard published an account of his attempt to train the "wild boy of Aveyron." A rash of efforts to habilitate retarded persons followed. Training schools were developed in Europe and the United States in the 1800s; however, these early schools did not fulfill their promise, and by the end of the nineteenth century large, inhumane warehouses for retarded persons existed. The notion of habilitation through training had largely been abandoned and was not to reappear until after World War II.

The rise and fall of the Japanese empire constitutes one of the most dramatic episodes of modern history. Within the short span of fifty years Japan grew out of political backwardness into a position of tremendous power. Japan's rise to power challenged Europe's hegemony over Asia, but, paradoxically, it was Japan's fall that caused the irreparable ruin of the colonial system over Eastern lands. Japan went to war against the West under the battlecry of Asia's liberation from European colonialism. In reality, for forty years, beginning with her first war against China, she had striven to imitate this colonialism, as she had endeavoured to imitate the political, military and economic achievements of Europe. A thorough understanding of the imitative character of the Japanese Empire might well have induced the leaders of the nation to side with the conservative trend of political thought in the Western world in order to maintain the existing world-wide political system of which colonial rule was an accepted part. They might have understood that an adventurous, revolutionary policy was bound to result in grave dangers for their own state and most conservative structure. Japan might have continued to grow and to expand if she had succeeded to play the role of the legitimate heir to Europe's decaying power in Asia. By violently opposing that power, she undermined the very foun­ dations of her own rule outside the home-islands.

A cursory examination of the current scientific and technological literature is sufficient to show the enormous interest in the possibility of producing liquid fuels from coal. There are, of course, a number of ways in which coal liquefaction may be effected. Many of the important steps are catalytic. The direct liquefaction route, that is, coal hydrogenation, has a long history with origins in the early years of this century. It also has the distinction of being a process which was once operated on a very large scale and which, having died, now shows every prospect of resurrection. The technology which finally emerges will doubtless differ significantly from the original practice, but it ·is sensible for those currently working in the field to be aware of the achievements of the past. Dr. E. Donath, who was personally involved during the heroic years of coal hydrogenation, has provid­ ed an historical account of the subject up to the time immediately following World War II, when the large scale process began its rapid decline to oblivion. Processes involving catalytic oxidation form a very large and important part of chemical industry. The reactions involved are very varied, ranging from the classical oxidation processes of heavy industry, such as the oxidation of sulfur dioxide or of ammonia, to selective oxidations designed to produce specific organic products from a range of possibilities. The chapter by Professor G. K.

Working from the text of James Baldwin’s unfinished final novel, director Raoul Peck creates a meditation on what it means to be Black in the United States.

The storyline begins with Muza's childhood in the grip of the Soviet occupation regime. After winning the Liszt-Bartok International Piano Competition in Budapest, Muza starts receiving invitations to perform at Europe's foremost concert halls, but, alas, the Iron Curtain descends and she is no longer allowed to go abroad. Muza finally gets her chance in 1989 when the Soviet Union begins to collapse. Hard work eventually brings international recognition. The film depicts Muza's renewed battle with isolation as she is once again not fully able to perform due to the pandemic.

A master restorer nears retirement at Japan's premier classic car shop, founded by his father during WWII. With a promise to keep Naito Auto alive for generations, can his children maintain the family's legacy?