When the 1975 and 1976 symposia of The Marie Curie Memorial Foundation took place at the Royal College of Surgeons of England it was IDY great privilege to say a few words at the opening of each of them. It is equally a privilege to contribute these few introductory words to the Volume recording these symposia and I believe that it would not be inappropriate to recall with minor mod- ifications some of the thoughts that occurred to me when I opened...