Bids for new posts for 1982–83 will be decided by Regional Authorities on the advice of Regional Manpower Committees within the next few months on the basis of guidelines formulated and issued by the DHSS. There seems little likelihood that cash limits will be significantly eased by 1982–83, and the case for psychiatry will have to be argued in face of a greater degree of consultant expansion to be allowed in the support specialties—e.g., anaesthetics, radiology, and unlimited expansion, as far as central approval is concerned, in general medicine, general surgery, and obstetrics and gynaecology. It may be expected that the non-metropolitan Regions will be better placed financially to meet consultant expansion, so that while on average two to three adult mental illness consultant posts will be permitted in each Region, Regions with resources may be encouraged to bid above this average, as preference will normally be given to Regions with the lowest ratio of establishment to population. The same principle would apply in child and adolescent psychiatry where on average one post per Region may be allowed. Only two new consultant posts in mental handicap will be created in the year in England and Wales. Applications for forensic psychiatry posts for regional secure units will be treated sympathetically, and, while there is no limit proposed for psychotherapy posts, the small number of senior registrars who will have completed training suggests that few bids are anticipated for this specialty.

One hundred years ago, in July 1881, President Garfield met his death by assassination. The trial of the murderer, Guiteau, and the controversy about his mental state, were extensively commented on in the Journal of Mental Science between July 1882 and January 1883. First there is a lengthy editorial (an ‘Occasional Note of the Quarter’) in which the Editor gives his own opinion as to Guiteau's sanity and responsibility, and in later pages there is a full report of the Judge's summing up in the case. The October issue contains a detailed account of the post-mortem carried out on the body of the murderer after his execution; and lastly, in January 1883 the Editor replies to letters and criticisms he has received. The following is a condensed version of the first editorial.

Psychiatrists at times have difficulties in sharing responsibility with colleagues who are not medically qualified. As nurses, clinical psychologists and social workers acquire greater autonomy in their separate professions, the multidisciplinary team may degenerate into a tiny battlefield if its function and correct working are not properly understood.