1. Ball, J. (1950). Lancet, 2, 520.
2. Cobb, S., Anderson, F., and Bauer, W. (1953). New EngL. J. Med., 249, 553.
3. Duthie, J. J. R., Thompson, M., Weir, M. M., and Fletcher, W. B. (1955). Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 14, 133.
4. Kellgren, J. H., Lawrence, J. S., and Aitken-Swan, J (1953). Ibid., 12, 5.
5. I think, of interest to compare in so far as possible the patients that have been followed at Massachusetts General Hospital for many years on simple medical and orthopaedic measures with those described by Dr. Duthie. This group was assessed by Dr. Short in 1947 and again in 1954, the average follow-up being 14 years. The last assessment will soon be published. In general, there is remarkably good agreement as to the findings that suggest a good prognosis in our series and Dr. Duthie's. Short duration of disease (under one year) is of major significance. Probably, as Dr. Duthie suggests, this good prognosis in early cases and the large number of patients not admitted to hospital at all indicate that, as a whole, rheumatoid arthritis is milder than formerly believed. Patients with acute onset fare better than those with insidious onset. Men appear to have a slightly better prognosis than women (and this in both studies is based on groups that do not include patients with spondylitis);is, It