McGill University Thèses et mémoires publiés en 1956

Kirk, H. (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

The Woodstook and Millville areas are in the continuation of the New England Province of the Northern Appalachians. The oldest exposed rocks are sedimentary and are presumed to be Ordovician in age. Overlying these are Silurian sediments, which contain the iron and manganese deposits of the Woodstook area. The Ordovician and Silurian sediments indicate deposition in an unstable marine geosynclinal environment. Granite and allied rocks intruded the Silurian and older strata during the Devonian period.  Lire la suite

Eugène Dabit (1898-1936), peintre et écrivain de l'entre-deux-guerres, consacra ses énergies et son talent à mieux faire connaitre le peuple dont il était né. Elève de Roger Martin du Gard, ami et protégé d'André Gide, i l mourut subitement en Russie avant d'avoir pu donner toute sa mesure. Faussement étiqueté "populiste", Dabit dépasse ses contemporains des années 1930-1936 par le témoignage objectif et frémissant de son œuvre romanesque, Il a subi, depuis vingt ans, un injuste oubli que notre travail a l'ambition de réparer.  Lire la suite

β,β-dimethylacrylic acid (I, β-methylcrotonic acid, DMA) has been prepared by a variety of methods, none of which give a good yield. Several routes involve α-halo-isovaleric acid derivatives as intermediates, from which the unsaturated acid is obtained by elimination of the halogen atom together with one of the β-hydrogen atoms (1, 2, 3).  Lire la suite

A flow apparatus was used to investigate the effect of certain parameters like fuel air ratio, oxygen concentration and air preheat temperature on the ignition delay of propane injected into a hot air stream. All investigations were restricted to the low range of fuel air ratios (max. - 0.025) and it was found that (a) ignition delay increased with the increase of fuel air ratio up to a transition point and thereafter remained constant until the flame flashed back to a point near the fuel nozzle or disappeared from the flame tube depending on the air mass flow and preheat …  Lire la suite

This thesis is concerned with an exploratory analysis of case aide practices in five hospital social service departments. Administrative personnel have become increasingly alert to the possibility of separating the more routine duties, which have been traditionally part of the function of a social service department from those services that are professional in order to pass them on to personnel suitably trained at a non-professional or technician level.  Lire la suite

Throughout the ages the various types of architecture or mans way of materially expressing the thoughts, and the ways of living of his age, have been curtailed by the available materials and inherited techniques. Wood was one of the first universal building materials. It was readily attacked by the elements and the buildings as well as the culture of the times was soon lost to history. With the advent of stone a permanent building material was available to the builders and sculptures of the day.  Lire la suite

Prissick, F. (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

That all elements which are part of living organisms must be present in their environment, if they shall be in a position to propogate, is axiomatic. However the form in which these elements are useful for the building of cells, differs widely for various organisms. [...]  Lire la suite

Mason, S. (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

The problem indicated in the preceding quotation bas accompanied the process of economic development throughout the Western world. The specialization of labour and the large-scale use of capital have not only led to a manifold increase in labour productivity, but they have also raised the problem of maintaining price stability and avoiding severe depressions and inflations. In contrast, the economics of underdeveloped countries are characterized by stability. We may say, therefore, that economic equilibrium and stability are not synonymous with prosperity. On the contrary, economic expansion is a pre-requisite for a high and increasing level of living.  Lire la suite

The complete record of the first two years of radiosonde observations from the Polar Basin have been analyzed with respect to thermal inversions. An objective classification system was introduced to permit exact determinations of type, magnitudes of component layers, and frequencies of occurrence, of inversions. The method has general applicability to other portions of the radiosonde ascent. A new unit of inversion intensity was introduced and appears to be an improvement over the use of lapse rate.  Lire la suite

High polymers, such as cellulose, are polymolecular, i.e., their component molecules exhibit a usually widely varying molecular weight. Being non-uniform, they are infinitely variable and the molecular weight distribution may vary from sample to sample of one and the same high polymer. Although of the same average molecular weight and chemical constitution, two polymeric specimens might accordingly show quite different properties depending on their particular molecular weight distribution, which will affect its behavior both in the solid and the dissolved state.  Lire la suite

The process of combustion may be regarded as an exothermic chemical reaction which tends to accelerate and is accompanied by flame. The rate at which it proceeds depends on several factors, the most significant probably being the temperature, for a combustible mixture will not usually burn unless the temperature is raised to a critical value (other factors constant). Closely associated with “spontaneous ignition temperature”, as it is called, is the phenomenon of ignition delay, which represents the time interval between the attainment of conditions suitable for combustion and the onset of ignition.  Lire la suite

The excitation function for the production of F18 from F19 under proton bombardment at energies 10-90 Mev has been determined. Carbon in the teflon (CF2) targets served as monitor. The excitation function rises sharply from the 9.1 Mev threshold and reaches a maximum of 85 millibarns at 24 Mev; then gradually drops to a nearly steady value of 50 millibarns at the upper energy limit.  Lire la suite

This thesis bas for its subject the Anglo-French Military and Naval Staff Conversations. These "Conversations" consisted of direct verbal and written communications between the British and French War Offices and Admiralties, for the purpose of elaborating joint plans for possible armed co-operation both on land and on the seas, against an eventual German aggression. These Anglo-French Staff Conversations began in January, 1906, and continued right up to July, 1914. They were conducted under a veil of secrecy, and were formally revealed to the public only one day before Britain went to war.  Lire la suite

This study of the mysids of the Great Bras d' Or of Cape Breton Island is part of an investigation into the bionomics of the cod worm, Porrocaecum decipiens (Krabbe), conducted by the Fisheries Research Board of Canada in Cape Breton and elsewhere. This worm occurs as a larval form in several fishes and as an adult in seals (Scott, D. M., 1953, 1954). The investigation in Cape Breton was initiated by Dr. D. M. Scott in 1949 and continued until 1951 when the author took over the study in that area.  Lire la suite

Amphibians and reptiles comprise an important major segment of the vertebrate fauna of Canada: major in the sense of numbers of individuals; and important in the sense of economic value. The numbers of insects, other invertebrates, small vertebrates and especially rodents that these animals consume during a summer season are astronomical and attests to their economic value to Canadian agriculture and forestry.  Lire la suite

The problem of generating long cylindrical electron beams of almost constant diameter has received much attention in recent years. Space charge spreading due to the repulsion of the like charges in the beam must be eliminated by an external focusing field. Sets of widely spaced electrostatic or magnetostatic lenses (15) have been used where charge densities were low, while uniform longitudinal magnetic fields (2, 15) have been used where charge densities were high. J.R. Pierce (5), in a Letter to the Editor of the Journal of Applied Physics, September 1953, suggested that spatially alternating magnetic fields could be used to …  Lire la suite

Significant chemical work on the hormones of the adrenal cortex dates from 1930 when Swingle and Pfiffner (l) and Hartman and Brownell (2) prepared the first extracts of cortical tissue which would maintain life in the adrenalectomised animal. In 1934 groups of chemists associated with Kendall and Mason, Wintersteiner and Pfiffner, and Reichstein, began investigations aimed at the isolation and characterization of the cortical hormones. Within a few years twenty-eight crystalline steroids were isolated and all groups of steroid hormones, namely, cortical, progestational, androgenic and estrogenic, were represented (3).  Lire la suite

The material submitted in this manuscript, is the result of an investigation of the gross and minute anatomy of the cranial dura and related structures in the region of the hypophyseal fossa in the cow. The minute anatomy is introduced for the express purpose of aiding one in the interpretation of the gross findings.  Lire la suite

The problems encountered in the use of a rotating arm for the generation of wind to test microphone windscreens are presented. Tests on various windscreens of cylindrical and spherical shape, composed of single and multiple sections, indicate that the most effective windscreens are those constructed of several layers of separated sheer nylon cloth. The supporting framework for the cloth as well as the cloth itself, have a marked effect on both the reduction of wind noise and on the attenuation of the desired sound.  Lire la suite

Gaius Petronius, a description of whom Tacitus has left in his Annals, is considered by most scholars to be the author of the Satyricon, the work containing the Cena Trimalchionis. Although most of his life was passed in idleness and luxury, Petronius possessed great ability. This he proved as proconsul of Bithynia and later as consul. An authority on pleasure, he became a close companion of Nero's. His influence with the emperor, however, aroused the jealousy of Tigellinus.  Lire la suite

Walker, R. (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

Experiments have been made to determine the stability field of natrolite under elevated pressures and temperatures. The validity of the experiments as reproductions of nature's processes is examined. The equilibrium curve for the upper limit of the natrolite stability field was determined for certain fixed environmental conditions.  Lire la suite

The purpose of this study is to examine the agricultural production in the province of Quebec, and to evaluate in quantitative terms, in so far as the tools of analysis and availability of data permit, the degree of efficiency with which resources are being applied in the agriculture of this province.  Lire la suite

Whenever an evacuated solid is exposed to a gas some of the gas is taken up by the solid. If the gas molecules adhere to the surface of the solid they are generally considered to be adsorbed. If the gas molecules enter the solid the term absorption is generally applied, although the less popular term, occlusion has occasionally been used. [...]  Lire la suite

Specimens of Lake Shore Tuff and Porphyry, Nundydroog Amphibolite, Kerr Addison Green Carbonate Breccia, and McIntyre Carbonated Lava have been ruptured under compression, tension, torsion and direct shear. The results were graphically plotted according to Mohr's strength theory, and the constructed angles of failure compared with the experimental measured angles. According to Mohr, the strength of the rock is a function of sliding friction, but the graphical and experimental results indicate rather that sliding friction and interlocking govern rock failure. [...]  Lire la suite

The present paper is a report on a study of the terrestrial mammals occurring on the islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence: Newfoundland, Anticosti, the Magdalens, Cape Breton Island and Prince Edward Island. The project was primarily undertaken in an attempt to obtain first-hand, up-to-date information on the mammalian faunas of the islands, which heretofore has been scanty and often inaccurate. [...]  Lire la suite

This thesis describes the design, construction and operation of an apparatus for experimentation with small, cylindrical samples under conditions of high temperature and pressure in the presence of fluids. It is also possible to deform the sample while subjected to these "hydrothermal" conditions by developing a differential which can produce either shearing or tensional phenomena. Both open and closed systems can be employed. [...]  Lire la suite

A study of the mixing of subsonic jets with cold streams has been made. An apparatus was constructed for the mixing of such jets at angles with streams. Jets with initial temperatures up to 1075 °K were directed at right angle to cold air streams at various velocities and the effects of some of the factors influencing the mixing have been determined and analysed. [...]  Lire la suite

A study is made of the elastic scattering of positrons by hydrogen atoms at low energy (E<30 ev.). The Born phase shift of order l = 0 is replaced by a corrected phase shift obtained by means of a variational method, and it is found that the phase shifts of higher order differ negligibly from the Born ones. This leads to a comparison between the Born approximation total cross-section and the corrected total cross-section. [...]  Lire la suite

A study was made on the noise generated by a centrifugal ventilating fan and results of the variation of noise with horsepower, speed, air velocity and pressure are given. The results indicate that no one parameter can be used to predict the noise level accurately; and, in agreement with other observers, it is shown that the octave-band distribution is not the same over the complete range of the fan performance curve. [...]  Lire la suite

There is abundant evidence in the literature which suggests, that chloramphenicol therapy in typhoid fever influences the antigenic character of S.typhi. Typhoid patients treated early in the disease with chloramphenicol do not produce, in most cases, antibodies to S.typhi. The rate of relapse in these patients is high and the incidence of carriers is not improved by treatment with this antibiotic. However, if typhoid vaccine is given, normal antibodies develop to a high titer.  Lire la suite

The artificial production of malformations, teratogenesis, was established as a special branch of experimental biology during the nineteenth century. Outstanding among the pioneer workers was Dareste who on the basis of extensive observations on the effects of temperature variations on chick embryos, concluded that teratogeny was always the consequence of a deviation from normal embryonic pathways, and that almost all malformations were caused by arrest of development. He further noted that induced defects in the chick closely resembled those found in mammals, especially in man.  Lire la suite

Various designs of aplanatic lenses have been studied experimentally and theoretically at a wavelength of 1.25 cms. This was done with the view of determining the ability to which they lend themselves for purposes of scanning a beam of microwave radiations. Several lens systems were studied and interpretations of the measurements were given in terms of the various monochromatic aberrations present. [...]  Lire la suite

One of the chief characteristics of podsol soils is the accumulation of organic matter and sesquioxides in the B horizon of these soils. In recent years several workers have studied characteristics of soluble organic matter leaching from the overlying organic layer of these soils and passing downward through the profile. However, it has not been established that these organic materials or any part of these are deposited in the B horizon of podsol soils, or if the organic matter leached from the organic layer in aqueous solution is similar in nature to the organic matter deposited in the B horizon.  Lire la suite

Resonant circuits are an important component of almost every radio circuit, and the determination of the properties of resonant circuits is an important measurement problem. Circuits with distributed constants., such as transmission lines, may resonate if they are properly terminated. A resonant transmission line which is analogous to the familiar LRC series resonant circuit is called a reaction, or absorbtion, type resonator. [...]  Lire la suite

In recent years valuable contributions have been made to the study of hydrothermal wall rock alteration associated with ore deposits in a number of districts. ( Review of previous work on pp 152-194). A more complete understanding and correlation of wall rock alteration trends can be accomplished only by undertaking detailed chemical and mineralogical studies in various types of deposits from as many mining districts as possible.  Lire la suite

The possibility that toxins produced by bacterial and fungal pathogens may play a role in the etiology of the diseases which these microorganisms bring about has received a good deal of attention and the so-called toxin theory of disease causation has gained more and more prominence in recent years. According to this theory, many of the symptom expressions of parasitic diseases especially those occurring in the non-invaded parts of the host are due partly or entirely to those secretions of the pathogen formed while it is growing within the host.  Lire la suite

Progressively through the years, women have made significant strides towards equality with men, in opportunity, role, status and function. These advances have induced changes in the role concept of women, as perceived by society and by women themselves. Whereas women were formerly expected to limit their outlook to immediate family affairs, they are now encouraged to develop talents, express opinions and enter into planning and activities outside the home, often in occupations and fields conventionally dominated by men.  Lire la suite

"Grasslands of the World are the largest undeveloped resources for increased agricultural production. More than half of the total land surface of the earth is in grazed lands. Most of these enormous acreages are unimproved. Improvement practices, based on research findings, can result in vast increases in production ……" This statement was made in 1952 in the "Foreword to the Proceedings of the Sixth International Grassland Congress."  Lire la suite

The mass separation of the radioactive isotopes of an element is often an essential preparation for a study of the radiations. When neighbouring isotopes have similar disintegration periods, the assignment of observed radiations to a particular isotope is otherwise difficult. Accurate yield curves, or cross bombardment with different particles, can make assignments more probable. Careful "milking off" of daughter activities by chemical means may also be very helpful.  Lire la suite

This thesis represents a general study of the geology of an area of approximately 140 square miles, situated in Ungava, New Quebec, which covers part of the eastern “contact” of the so called “Labrador Trough“ with the granite-gnei ss-migmatite complex. The study is based on field work carried out during the summers of 1954 and 1955 for the Quebec Department of Mines, and laboratory investigation at McGill University during 1955 and 1956. The abject of this paper is to prove that the rocks in that part of the "Labrador Trough” show progressive regional metamorphism towards the East and North.  Lire la suite

In the early 1890’s Metchnikoff demonstrated that Bacillus subtilis was able to produce substances which neutralized diphtheria toxin, tetanus toxin and snake venom after a period of in vitro combination. It was further shown that fungi like Isaries, Sporotrichous, and Torula, and certain parasites of insects and humans neutralized the activity of such toxins. Calmette working with a strain of Bacillus subtilis isolated by Metchnikoff, observed that it produced substances which at least partially neutralized the toxicity of snake venom.  Lire la suite

A vacuum tube using the velocity-jump principle bas been built to amplify microwave signais at frequencies in the vicinity of 10,000 megacycles per second. The design of the tube was based on a similar structure that had been built to operate at a lower frequency. A series of experimental measurements were perfonned to determine the operating characteristics of the tube. A general theory previously developed for space-charge wave amplifiers was applied to the operation of the tube, in conjunction with approximations made to the theory of coupling to electron beams by means of helices. The experimental results obtained agreed reasonably …  Lire la suite

The history of schools in present-day Canada covers a period no greater than 320 years, having started with the Jesuit school at Quebec in 1635. While the people of the New World were still trying to compel Nature to surrender some sort of livelihood they were also adapting the Old World school system to their own peculiar circumstances. At first the schools that were set up by the Roman Catholic priests were copies of their European counterparts but they seen underwent modification to suit the environment.  Lire la suite

Younge, E. (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

In the last few years, increasing attention has been paid to the pharmacological, physiological and clinical role of histamine and related compounds in the tissues of the living organism, both human and in experimental animals. Although very little is known about the beneficial role of histamine in the physiological process, except of its secretagogue action on the gastric mucosa, much evidence has accumulated in the past to show its harmful effect on the living cell.  Lire la suite

This is a study of the economic and social adjustment of a group of mentally deficient young people. All the subjects of this study were declared in Juvenile Court at various dates to be children who were neglected by their parents. On this account their legal guardianship was transferred by court order to a child welfare agency. Through this Agency they were placed in carefully selected foster homes where they remained for different periods.  Lire la suite