From humble origins Benjamin H Sheares with self-discipline and a commitment to excel became an eminent obstetrician and gynaecologist. Beginning in 1942 under difficult conditions he pioneered many improvements in the management of obstetrical and gynaecological patients, and also improved the services and facilities at Kandang Kerbau Hospital so that maternal and neonatal mortality and morbid...

In 1981, I was fortunate to be able to conduct epidemiological fieldwork on kuru and the experience forever changed me. At the time, the prevalence and incidence had both declined markedly. Yet, clusters of cases still occurred in various villages and questions arose of whether these were the results of the last feast held in each of these areas. I trekked throughout the kuru region, examining ...

The Nobel prize is a universal symbol of recognized excellence in science and literature. And although many other prestigious prizes are awarded in the sciences and the humanities each year, 1the Nobel awards are unique because they are so well known to the general public. For several years, we have commented on each new crop of Nobel pnzewinners.z-’l These essays included an analysis of each r...