Ready-made metal plates now available for repairing defects in human skulls may be useful in the care of war wounds, according to Dr. Claude S. Beck of Western Reserve University school of medicine. The plates afe made of the alloy, vitallium, which has been used successfully in repairing skulland other bone defects. Heretofore the plates have been cast specially from a pattern of the skull defect, but it was Dr. Beck’s idea to have plates made up in various sizes and kept in stock by surgeons who could use them as needed. The plates have a gentle curvature which may be altered by means of pliers to fit almost any case. If the wound is not infected, the plates, attached by vitallium screws, might be put in at the first operation.