Walter Macfarlane

Macfarlane has worked in several fields of biology (1) Parasitology, both in the life histories and taxonomy of trematodes, and on the immunological basis of pathological reactions of the host. (2) Cellular electrophysiology of the activation and recovery processes in skeletal and cardiac muscles. (3) Physiological ecology of mammals in hot and arid regions. During the past 12 years he has analysed the distribution and turnover of water and electrolytes in sheep, camels and men exposed to heat. The functions of adrenal and posterior pituitary hormones in adaptive responses have been studied, and evidence has been provided that vasopressin in ruminants brings about excretion of potassium rather than primarily a retention of water. It is for this work that Macfarlane is especially distinguished.

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