Recent much publicised attention to autism and its putative relation to the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination reminds us that autism affects approximately 4 in 10 000 of the population. It is characterised by impairments in reciprocal social interaction and communication, restricted and stereotyped patterns of interests and activities, and the presence of developmental abnormalities by 3 years of age. Much of the psychiatric literature appears to overlook the organic basis,¹ with subtle neurological signs evident in many examples: learning difficulties, a high incidence of epilepsy, viral infections, tuberous sclerosis, and fragile X syndrome are known associations.

Leo Kanner, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins, …