The Washington Letter dated March 11, 1946, in the J.A.M.A. contains an item with the heading: LACK OF PSYCHIATRISTS CALLED 'FRIGHTENING'. 'Captain Francis Braceland, head of the Navy's neuropsychiatric division, informed the Senate subcommittee considering the Pepper bill, which would set up and finance a National Neuropsychiatric Institute in Washington, that "a considerable block of America's civil population does not enjoy mental health". Leading army and civilian psychiatrists testified that there is a "frightening" lack of trained psychiatrists everywhere. Surgeon General Thomas Parran of the U.S. Public Health Service also testified in support of the bill. Dr. Lawrence Kubie, consultant to the Office of Scientific Research and Development, opposed the Pepper measure because he said it is inadequate, "like shooting at rocket bombs with a peashooter".'