The blood ascorbic acid level in Vitiligo cases ranged from 0.2 to 1.4 mg% with a mean of 0.5 mg and standard deviation 0.3. There is no correlation between the heights transaminase levels and the ascorbic acid levels in blood in this disease.

This study was carried out in the Charbag Railway colony of the Northern Railway at Lucknow in 1962. The colony had 1873 residential quarters having 1557 families. Out of a total of 1-557 families in the colony, 1103 families or 71.1 percent were covered for a survey on the prevalence of syphilis, which comprised of 3702 members of whom 3441 or 92.9 percent were tested by VDRL slide test. The VDRL positive cases were subjected to Kahn's test and their history of the disease together with the clinical examination and precipitating factors were recorded. Out of 3441 persons surveyed, 123 were found to be positive with VDRL test on the first occasion, and 97 out of the 123 were positive with Kahn's test. By doing repeated- VDRL test in 26 negative cases to Kahn's test 3 cases showed negativity to subsequent VDRL tests and gave recent history of diseases which give false positive reaction. These were excluded from the list of positive cases. Thus finally, 120 cases out of 3441 persons examined were found to be positive for syphilis giving a prevalence rate of 3.5%. The cases were further analysed on the basis of their age and sex, religion, occupation, earning status, socioeconomic status, educational status, addiction especially to alcohol, precipitating circumstances etc. and the results have been discussed and tabulated accordingly. In the above analysis it was found that the prevalence of syphilis was highest in the age group of 50 to 54 years it being 10.1 percent, followed by 25 to 44 years age group having a population of 1533 with 80 cases giving a prevalence of 5.2 percent. It was lowest in the age group 15 to 19 years and nil in 10 to 14 years age group. The factors involved have been discussed. In Christians the prevalence of syphilis was found to be highest (21.3 percent) and was lowest among Hindus (2.6 percent). In the occupational group the prevalence was highest among sweepers (21-0 percent) followed by RPF men and Tabour and works inspectors (12.5 percent), Khalasis (10.4 percent) and Train Drivers (8.3 percent). It was lowest in the students (0.1 percent) and nil in Administrative Class I and II officers. Analysis according to socioeconomic status showed the highest prevalence (16.9 percent) m the very poor (social class V).

For the period 1955 to 1962 there were 132 malignant tumours of the skin out of 3083 malignant tumours in other sites registered, giving a percentage of 4.2. This is higher than what is reported for the people in the tropics. Of these epithelioma contributed to over 50% and many of them were secondary to either trauma or friction or burns or actinic rays as in Xeroderma pigmentosa. Basal cell carcinomas were not infrequent and all histological variants were encountered. Malignant melanoma is a frequent epithelial tumour of the skin and its occurrence in 80% of the cases does strongly support trauma as causal in the bare footed individuals. Occasionally adenocarcinomatous deposits may be encountered as secondary from a known or unknown primary neoplasm. The findings recorded above strongly suggest preventive measures against cutaneous malignancies.

Ten cases of various clinical types of lupus vulgaris have been treated with 'Etisul' 3-5 grammes applied locally in to the lesions, as an inunction twice a day for a period of 12-16 weeks. The overall results have been satisfactory. A local inunction of this anti-tubercular agent (ethyl thiol ester derivative) is a new approach in the therapy of lupus vulgaris, but further detailed studies are needed before any final conclusions are drawn. Our own trials with the agent in liquid form are continuing.

In this trial we could record an apparent cure rate of 87.5% while the single dose (3gms) schedule failed to cause improvement in 12.5% cases. On the whole, the patients tolerated the drug well. All the 61 strains tested were sensitive in vitro to less than 1 mcg per ml of spiramycin resistant cases of gonococcal infections.