Data is presented on a new method to determine the degree of contact hypersensivity in a patient having contact dermatitis. Eighty six patients showing positive patch tests with a few selected antigens were tested with increasing dilutions of the same antigen in

Twenty-two cases of different dermatoses other than psoriasis, were treated with oral aromatic retinoid noid (Tigason). We observed complete or nearly complete remission in 9, moderate improvement in another 9 and slight improvement in 3 patients, while one patient did not show any response. Side effects were notice in 14 patients.

Out of 6 patients having air-borne-contact dermatitis, 2 showed a positive patch test with eucalyptus oil, while out of 26 patients having contact dermatitis due to other agents such an cosmetics, topical drugs and wearing apparel taken as controls, only one was positive with eucalyptus oil.

Data on 66 patients with cutaneous tuberculosis seen over a period of 4 years was analysed. Males -predominated (71.6%) over females (28.4%). More than one f' patients were below the age of 10 years. Lupus vulgaris was the commonest type of disease pattern seen in 81.8% followed by scrofuloderma in 21.2%. Warty tuberculosis was the least common of all. Tuberculids seen were erythema nodosum in 3, papulonecrotic in 2, and lichen scrofulosorum in one. Face was involved most often (34.8%) followed by legs, buttocks, arms and neck. The number of legions varied from 2-7 in a quarter of patients. Organs other than skin were involved in 25.8% patients. Pulmonary involvement was the commonest followed by bone. CNS and lymph node involvement. , Almost half the patients were unvaccinated as were the BCG vaccinated patients. Mantoux test was negative in 27.2% patients. Characteristic tubercular histopathology was seen in 81.8% and in the rest it was non-specific.

Clinical and epidemiological data on 782 patients of psoriasis collected from a clinic in north India is presented. Psoriatics accounted for 1.4% of the total dermatology out-patients. There was a male preponderance. Three fourths of the patients had over 50% involvement of the skin surface. Severity of the disease was same in both sexes. Plaque type disease was commonest in over 90%. Family history of psoriasis was present in 7.40/o-, the age of onset was significantly lower in them as compared to the patients without family history. More than half of the' patients did not experience any seasonal variation. Scalp was the first site of involvement followed by legs and arms. Nails, joints and mucosal involvement were seen in 62.2, 9.7 and 2.3% patients respectively. Pruritus was experienced by 63.5% patients.

A sample survey was conducted to find out the prevalence of dermatoses among the tribal population of Kalrayan hill in South Arcot district who were recently found out .from the hidden spots of the hill. The prevalence of dermatoses was 40% among the 242 screened. Scabies had a prevalence of 22.7% and was more among the tribal s chool children put in huts, emphasizing the need for adequate shelter and health education. The low frequency of nutritional dermatoses 3.7% is attributed to the implementation of the noon-meal scheme. Surprising low prevalence rate for leprosy (1.7%) in this highly endemic district of South Arcot needs further probing to find out some clues for protection from leprosy.

Clinical features of six cases of lymphangioma circumscriptum are described.

Contact dermatitis due to Holigrana ferruginea Hook f-a member of the family Anacardiaceae, was seen in 4 patients. In three case,% the diagnosis was confirmed by patch tests. The presence of pyrocatechols in the acrid juice was detected by simple laboratory procedures. A DNCB-fike action of the purified extract is postulated.

A 10 year old,male child developed four tumours of multifocal pilomatricoma.

A 23 year old male had camptodactyly affecting the little fingers of both hands and the ring finger of left hand . He had associated knuckle pad on one of the affected little fingers. Elder sister of the patient also had camptodactyly.

A 19-year-old male had innumerable cysts of steatocystoma multiplex spread on almost the entire skin surface.

A 28 year old male had right axillary freckling, a few cafe-aulait macules and numerous freckles over the right upper half of his body involving the -scapular region, shoulder, chest wall, upper arm and proximal half of the forearm Numerous, bilateral subcutaneous nodules which could possibly be dismissed clinically as subcutaneous nodules of neurofibromatosis, proved to be angiolipomas histopathologically. It is suggested that in the cal molluscum fibrosum, histopathology of subcutaneous nodules should always be resorted to in suspected cases of Neurofibromatosis even when there are suggestive pigmentary changes.