A total lof 192 cases were patch tested for contact dermatitis to topical antibacterial agents, of whom 124 (84 non-medical and 40 medical by profession) cases turned out to be sensitive to one or more antigens. The antibacterial agents selected for the patch testing were Furacin ointment (nitrofurazone), Neomycin cream (neomycin), Soframycin cream (framycetin), Crys-4 (injectable penicillin used topically), Dettol, Genticyn (gentamicin), Savlon, Acriflavine, Achromycin (tetracycline), Ambistryn-S(Injectable Streptomycin used topically), Brilliant green, Bacitracin, Sulphacetamide, Mercurochrome, Gention-violet, Chloromycetin topical (chloramphenicol) and Betadine ointment (povidone-iodine). The maximum positive reactions were shown by Furacin cream (41.6%) followed by Neomycin (40.6%), Soframycin (15.1%), injectable pencillin (13.5%), Dettol (10.9%), Genticyn (8.3%), Savlon (8.3%), Acriflavine (5.2%), Tetracycline (5.2%), injectable streptomycin (3.6%) and Brilliant green (3.6%). The remaining agents did not elicit any reaction in any patient. Ninety nine patients had shown multiple hypersensitivity either to 3 antigens (15 patients) or to 2 antigens (84 patients). Forty healthy volunteers were also tested by similar procedure as control.

Biopsy specimens from 210 patients with mycetoma filled in the departments of pathology of four medical colleges in Tamil Nadu, India, were examined histologically; Actinomadura madurae mycetoma was found in 73 cases. Madurella mycetomatis was the next commoner agent (28.4%) followed by Nocardia spp. (19.4%). A. pelletieri (10%), Streptomyces somaliensis and Pseud allescheria / Acremonium spp. 2.8% each and lastly Leptosphaeria Spp. From only four cases. The causal agent was isolated from 42 cases which included L. senegalensis and L. tompkinsii in pure culture for the first time in India.

Out of the 28 cases of different types of vitiligo treated with autologous grafts of suction blister roofs, 25 showed good results. The complications seen were secondary infection in 3, contact dermatitis to ethanol in 1 and koebenerization at the donor site in one.

A new toilet soap was manufactured incorporating coconut oil cakes - the most popular soap substituted used by the Keralites.

Thirty four patients of cutaneous Leishmaniasis had received dapsone as treatment. The dose was approximately 2 mg per kilogram body weight per day. The duration of the treatment ranged from 14 to 63 days with the mean of 31.18 days. Twenty two patients (64.70%) had shown complete healing. Four patients (11.76%) did not show any response. Ulcerative variety (95.23%) responded fully, whereas nodular variety (15.38%) had poor response. No recurrence was seen during a follow up examination of 9 months.

Sjogren Larsson syndrome represents a rare neuroectodermal disorder. Histologically changes are of nonbullous ichthyosiform erythroderma. Topical urea cream is beneficial for cutaneous lesions.

A young male had nevus unius lateris extending from the head down to the thigh on the right side since birth. Although vascular abnormalities such as haemangiomas and cerebral arteriovenous have been reported in a few patients, the occurance of a congenital heart disease has so far not been reported.

A case of dyschromatosis universalis hereditaria is reported in a 16-year-girl. She had asymptomatic spotty, depigmented and hyperpigmented macules distributed bilaterally all over the body, sparing the palms and soles. She also had associated grandmal epilepsy since early childhood. The common origin of epidermis and brain from ectoderm suggests that the association of epilepsy and dyschromatosis universalis hereditaria in this patient is more than fortuitous.

A 12-year-old boy had multiple 1mm-7mm tumours on the scalp and the face, which were confirmed to be cylindromas on histopathological examination. Several members of his family were reported to have similar lesions. The tumours were inherited as an autosomal dominant trait.

A barrier function test has been designed to screen the protective capacity of a cream against the cauterizing effect of cashew nut shell oil (CNSO) on the skin. The test consists of applying the barrier cream on a 5 cm circular area of skin on the back of a human volunteer and then at its center applying a 1 cm sq Whatman no. 3 paper disc soaked in the CNSO for 15 minutes and looking for the evidence of cauterization reaction after 48 hours. Of the various creams containing a variety of paraffins, bees wax, polyethylene glycols, methyl cellulose gel, and petrolatum, only polythelene glycol (PER) cream was found to afford adequate protection against cashew nut shell oil. Addition of 10% zinc oxide or 10% kaolin to the PEG cream did not seem to afford any additional protection. Castor oil already being used by the workers was found to be inferior to the PEG cream.