Twenty‐three patients with rheumatoid arthritis on orthodox first‐line anti‐inflammatory treatment plus homeopathy were compared wtih a similar group of twenty‐three patients on orthodox first‐line treatment plus an inert preparation. There was a significant improvement in subjective pain, articular index, stiffness and grip strength in those patients receiving homoeopathic remedies whereas there was no significant change in the patients who received placebo. Two physicians were involved in prescribing for the patients and there were no significant differences in the results which they obtained. No side effects were observed with the homoeopathic remedies.

I This paper reports the results of a pilot study in which 41 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were treated with high doses of salicylate, 3.9 g per day, and the results compared with a further 54 similar patients treated with homoeopathy. Both groups were compared with 100 patients who received placebo. 2 The patients who received homoeopathy did better than those who received salicylate. The design of the trial was such, however, that it was not possible to distinguish between the effects due to the physicians and the effects due to the drugs and a further trial is planned to elucidate this point. 3 Patients on homoeopathic treatment did not experience toxic effects.

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Scottish skiing is a growth industry-nearly all acute ski injuries in Aviemore are managed initially by local general practitioners. This study set out to examine the nature and incidence of ski injuries in one Scottish ski resort, and to calculate the additional workload generated for the health centre, ambulance service and local hospital. During the study period, the winter ski season of 1993-94, a prospective study was made of the 486 acute ski injuries presenting to Aviemore Health Centre. Despite frequently poor weather conditions, the season's injury rate for Cairngorm was 2.43 per 1000 skier days which compares favourably with statistics from other ski centres world-wide. The anatomical pattern of injuries for both downhill skiing and snowboarding was similar to that of other countries. Knee injuries constituted nearly one third of all cases. 8% of injuries involved the ski lift machinery. 31% of casualties underwent radiographic examination, 17% needed hospital referral and 7% required admission to hospital. The management of acute ski injuries can be performed effectively in the primary care setting. It has significant benefits in rural areas by rationalising the use of ambulance and hospital services.

SummaryA two-part trial is reported in which patients with rheumatoid arthritis were treated with homœopathy. In the first part of the trial, 54 patients on homœopathy were compared with 41 patients on salicylate over the course of a year. 66 per cent. of the patients on homœopathy improved, as compared with 14.6 per cent. of the patients on salicylate.In the second part of the trial, 46 patients took part in a double-blind study in which homœopathy was compared with placebo for a period of three months. The patients on homœopathy improved significantly while those on placebo did not.It was also shown that it may well be possible to predict which patients are most likely to respond to homœopathic treatment.No toxic effects were observed in any patient on homœopathy whereas 39 per cent. of the patients on salicylate experienced toxic effects.