A case of hyperemesis gravidarum at 9 weeks’ gestation is described for which no cause could initially be found. Intravenous feeding was needed as a life preserving measure and following improvement on this regime the patient went into a thyrotoxic crisis which was successfully diagnosed and treated. The continuing pregnancy and its outcome is described. The need for practitioners to remember vomiting as a presenting sign of thyrotoxicosis is stressed.

Summary A clinical trial involving 60 patients was conducted to assess the relative efficacy of intravenous oxytocin and oral prostaglandin E2 in ripening the unfavourable cervix, when given as a priming dose on the day before induction of labour. There was significant improvement in the Bishop score, and the subsequent induction‐delivery interval following priming with prostaglandin. This improvement appeared to be dose‐related.

We describe the management by CO 2 laser of a case of recurrent extramammary Paget's disease of vulva and perineum, previously managed on three occasions with conventional surgical excision. Ablation of the whole lesion took less than 30 minutes, and the patient was able to go home on the third postoperative day. There were no significant complications. At follow-up after 12 months, multiple biopsies from the lasered area have shown no recurrence, and the symptomatic improvement has been satisfactory.

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