ABSTRACr There has been a recent increase in notifications of genital herpes but it is not known whether this has been reflected in the pregnant population. We have therefore carried out a study to determine the prevalence of herpes simplex antibodies in pregnant women and to estimate the incidence of primary infection. Sera were collected from 3533 women at antenatal clinics and tested for total antibodies to herpes simples virus (HSV), and if positive, for specific antibodies to HSV-2. Estimates of HSV-1 seroprevalence were derived from the HSV-2 seronegative population. HSV-l seroprevalence was nearly 100% in black women born in Africa or the Caribbean and 60-80% in white, Asian and UK born black women. It was lower in women in non-manual employment. HSV-2 seroprevalence was related to age, rising from 0 at age 16 to 40% at age 35 in black women, and to about 10% in Asian and white women. The estimated incidence of primary HSV-2 infection during pregnancy, per 1000 pregnancies, was about 2-4 in Asian women, 5 in white women, and 20 in black women. Estimates of the incidence of neonatal infection were derived from these figures and compared to the nationally reported rates.

SUMMARYSerum and cervical secretions were collected from patients with cervical dysplasia, carcinoma-in-situ (CIS), squamous cell carcinoma (cervical SCC), and controls with normal cervices, attending clinics within the West Lambeth Health District, London. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to examine cervical secretory IgA (sIgA) and serum IgG and IgA antibodies to herpes simplex virus (HSV). Sexual and demographic factors were considered during data analysis, which involved fitting multiple linear or multiple logistic regressions to HSV antibody levels. Prevalence of sIgA-HSV and levels of serum antibodies to HSV in all groups were compared with those of gynaecology controls. Caucasian women with mild dysplasia had a significantly higher prevalence of sIgA-HSV. Serum IgG levels to HSV (IgG-HSV) were significantly elevated in women with mild dysplasia and severe dysplasia/CIS. Serum IgA levels to HSV1 (IgG-HSV1) were significantly higher in women with cervical SCC (after adjusting for smoking habits) and other genital tumours. Significantly higher levels of serum IgA to HSV2 (IgA-HSV2) were also found among Caucasian women with cervical SCC. The possible role of HSV as a co-factor in cervical carcinogenesis is discussed.

Summary:The incidence and types of viral hepatitis in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne have been studied by serological analysis of (a) all blood samples sent to the virological laboratory for hepatitis testing and (b) all blood samples sent by general practitioners to the biochemical laboratory for liver function testing. The annual detection rate of acute viral hepatitis was found to be 31.5 cases/100,000 population, of which 9.1 were hepatitis B. Only three sporadic cases of non-A non-B hepatitis were identified. The incidence of hepatitis is at least four-fold greater than suggested by notification rates and may be substantially higher as general practitioners rarely requested laboratory confirmation of household contacts of index cases.

cious application; the latter was applied morning and evening till his recovery was completed. During January and February so,%- ,-icknesq, colic, constipation, diarrhcea, and dysentery had been very prevalent, but not a case of fever had occurred. A different state of matters, however, existed daring the succeeding months, March and April. During these two months there occurred twenty-seven cases of fever altogether, which m,,i.v be arranged thus :—Febricula, or a comparatively mihl ty[)f3. ten continued ft'ver, (a more protracted form of fever than the prece,iing,) eight cases; relapsing fever, (a form with no permanent critical days,) four cases; typhoid fever, without the rose-coloured spots of dothinenterite, (with diarrhoea aud abdominal pain along the region of the colon,) two cases; typhus fever, without eruption, three cases. The complications were enteritis, gastritis, and bronchitis. Out of this number, whose ages varied from four years and a half np to twenty-eight years, there was one death from typhus fever, a young woman, eighteen years of age. Sea-sickness is very liable to induce premature labour. This occurred in two instances. The youngest child expired shortly after birth; the other was landed in Bew Zealand. An elderly of weak frame, had dropsy of both less. Under the use of wine, tincture of steel, and more nutritious diet, this lady recovered thoroughly. Several cases of paronychia, occurred amongst the passengers, and were treated by means of incision, poultices, and bandages. Constitutional treatment was unnecessary, as the origin of tbt malady was quite local. One case of delirium tremens occurred at the outset of the voyage. The subject of disease was of temperate habits, ani the attack was not severe. Several cases of abscess occurred. In one, an abscess as large as a hen's egg existed on the head of a little boy; in another child there were four abscesses of considerable size on the head Attention to diet and regimen, alteratives, puncture with a abscess lancet-and poulticeswere the tre,itmPnt, practised. After passing the Cape of Good Hope chilblains became prevalent, in consequence of the cold raw weather. Benefit was generally experienced from the use of turpentine liniment. Scrofulous ophthalmia occurred in the case of a child eight years of age, characterized by the usual symptoms of intolerance of light, pain, watering of the eyes, injected conjunctiva, and spots on the cornea. Regulated diet and regimen, aperients, shade, warm collyria, weak citrine ointment, iodide of potash, cod-liver oil, and tonics, were the prescribed treatment. 1. Four births-'three male and one female. II. Nine deaths :