1. A controlled clinical trial was conducted to assess the effectiveness of a homoeopathic preparation in the treatment of influenza‐like syndromes. 2. 237 cases received the test drug and 241 were assigned to placebo. Patients recorded their rectal temperature twice a day, and the presence or absence of five cardinal symptoms (headache, stiffness, lumbar and articular pain, shivers) along with cough, coryza and fatigue. 3. Recovery was defined as a rectal temperature less than 37.5 degrees C and complete resolution of the five cardinal symptoms. 4. The proportion of cases who recovered within 48 h of treatment was greater among the active drug group than among the placebo group (17.1% against 10.3%, P = 0.03). 5. The result cannot be explained given our present state of knowledge, but it calls for further rigorously designed clinical studies.

A retrospective follow-up study was conducted during the summer of 1986 in the French Ardèche basin in order to assess the relationship between swimming-related morbidity and the bacteriological quality of the recreational water. 5737 tourists in eight holiday camps were questioned as to the occurrence of illness and their bathing habits during the week preceding the interviews. The rate-ratio contrasting swimmers and non-swimmers for total morbidity is 2.1 (1.8-2.4) = 95% confidence interval); gastrointestinal illness is the major type of morbidity and differs significantly between the two groups (RR = 2.4 (1.9-3.0) for total gastrointestinal cases; RR = 2.3 (1.7-3.2) for 'objective' gastrointestinal cases). Faecal streptococci (FS) are best correlated to gastrointestinal morbidity, using direct linear regression models. Faecal coliforms (FC) are not as good predictors of the risk. The concentration of faecal streptococci above which the 'objective' gastrointestinal morbidity among bathers is significantly greater than among non-bathers is 20 FS/100 ml. Swimmers suffer skin ailments much more frequently than non-swimmers (RR = 3.7 (2.4-5.7]; although the relationship may be artefactual, this type of morbidity is well correlated with the concentration of faecal coliforms, aeromonas and pseudomonas. This study provides epidemiological data on which to base microbiological standards for river recreational waters dependent on what might be considered as an 'acceptable' risk.

In a prospective follow-up study conducted in 52 French alpine villages, one weekly water sample was taken in each village provided with untreated ground water and analyzed as to the presence of four indicator bacteria: total plate count, total coliforms, thermotolerant (fecal) coliforms, and fecal streptococci. Cases of acute gastro-intestinal disease (AGID) occurring among 29,272 inhabitants were reported through physicians, pharmacists, and IntroductionMicrobiology standards for drinking water are periodi-

A controlled clinical trial was conducted during the winter 1985-1986 with 182 patients with chronic bronchitis living in institutions to evaluate the effectiveness of 'Gouttes aux Essences' (Essence Drops), a well known mixture in aromatherapy to prevent supeneniag bronchial hfectioos. Although the overall number of supervening infections and their characteristics were not modified by the treatment, the frequency of relapse at least appears to have been significantly lowered in the group receiving treatment compared to the group receiving placebo.