The pattern of suicide in a southern district of Sri Lanka was studied retrospectively over a period of one year. The mortality by suicide of 25/100,000 population is higher than that in the UK and other Western European countries. The largest number of suicides occurred in the age group 15–24 years. Poisoning was the preferred method of suicide in over 80% of subjects. The commonest agent used was a weedkiller, paraquat. Free availability of such potent toxic substances can culminate in a suicidal act when in fact a large number of the victims had no intention of committing suicide. There is a place for restriction of the sale of agrochemicals without jeopardizing their availability to farmers.

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Cases of baby battering have not been reported in Sri Lanka since 1811. Three such cases are reported in this paper. Their ages varied from 3 months to 1 year 4 months. In one case the assailant appeared to be the elder sister aged 4 years. In the other two cases the assailant appeared to be one of the parents. As in the other reported cases, all three children have been well cared for. The predominant lesions were skin bruises, fractures of limb bones and epiphyseal dislocations. The machinery available to the medical practitioner after confirmation of the diagnosis are discussed. The reasons for the lack of awareness of medical officers and its uncommonness due to the extended family system in Sri Lanka are also discussed. The stresses and strains imposed by rapid development and progressive urbanization of the villages are also discussed. It is envisaged that with the present trend of modernization in Sri Lanka there will be a greater number of Battered Baby Syndromes.

The histopathology of the cardiac conduction system was studied in 75 coroners' autopsies. Existing methods have been simplified and are described in detail. A minimum of three ***5 u sections need to be cut from each vena cavo atrial strip and each atrio ventricular block, for a successful result. Reasons for failure, difficulties in interpretation, and age-related changes in histopathological features are discussed. Fatty infilteration commences at 33 years old and fibrosis at 43 years old. Conduction system studies do not seem to increase the accuracy of routine autopsy diagnosis in deaths due to coronary artery disease. However, its study in unexpected sudden death in the young should be made compulsory. The difficulties in performing choline esterase tests on conduction systems are also highlighted.