Four hundred and seventy-two cases of poisoning were seen over a two-year period in Kandy, Ceylon. The overall mortality was 23 7 %. The pattern of poisoning was different from that in western countries in that 49 8 % of the cases weie due to insecticide poisoning and only 10 7 % were due to drugs, including barbiturates. Insecticides accounted for 73.2% and drugs for only 4 5% of the 112 fatal cases. Of the fatal cases 51'7 % were between the ages of 20 and 40 years and only 6 2% were over 50 years. The wastage of economically useful lives indicates the need for a poison centre.

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Thambipillai, Shanthi, and Senewiratne, B.: A simple finger-prick method of screening for abnormal hemoglobins; Am J Clin Pathol 63: 836-840, 1975. Two simple methods of hemoglobin electrophoresis of samples obtained by finger prick are described. The methods do not involve venipuncutre, centrifugation, or the preparation of a hemolysate, and can be carried out on starch gel or cellulose acetate membranes. The specimen can be collected even by non-medical personnel and sent by post to the laboratory. Alternatively, electrophoresis can be carried out in the field and the results obtained within 20 minutes. Both methods are suitable for population screening and pediatric studies. The method will detect structurally abnormal hemoglobins only.