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WITHIN recent years increased attention has been paid to the changes in plasma proteins occurring in various disease processes. Such studies by means of electrophoresis1 have yielded interesting and important results and have clearly shown the superiority of this method to the chemical determinations of protein fractions. However, the high cost of apparatus and the technical difficulties restrict the use of this method to relatively few research institutions, whereas a less costly and simpler method would permit investigations on a broader scale. It appears that such methods have been found in plasma chromatography on filter paper2 and in microelectrophoresis.3 This paper deals with the former method. The results of chromatographic investigations of the plasma of 250 patients suffering from various diseases and of 30 normal control persons are given, and the technique of plasma chromatography on filter paper is described. By means of this new procedure it

The following is a report of a series of investigations made to determine whether the patient's blood could be collected on filter paper, dried, and used in the complement-fixation test for syphilis. This procedure was attempted for the following reasons: less blood is necessary, which is especially important with children; the outfit for the collection of blood is simple and inexpensive; the risk of the specimen being spoiled by bacterial contamination or by the things which usually produce hemolysis might be eliminated, and in addition the specimens might be preserved for a long period of time with little deterioration. Noguchi,1 in his modification of the Wassermann test, made use of the hemolytic amboceptor on such paper, with practical success. Can the substance present in the blood of persons with active syphilis dried on paper be preserved in a like manner? If so, can such a test be standardized so that

• We present a new method for the outpatient use of anthralin paste in the treatment of psoriasis. By instructing the patient to cover the nightly paste application with semipermeable paper tape, we devised a practical and easy method for home therapy. In a study of 12 patients with unresponsive plaque-type psoriasis, six responded with 90% or better clearing of treated sites and two with 70% clearing, compared with symmetrical control sites. Four patients showed no substantial improvement. The average duration of therapy was 11 weeks. A three-month reevaluation of the conditions of these patients disclosed that improvement had been substantially maintained. Despite the tape occlusion, irritation was a manageable problem, except in three patients who had to halt therapy. Although less effective than conventional inpatient anthralin paste regimens, this method is more cost-effective for those with limited plaque disease.(Arch Dermatol 1984;120:625-630)

Dr. C. Walter Clarke, New York: My association with this proj ect has been one of the most interesting and satisfactory experiences I can remember. I wish especially to compliment my colleagues on the excellence of their presentations of the facts.I am sure that I speak for every member of the committee which controlled this highly significant demonstration of a new therapeutic method when I call attention to the limitation of the work. Our experience has been limited as to the type of syphilis treated, the type of treatment given and the duration of observation of treated patients.It is worth while to emphasize the fact that we have treated only males with early syphilis. We do not know what the immediate results of our method would be in the treatment of latent syphilis, late syphilis, congenital syphilis, syphilis in pregnant women or even early syphilis in females. No

In recent months, cases of an unusual type of contact dermatitis affecting the lips, eyelids, and fingers of office workers has come to our attention. The cause is a type of sensitized paper used in a new highspeed duplicating machine in which the paper is inserted in the machine along with the sheet to be copied, and is exposed to intense light. The chemical in the paper is a trade secret, though we have been informed1 that it is a simple chemical. Speculation suggests that it is a phenolic compound. We strongly suspect that it may be closer to the photodevelopers, such as p-methylaminophenol sulfate (Metol).The eruption is severe, with vesiculation, erythema, and seborrhea-like superficial scaling. It characteristically seems to involve the lower lip, a site invariably involved in smokers. The eruption is very pruritic and annoying. Messengers exhibit the rash on the knuckles, where

Arsenic as a cause of exfoliative dermatitis was recognized soon after the advent of arsenical preparations in the treatment for syphilis. It is the opinion of Throne, Van Dyck, Marples and Myers1 that arsenic is either a contributing or an exciting cause in at least 30 per cent of all cases diagnosed as eczema.The sources of arsenic in exfoliative dermatitis due to arsenic poisoning are: medication, food contamination, absorption through the skin of susceptible persons and contact with the drug either in surroundings or through occupation. The industrial preparations containing arsenic are: arsenic trioxide (as 206), often called arsenous acid or white arsenic, which forms the basis of most of the industrial preparations; liquid or solid weed killers, wood preservers, sprays containing arsenic and arsenical sheep dips in solid or liquid preparations; fly paper, flykilling solution (arsenic trioxide), arsenical powders, pastes and various liquids for destroying insects and

Dr. Anthony C. Cipollaro, New York: It has been a great privilege to listen to so many renowned experts in the field of cancer. Although it is difficult to discuss all these papers, I shall reiterate some of the more important points pertaining to the general subject of cutaneous cancer.Drs. Stout and Sachs have described the essential features of the main varieties of cancer and in the main are in agreement on all important details. I think that in a discussion of cancer of any organ or of any type it is always important to emphasize the danger of metastasis. It is true that basal cell epitheliomas do not metastasize except in extremely rare instances, as Dr. Stout said, but squamous cell epitheliomas do metastasize, especially when they are either neglected or poorly treated. Bowen's disease has been considered to be a precancerous dermatosis, but, as Dr. Stout pointed