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The authors carried out further studies to assess the significance of the findings of patients sensitive to cinnamic aldehyde in a toothpaste. Selected groups of patients in whom sensitivity to this might have been overlooked were patch-tested. With the exception of three patients, two with cosmetic sensitivity and one with hand eczema, the results were negative. The frequency of use of the original toothpaste was assessed among patients attending the clinic and this was followed by a circular letter to general practitioners and dentists inviting referral of patients with oral symptoms. As a result, five further cases, four of whom gave positive patch test reactions to cinnamic aldehyde, were discovered. The authors emphasize the importance of attempting to obtain accurate information as quickly as possible when 'new' or hitherto unsuspected allergens are implicated.

SUMMARY. —Beclomethasone dipropionate is a new topical steroid with marked vasoconstrictor and anti-inflammatory activity. At a concentration of 0·025% in a simple, oil-in-water emulsion “cream” base beclomethasone dipropionate is significantly more effective clinically than is fluocinolone acetonide 0·025%) in an apparently similar base. The effectiveness of beclomethasone dipropionate 0·025% in an ointment base is significantly increased by dissolving the steroid in propylene glycol before incorporating it into the ointment. Beclomethasone dipropionate 0·025% in a propylene glycol/ointment base is clinically indistinguishable from fluocinolone acetonide 0·025% ointment. Further investigation of the influence of cream and ointment bases on the clinical effectiveness of topical steroids might prove interesting.

To the Editor.— We read with interest the article on allergic contact type dermatitis due to spandex in brassieres by Drs. Porter and Sommer in the January issue. We have also seen a number of patients with this dermatitis and have investigated 11 fully early in 1966. The report of our findings appears in the form of a letter in the British Medical Journal . Our patients were all strongly sensitive to mercaptobenzothiazole which was used in the manufacture of spandex yarn. The distribution of the dermatitis exactly follows that described in the article by Drs. Porter and Sommer. It may be of interest to add that all patients were wearing one particular brand of spandex. This is in contrast to the observations quoted in the article. It is possible that the trade names of polyurethane yarns may differ in the two countries because we have found that the polyurethane with