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Sir,Flawed nomenclature and classification inevitably hamper diagnosis, clinical communication and research, and may impede access to appropriate treatment. This is clearly illustrated by the term ...

The incidence of herpes zoster (HZ) virus infection is 215 per 100 000 person-years. It is more common in the elderly at a rate of 1400 per 100 000 person-years. Approximately 8% of these patients are sufficiently symptomatic to require treatment within a month and this decreases to 3% at 12 months. Prevention is the best insurance against PHN, implying that early treatment with anti-viral regional anesthesia-sympathetic, or mixed central neural (epidural) blocks if available, and the concurrent use of tricyclics and anticonvulsants are all helpful. While PHN and diabetic neuropathy are two common neuropathic pain syndromes, PHN differs in having inflammatory changes that extend from the skin to the central nervous system which may spread to the contralateral and asymptomatic dermatomes. The most effective treatments at this time are tricyclic anti-depressants, anticonvulsants and antiarrhythmics. These agents should be combined with long acting opioids and recent results suggest that NMDA antagonists are additive. Topical lidocaine may be quite effective in the treatment of hyperalgesia and in reducing the incidence of spontaneous paresthesiae. In most cases while the foregoing methods may be only marginally successful if the area is circumscribed such as is the case in the trigeminal region, sequential circumferention subcutaneous infiltration of a local anesthetic and steroid may be effective. Neuromodulation using neurostimulation may be effective for intractable PHN of the trunk or lower extremity. It is less successful in managing symptoms in the cervical dermatomes or upper extremity. Zirconitide (SNX111) the n-calcium channel blocking agent has been effective in treating severe intractable PHN. Its application requires implantation of an intrathecal infusion system and the acceptance of some central nervous system side effects, which however, may be insignificant in comparison with the pain relief obtained. In summary: PHN treatment can be prioritized by use of those agents which have been found most effective and to which other treatment modalities may be added to achieve the best efficacy.

There were two areas of inquiry, the first relating to judgments of rules of games, the second to judgments of a variety of familiar actions. Subjects were boys and girls aged twelve and fifteen. Comparisons were made between sexes as well as between age‐groups. A developmental trend was apparent, indicated by a tendency for assessments of younger pupils to be higher for behaviours generally rated as desirable and lower for those rated as being anti‐social. Factor analyses showed that, for the ‘ rules’ inquiry there were a number of common features. For the ‘ actions’ inquiry there were similarities for behaviours with ratings at the extremes of the range but a number of variations in what could be called ‘lower level’ altruistic behaviours.

Groups of male and female secondary school pupils in six countries in different parts of the world rated various forms of positive and negative behaviour. There were few differences between ratings of males and females in each country. Cross‐cultural comparisons showed that, while there was agreement between groups for assessments of some behaviours, there were substantial differences for many others. These results lead to the conclusion that there doex not appear to be a basis for postulating universal stages of moral judgment.

Twenty boys and twenty girls aged between ten and eleven responded to questions relating to various forms of positive and negative behaviour. Subjects were interviewed individually. The questions were previously used in a study of teachers’ views of children's actions and were considered to be within the experience of children. ‘Moral dilemma’ questions were avoided. Initially responses were polarised: actions were rated either very good or very bad, in contrast to teachers’ views of similar actions, which were considerably more moderate. When alternative forms of the question were presented there was evidence of greater discrimination than was at first apparent. Actions considered to be neutral also indicated ability to discriminate.

(1976). THE ASSESSMENT OF MORAL JUDGMENTS: CULTURAL AND COGNITIVE CONSIDERATIONS. Religious Education: Vol. 71, No. 6, pp. 610-621.

This study is concerned with two features relating to the contribution of schools to the development of positive community relations: pupils’ views of other national groups and pupils’ perceptions of influences relating to the formation of these views. It would seem desirable that, in the field under consideration, where opinions or views may be influenced by a variety of sources outside the control of the school, teachers should be aware not only of the trend in pupils’ opinions but also of the way in which pupils regard the school as an influence in forming their views.