Volume 3'Number 2August, 1980

Insurance, Health Maintenance Oganizations(HMOs), negotiated fees for physicians, the sup~

'ply of physicians, competition in the medical sec­tor, and increasing government regulation ofmedicine.

What is Comparative Dermatology?

Comparative dermatology deals with the inter­disciplinary approach to the study of skin diseasesin man and in animals by physicians and veterina­rians. Drs. Lawrence Parish and Robert Schwartz-

Educational 1I('\I'S 79A

man will co-direct this symposium designed toshow how models and ideas in veterinary der­matology relate to human dermatology.

Registration. Registration packets will be sentto members during the end of August. Materialwill be mailed first to those members farthest awayfrom the Academy office, so that all members re­ceive their registration material at approximatelythe same time. The $30 registration fee for mem­bers (S IS for residents) should be enclosed withthe advance registration form.

Updated exposure lists available for Patch Test Kits

An easy reference guide to help physicians de­tect agents that produce an allergic reaction frompatch testing is available from the AmericanAcademy of Dermatology.

Many of these exposure lists were prepared bymembers of the North American Contact Der­matitis Group, a committee of the AmericanAcademy of Dermatology, to be used with thenew 1980-1981 Patch Test Kit.

The lists were initially compiled by Alan Bin­nick, M.D., chief resident in dermatology, andWilliam E. Clendenning, M.D., staff dermatolo­gist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center andprofessor of Clinical Medicine (Dermatology) atDartmouth Medical School, and reviewed by theNorth American Contact Dermatitis Group.

The twenty-five separate lists correspond withallergens in the Patch Test Kit tray. The lists pro­vide information on the chemical makeup of each

allergen, as well as chemicals known to cross­react with it.

Although no list could provide every specificcomponent that may cause a contact allergic reac­tion , these lists provide some basic clues that mayhelp detect the allergic response-producing sub­stance or substances. Such a list can be a time­saver in helping patients to discover and managetheir allergic contact reactions.

The list is intended for use by the der­matologist and is not for distribution to pa­tients.

The lists are available to Academy members for$5 and to nonmembers for $7.50. To order, send acheck or money order to: Patch Test Kit ExposureList, American Academy of Dermatology, P.O.Box 552, Evanston, IL 60204. Illinois residentsshould add 6% sales tax. All orders must includeremittance.