Lost 'swab' at inguinal hernioplasty under local anaesthesia.

Small surgical swabs should not be placed adjacent to polypropylene mesh prosthetics.

Illumination of x-rays: the usual lights exposed.

Aims: Faced with pressure of work and limited resource, doctors frequently use the nearest available light to examine x-ray films. The aim of this study was to examine the relative intensities of hospital light sources, and to compare these with the light intensity guidelines (1500 to 3000 candelas) of the British Institute of Radiology.

Methods: The relative intensities of seven hospital light sources were examined using a standard light meter at a constant 30 cm from the source.

False positive Wassermann reaction associated with evidence of enterovirus infection.

A large proportion of high titre Coxsackie B5 complement-fixation tests was detected among sera giving false positive Wassermann reactions during 1969. Echo virus type 9 proved to be the prevailing enterovirus and is one of those which induces the formation of antibody to Coxsackie B5. One case of Echo virus type 9 meningitis is presented which produced a false positive Wassermann reaction and a high titre Coxsackie B5 complement-fixation test.