Effects of two slimming drugs on sleep.

Bedford Glaucoma Survey-Bankes et al. MEDICAI JOURNAL advantages as a screening method, and remains the best single test which does not require an experienced ophthalmologist to perform it. All surveys produce the problem of borderline cases, and this problem with glaucoma surveys has been previously discussed by one of us (Perkins, 1966). No easy solution can be proffered, and only further research will provide clearer indications of methods of reducing the number of patients requiring long-term follow-up. Summary A glaucoma screening survey using applanation tonometry was carried out on 5,941 persons in Bedford. The distribution of ocular tensions showed a divergence from a Gaussian curve for tensions of 21 mm. Hg and above. Age, sex, time of day, and menstruation were found to influence the tonometric readings. Fifty-five cases of primary glaucoma (0.93% of those screened) were detected as a result of the survey; these included 42 cases of chronic simple glaucoma, 3 cases of low-tension glaucoma, and 10 cases of closed-angle glaucoma. An additional 180 persons (3% of the population studied) were found to have applanation tensions of 21 mm. Hg or more but without other evidence of glaucoma. Nearly 80% of the patients with glaucoma were over 60 years of age, suggesting that glaucoma detection programmes should concentrate on the older age groups. As over 10% of the population screened required further investigation, large-scale screening of the population would throw a heavy burden on the ophthalmo-logical services of the country. In spite of the difficulty of interpreting tonometric results, tonometry is the most reliable screening procedure which does not require an experienced ophthalmologist to perform it. the help of the staff of the Bedford Health Department in organizing the clinic and providing secretarial assistance. Much of the initiative and planning of this survey was inspired by the late Dr. C. L. Sharp, whose untimely death occurred before the completion of the survey. Most slimming pills are also "pep-pills" and invite abuse. Past experience leads to scepticism when claims are made that a new appetite-reducing drug does not affect altertness or mood. One may take the example of diethylpropion, reported by Seaton et al. (1961) from Edinburgh to be an effective appetite reducer with "no evidence of undue central nervous stimulation or insomnia.... No important side-effects." Time, however , showed that diethylpropion, like dexamphetamine and phenmetrazine, was a pep-pill, causing elevation of mood and of the pace of thinking …