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To the Editor.—
In reference to the interesting article appearing in the Archives (108:48, 1973) by Marsico and Eaglstein, we should like to remark that the authors' conclusions are based partly on the result of treatment with longwave ultraviolet light (> 320 nm) in a controlled study of four patients also receiving Goeckerman treatment that indicated that the therapeutic response to Goeckerman treatment could not be enhanced in this way.This does not prove, however, the effectiveness of ultraviolet light in the Goeckerman treatment because the effect of this treatment could also be attributed to the tar ointment.The only argument in favor of the suggestion of the authors that shortwave ultraviolet light will be effective is the observation that one plaque of psoriasis in each of two patients did not improve after treatment with Wood filter irradiation and tar ointment, while the other lesions cleared in 10 to 15