Incidence of Menière's disease.

A study of the incidence of Menière's disease in the otolaryngological population of a black community is presented. 34 patients out of a total attendance of 8,550 had proven Menière's disease, according to defined criteria, giving an incidence of 0.4 per cent. This compares favourably with the incidence in other racial groups but a peculiarly high proportion of female patients is noted. Some of the reasons for the apparent rarity of the disease in negroes are discussed and it is suggested that improved facilities may in future show that Menière's disease is no more rare in negroes than in other racial groups.