• The diagnosis and treatment of allergies have been greatly facilitated by the discoveries of the past 50 years, but much of the available knowledge of the subject is not being applied. The greatest obstacle to such application is the inadequate background of allergy imparted to the students as part of their general training in medical schools; in addition there is a shortage of fully trained specialists. The effective use of diagnostic tests, of preventive measures, of specific treatment, and of such nonspecific treatments as the sympathomimetic and antihistaminic drugs depends on further progress in education and research.