var state;

function showArea(layer_ref) { 

if (state == 'block') { 
state = 'none';
newText = "Show Comment";
} 
else { 
state = 'block';
newText = "Hide Comment";

} 
if (document.all) { //IS IE 4 or 5 (or 6 beta) 
eval( "document.all." + layer_ref + ".style.display = state"); 
eval( "document.all.hsComment.innerHTML = newText");
} 
if (document.layers) { //IS NETSCAPE 4 or below 
document.layers[layer_ref].display = state; 
document.hsComment.innerHTML = newText;

} 
if (document.getElementById && !document.all) { 
document.getElementById(layer_ref).style.display = state;
document.getElementById('hsComment').innerHTML = newText;

} 
}