Famine sufferrers digging roots of weeds for food. out last spring, stores have been completely exhausted and relief funds are likewise coming to an end. It, therefore, became necessary to make a new appeal to public generosity in order to obtain money, food supplies and a provision of grain seeds. There are many refugee camps in the famine-stricken areas, where sanitary conditions are extremely bad. Reports of smallpox come from all over the field. As yet, typhus is not epidemic, but sporadic cases are reported in all the camps and it appears that an epidemic is almost inevitable. The sanitary directors, SurgeonGeneral S. H. Chuan et Dr. Charles W. Young, have trained sanitary squads which have been placed at the various relief centres to deal with the existing conditions and to take preventive measures against infectious diseases. Bathing and delousing stations have been organised, and disinfection by means of kerosene has been employed to a limited extent. Through lectures and the distribution of pamphlets on hygiene, health propaganda is being carried on among the population. This campaign calls for a large effort, the problem being complicated by the shortage of trained personnel and by the epidemic of pneumonic plague, which is now ravaging Manchuria. E MOST HASTE, LEAST SPEED by Dr. LINA POTTER, Assistant chief of the Child Welfare Division of the League. VERYONE has seen, at some time, a race in which a horse has failed to secure the place due to him because he was pressed too hard at the start, and therefore failed at the finish. Everyone has probably blamed the short-sightedness of the rider. And yet the same thing is going on in many parts of the world to-day. At the beginning of the race of life, the willing competitor is spurred too hard, and he fails at the finish. To combat this danger, the "American Child" publishes an article entitled "At what age should children enter industry? embodying the views of the American National Child Labour Committee. In Numbers 1 and 2 of Vol. III of the International Labour Review, the same question finds a prominent position. At what age can a child, without handicapping his later life, enter industry? A definite minimum age limit applicable to all cases is as difficult to give as is the date upon which spring begins, although calendars are commonly definite on this point. It is necessary to fix an age at which the most backward normal child should, under good conditions, be ready to begin the work of life. This age is arbitrary and many, perhaps most, children might be able without danger to begin work earlier. Protective legislation of this nature must run the risk of handicapping the strong rather than of prejudicing the very existence. of the weak. Forty-five countries have established a minimum age of 14 years. The minimum is 13 years in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden (boys) and South Australia. It is 12 in the Argentine Republic, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Mexico and Portugal, 11 in Roumania, 10 in Austria and 9 in India. No Federal Legislation has been possible in the U. Š. A., which may not control Labour Questions, but a tax of 10 % has been imposed on the total net profits of all establishments employing children under the age of 14. Italy and Greece have compulsory education only up to the age of 12, so that an industrial age limit of 14 would leave two years unoccupied. Japan and India claim special regulations. for child labour, owing to the very different conditions ruling their native labour market. The whole matter is largely influenced by public opinion, and organisations similar to the National Child Labour Committee can do a great work by producing an enlightened Public Opinion. MEDICAL CHRONICLE. THE PROPAGANDA EFFECTS OF THE MALARIA CAMPAIGN IN TALAYUELA, SPAIN THE by Dr. Massimo SELLA 1. HE February-March issue of the Bulletin (No. 6-7, page 257) contains an account of the malaria campaign which the Commission appointed by the Spanish Government began last winter at Talayuela, in the province of Caceres, and which is being continued there with the collaboration of the Spanish Red Cross and of the League of Red Cross Societies. Although it is still too early to speak of accomplishments, it is nevertheless interesting to note that the effect which this campaign has had on neighbouring districts is already such that very possibly the propaganda value of the malaria work will eventually prove to be even greater than the actual results obtained at Talayuela, inasmuch as it is preparing the ground for an ultimate extension of the anti-malaria work. When the neighbouring inhabitants learnt of the campaign undertaken by the Government Commission at Talayuela (the circle on the map indicates the zone in which an intensive campaign is being carried on), malaria sufferers, anxious to be examined, began to arrive from the nearest villages, first singly, then in increasing numbers and from ever greater distances. From April to June 550 persons came to the anti-malaria station, hailing from thirty-two different localities (see map: localities which are sending malaria sufferers are marked with a circle). It should be mentioned that this only refers to the beginning of the season and that it is expected the summer months will bring a large affluence of persons desiring treatment. This movement is encouraged and controlled. Two days a week have been set aside for consultation, and, through proclamations by the mayors, those who proceed to Talayuela for examination are forbidden to pass the night there, in order to prevent malaria carriers from spreading infection. Sick persons are submitted to clinical examination and their blood is tested; their cases are registered, they are instructed regarding the methods of treatment, and they are provided gratuitously with quinine for two weeks, after which they are obliged to return for re-examination and to receive a second supply of quinine to last for another fifteen days of less intensive treatment. 1 Ed. note. - At the invitation of the Athenaeum of Madrid, Dr. Sella, on June 24, delivered in that institution a lecture on malaria which met with great success. It is a moving sight to witness the arrival of these pilgrims in search of health and confident of cure, coming on foot and on horseback, often from great distances sturdy men, old people and mothers bringing their sick children. On one occasion, a peasant, eighty-two years of age, arrived from the heights of the Sierra de Gredos, having covered twenty kilometres on his donkey and prepared to make the return journey within the day. When questioned, he replied that he had only come to find out whether the complaint from which he was suffering was malaria; as for being cured, he was able to attend to that himself, for on the Sierra grew miraculous plants. In order to satisfy the growing demand, two auxiliary posts for consultation are being organised in the district. In this way the Spanish Anti-malaria Commission is making it possible to extend the anti-malaria campaign under the most favourable conditions throughout the entire zone bounded on the north by the Sierra di Gredos and on the South by the Tagus, which includes the districts of La Mata and La Vera (see map), an admirable task which the Spanish Red Cross will certainly continue to support, both morally and materially. In speaking of propaganda, it should also be mentioned that the arrival of a consignment of gambusae (top-minnows: gambusia affinis) in Spain has aroused considerable interest among those who have to deal with malaria. At the request of the League of Red Cross Societies, the United States Bureau of Fisheries sent two consignments of these fishes to Italy, and one of Spain. The first two lots perished during the journey, but the last arrived safely at the Oceanographic Institute of Madrid. As soon as the arrival of the gambusae was announced by the newspapers, the Commission received many requests from different persons who were anxious to experiment with the fish. It is to be hoped that the gambusae transported to Europe will live and multiply. |