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National Geographic : 1905 May
Contents
THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE Saint Elias range, which, though but a short distance from tide-water, is so inaccessible that little is known of its geography or geol ogy. A second unexplored area lies adjacent to the Arctic coast and the international bound ary, and extends southward down into the Yukon Basin,and embraces about 40,000 square miles that are practically unknown. A third unexplored area lies in the north- western part of the territory west of the 15Ist meridian and north of the 68th parallel. This also includes about 40,000 square miles and is almost entirely unknown, though Schrader and Howard have traversed its eastern mar gin. Of little-known areas we have also the Kuskokwim Basin, which probably embraces some 15,000 square miles, less than half of which have been surveyed. GEOGRAPHIC LITERATURE Anemia in Porto Rico. By Bailey K. Ashford. Bureau of Printing, San Juan, Porto Rico. 1905. Another convincing instance of the great work being done by our govern ment to help the people in our semi tropical possessions is given in the recently published report of the com mission appointed to report on the pos sibility of suppressing " anemia" in Porto Rico. Anemia has always been more or less active in Porto Rico, but after the hurricane of 1899 it became specially troublesome. People thought that it was the result of poor food, worry, destitution, etc., but Dr Bailey K. Ashford, U. S. Army, identified it as the same disease as tropical anemia, prevalent in Mexico and elsewhere, and caused by a parasitic worm in the in testines. Through the cooperation of Governor Hunt the Porto Rican legislature in the winter of 1904 was induced to ap propriate $5,000 for the study and treat ment of the disease. Governor Hunt appointed as members of the commis sion Captain Ashford, Surgeon W. W. King, and Dr Igaravidez. These gen tlemen made a tour of the island, ex amining and treating 500 to 600 persons a day. The patients would begin to arrive early in the morning, in many cases having traveled since the day be fore,' generally on foot; sometimes they spent several days on the road. Very bad cases were carried in hammocks to the camp. In practically every case the disease was found to be caused solely by " uncinaria." Patients were given a prescription which they presented to the apothecary, who delivered the medi cine with directions as to how it should be taken, the patients, or those accom panying them, being required to repeat these instructions until they were thor oughly understood. They were directed to return in one week for reexamina tion and more medicine, most of them doing so with considerable regularity. The more advanced cases were treated in hospitals hastily constructed of tents. In his report on the work of the com mission Captain Ashford states that probably 90 per cent of the rural popu lation of Porto Rico suffer from anemia. Such a large percentage of affected must injure the economical power of the coun try. The parasitic worm usually gains entrance by the penetration of the larvae through the skin. The disease is cura ble in the great majority of cases and can, believes Captain Ashford, be prac tically stamped out of the island if hy gienic laws are enforced. The limited sum at the disposal of the commission enabled them to carry on their work for a few months only. The members re ceived no salary, and each member pro vided his own instruments and labora tory equipment. Sweden : Its People and Its Industry. Edited by Gustav Sundbarg. Pp. xi + 1143. Illustrated. Stockholm. 1904. This is the third edition, the first 252
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