OCCASIONAL NOTE

The supply of medical men for the army seems to be even a more serious problem in America than it has been in our own country. The main American army is fighting thousands of miles from home. This means that the bulk of the hospitals must be within easy reach of the troops and that the proportion of doctors to fighting men must be greater than it is in the case of our own Army.

There is evidence, however, that American organisation is proving equal to the task. During the first year of America’s participation in the war, the number of military hospitals in the United States has been increased from 7 to 53, with a bed capacity of 584,000, while in France the American hospital have bed accommodation for 25 per cent of the troops in the field.

The number of army doctors has been increased from 900 to 19,000 and that of army nurses from 375 to 7,000. The laboratories have been increased from 112 to 650. During the year 2,000,000 men were medically examined.

The death-rate from disease in the army was 6.6 per 1,000, which is lower than the death-rate for men of the same age in civil life. There is in America a large reserve of medical men, the membership of the American Medical Association being no less than 81,000.

THE MADRAS TRAMWAY STRIKE

As a result of the strike of some six hundred employees of the Madras Tramways Company the tramway service is now at a standstill. The men’s demands are an all-round increase of Rs 5 a month, privilege leave of one month a year and an eight-hour working day.

It is stated that few months ago the employees sent some representations to the Traffic Superintendent, to which it is stated they never received a reply. On August 16th they sent a petition without signatures stating their grievances, to which again it is stated there was no reply.

IRISH RECRUITING

The prospects of the Irish voluntary recruiting campaign are improving daily. The new machinery promises to move smoothly and with good effect. There is reason to believe that the result of the first fortnight’s voluntary effort under the new regime will be more than equal to that during the three months preceding the initiation of the scheme. Recruiting meetings have had a good effect in Dublin and Belfast. Recruiting is proceeding in Waterford encouragingly. Four prominent local Sinn Feiners have enrolled.

NON-BRITISH STEAMSHIPS 

The Chief Collector of Customs, Burma, has issued a note to the press in which he says information has been received from the Agent for Shipping Controller in India that before port clearance can be given to any non-British steamship, it is necessary for the agents of the vessel to obtain from the Agent for Shipping Controller, India, or the Deputy Agent for Shipping Controller in the United Kingdom, a licence specifying the terms and conditions upon which the steamer may engage in the carriage of goods to or from any port in India.

To give effect to these instructions, agents on such ships must, previous to application for entry, give a declaration to the Chief Collector, Customs, in Rangoon in regard to the terms and conditions of the charter party entered into, length of time of charter, rate of hire to be paid, limitations of voyage, and so forth. These particulars will be telegraphed to the Agent for Shipping Controller in India, Bombay, who will reply the terms and conditions on which permission is given.

AMERICAN RELIEF MISSION TO PERSIA

In view of the scarcity now prevailing in Northern Persia a Relief Commission has been sent out from America by the American Red Cross Society and the Armenian-Syrian Relief Committee of New York and is now on its way to Persia. The head of the mission is Dr. Judson, President of the Chicago University.

He is accompanied by Professor and Mrs. Jackson of Columbia University, New York (Professor Jackson is the wellknown Indo-Iranian scholar) Dr. Macdowell, and other experienced members of the American missions in Asia Minor and West Persia, Dr. Vaile, Professor of Agriculture in the University of California, Dr. Joseph Cook, formerly chief of the American hospital in Teheran, and a few others.

Professor and Mrs. Jackson and Dr. Vaile recently visited Simla and were the guests of His Excellency the Viceroy. The mission will proceed to its destination via Basra and Baghdad, and has the cordial co-operation of the Government of India and of the General Officer Commanding in Mesopotamia in its philanthropic undertaking.