Tropical Service

An epitome of Tropical medicine was the 381-page annual report which United Fruit Co. published last week. United Fruit does a plantation, railroad and shipping business in seven tropical American countries. Long ago its officials prudently decided to maintain the health of their employes, of passengers on their ships. At the beginning of this year 110 Company doctors, laboratory technicians and registered nurses provided medical services for 55,604 plantation employes, 89,053 non-employes, 31,726 ship's personnel, 57,592 ship passengers--a grand total of 233,975 souls, about as many as live in Akron, Ohio. General manager of United Fruit's medical department is Dr. William Edgar Decks, 63, McGill University graduate.