Health of the Nation

"Generally good health conditions [prevailed] throughout the U. S. [last year];' reported Surgeon General Hugh Smith Cumming of the U. S. Public Health Service last week.

But pellagra has been increasing for several years. Infantile paralysis increased last summer. Smallpox too has been increasing.

Also displeasing to Dr. Cumming is the fact that only one out of four country people have adequate, properly organized local health service. He declared that local health service is far more important than any campaign against a special disease. Pleasing was the reorganization of the Hygienic Laboratory as the National Institute of Health and its authorization to establish fellowships, to accept gifts for the study of fundamental problems relating to human diseases. Adjunct of the International Live Stock Exposition at Chicago last week (see p. 14) was a contest of the healthiest boys & girls in the U. S. Champions : Marian E. Syndergaard, 15, of Grundy County, Iowa. One tooth slightly out of line and a slightly infected eyelid reduced her perfection to 99.7%. William Ross Bodenhamer,* 20, of Johnson County, Mo. He scored only 98.7% because he has slightly defective teeth, slightly bowed legs.

Marian is the seventh child in a family of eight; William is the seventh child in a family of seven.

* Second cousin of Ossee Lee Bodenhamer of El Dorado, Ark., last year's stalwart National Commander of the American Legion.

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