June 21.
A few years ago a multimillionaire said the day was coming when it would be considered a disgrace for any man to die extremely rich, The day has not yet arrived, but there a growing conviction that pow and great wealth, whether int hented or acquired, is a trust which should be discharged for the benefit of mankind, A' remarkable illustration of this philanthropic spirit is Mr. John D. Rockefeller's munificent gift of about $16,000,000, U.S, currency, the administration of which is entrusted to an organization known as the Rockefeller Foundation, formed for the purpose of "receiving and maintaining a fund or funds, end applying the income and the principal thereof to promote the well-being of mankind throughout the world." The immensity of the gift, and its devotion to the prevention and treatment of disease in all countries, irrespective of racial Aifferences and animosities, make it unique. Among the subsidiary organizations of the Foundation ig that of the China Medical Board of Peking; another is the International Health—Board which ce-operates with the sanitary and hygienic work of the League of Nations.
Reference can only be made to the principal achievements of the Foundation, the. annual report of which has been recently issued. Directly, by ans of its highly trained workers, and indirectly, by the aid it hus given to other institutions and workers, it has reduced enormously the incidence of some of the worst infectious and parasitic diseases. In the United States it has almost abolished malaria, the second or third great killing disease of the world; also hookworm. disease, the cause of much physical and mental weakness owing to the steady loss of blood by the jctims, among whom were many, oer Whites" in the southern States, who were supposed to be examples of the occasional hereditary deterioration. central and southern America "Yellow Jack" has almost disappeared. Only those who have lived in these countries and have heard, for instance, the appalling narratives of the mortality among the workers of Gifferent nationalities during the attempted construction of a Panama canal by the French can appreciate the marvellous conquest of the diséaces which militated so disastrously against the enterprise. The Foundation hus also given generous gifts to medical schools and hospitals all over the world. In May, 1923, one medical institution London was opened with State ceremonies by the King and Queen, In France after the war it helped to wage a vigorous campaign against tuberculosis which was ravaging the country. In Austria and other countries devastated by the war, where women and children were suffering from diseases caused by the lack of proper food, the Foundation came to the rescue. In China it has founded the magnificent medical school and hospital in Pekitig; it has given Snancial aid
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.