A fire at the Shanghai & Hongkew Wharf, in the Wayside district, carly on Friday afternoon gave firemen and godown officials some anxious moments when the flames threatened to spread to a shed containing various Inflaznmable chemicals. An explosion }was averted through the prompt, at-Yendance of firemen from Hongkew and Central Stations, who saved not only the shed but a one-storey godown as well.
"The fire started in a consignment of aka wood, which had been import ed from Malaya lust year and stored In the open between a metal shed containing phosphorus, chlorine, ammonia and other chemicals, and one-storey brick godown. It was fetimated that the damage was slight. tne origin of the fire was not deter-quirements. These facts were subfected to critical analysis the laboratory.
In the organization of any field inquiry In China, the hospitals managed by mission bodies formed the nude! from which information coul be gained and help obtained in me quiries which were at times regarded with suspicion and prejudice in. this country, especially if the foreigner had anything to do with it. At the Dest, such efforts might be regarded with a certain amount of amused toleration, as the aimless wanderings }of comparatively harmless lunatics. Were It not for the valuable help afforded by mission hospitals and the enlightened Chinese medical men associated with these hospitals, very Little real progress could be obtained any field medical research of value.
Medical Treatment Backward The state of ordinary medical treatment of the simplest order was so Backward that any medical man Penetrating to a remote district to gain information on a research prob-Tem almost was compelled to gain the confidence of the populace by commencing operations with the distribution of a fow simple remedies. He might apply first-aid measures or surgery, or In such manner ingratiate himself' that he might, by doing a Hittle immediate good, make his inguirics indreeiy end' with due cat-"The situation was not much further advanced than what the early explore ers found necessary in visiting unknown and uncivilized tribes distributing glass beads and trinkets {in barter for valuable native products. This" was perfectly natural and understandable. Tt was not seademle research worker who would make the slightest success in field work. "It took a man of broad and sympathetic understanding, infinite patience, and, above all, equipped With sound common sense, to make headway in field work in'China.
"The ideal was the patriotic Chinese citizen who was stimulated to his endeavours by nding something, which he believed would be of ad-Vantage to his countrymen in suppressing either a grave condition of nutritional disorder or alleviating and, possible, preventing the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.