Much is said and written in re~ yard to hoarding. "We are aware that enam persons import rice and hold that fice in the hope of a rise in prices. It" must be remembered, however, that in so holding rice they are running a risk of deterioration ff stocks and a fall in prices leading possibly. to serious loss, Especially fy this s0 where at any time the removal of restrictions might result in considerable flow of rice into 'Shanghai from the interior. At the present time (October) the stock of Bice in the foreign areas ix approxi imately $00,000 zahs of which only some 20,000 zahs consist' of native Fice—figures which speak for themselves and emphasize the dependence Shanghai on foreign imports.
The most important thing for Shanghai in the present troubled conditions of the world, when at any time there may be a coniplete dis Health Report of F.M.C. Issued Shanghai, Jan 15.
Tue report of the Public Health Department of the French Municipal [Council for December 1040 shows a slight increase in the number of eases of diseases and in the number Jor deaths during the month, the situa-ton in general being satisfactory on the whole.
Particilar mention was made of typhus, there being no less. than seventeen cases among foreigners. The mildness of this affection, however, continued s no deaths due to this disease were recorded.
Regarding general mortality, among, the Chinese, it was reported that the chief causes of death were due to Fespiratory diseases, although "this was not sufficiently' determined. was considered probable that in a number of these cases, the chiot jeause was tuberculosis. The present economic conditions were a" factor contributing to the extension of the 'As access to" the Poolung dary farms for inspections had been made possible, the Municipal Administra tion gave permission for Pootung milk fo be sold in the Concession, within general limits of rules con-[cerning milk trade. The' following, points will be adhered to:
1. Dairy Heences will be delivered establishments in Pootung when an fenauiry on the spot will permit the Health Department to give a favourable opinion, and to continue inspec-tons.
2 Under no _protext will these establishments receive mille from other establishments which have been refused licences.
A strict contro! will be carried out of milk from Pootung.
The report showed that 47.814 new anti-smallpox vaccinations had been made during the month and the total for the year was 430,000." Only seven leases of this disease were reported the Concession during the year, and two deaths were recorded, The work of the Disinfecting Station was satisfactory during the month, 4437 persons being treated, among them 92 indigent foreigners, December Report of Lester Hospital Shanghol, Jan. 19.
The December report of the Lester Chinese Hospital indicates thatthe number of out-patients treated the month "has agai the num:
As. corns pared with 1999 the number of patients admitted was greater, and the length of stay in the hospital higher. tu "out-patient "work" the. drop Is seasonal and_ proportionately consistent with previous years. The hospital is faced with serious prob-Jems following the general increase prices, with rising salaries and Sureharges on ulllties "and com modities adding to the burden, The total number of outpatient visits. in. the month came to. 12175, In-patient admissions numbering 309 with 8822 bed-days, Industrial aecident cases totalled 20, attempted. Suieides brought tu "the hospital coming 10 89. The statistics show that, 395 operations were performed the period, 162 of these being incpatienis, Over 12,000 pres! Seriptions were filled during "the month, 639 X-Ray examinations being made. ion of shipping facilities, is 10 on hand Feserve stocks of rice. ill-considered regulations might result in checking the essential placing of orders from Shanghat for im-Ported rice. There is no reasonable merchants holding stocks indeed, Its as important that they should, as that they should sell regularly and freely from their, stocks, "These are two cardinal fea} tures of any trading policy.
"What may appear to be mere me action is due (0 a realization of the fundamental truth that an authority which does not control the sources of Production, and cannot justifiably self become an importer on a large scale, must above all things be careful nol to introduce regulations which may hinder private firms and dividuals from Importing essential Through the Councit's efforts large quantities of foreign rice were imported, although the unfavourable Fate of the local dollar made prices very high, causing hardship.
In dealing with the problem of securing supplies of flour cheap sales were. arranged, the report concludes, two leading Chinese mills inaugurat: ing special sales for the needy.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.