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Syphilis and endemic treponemiasis. Geographical distribution and ecology. In the course of the two past decades, the problem of the origin and of the geographical distribution of syphilis has been renewed by numerous publications. According to the Americanist theory, which is the traditional one, syphilis would have been introduced into the Ancient World by the crews of Christopher Columbus. But the recent developments of the unicist theory are tending to demonstrate that the varied treponematoses are but one and same universal disease, caused by an unique pathological agent ; but its clinical manifestations are modulated according to ecological conditions : the pinta of Latin America, yaws of humid tropical countries, the endemic syphilis of dry countries, the venereal syphilis of countries with a higher standard of living. Important practical considerations are ensuing from this geographical knowledge, since the endemic forms of treponematoses, although they protect the peoples against the contagion of venereal form, constitue at the same time a large virus reserve.

To the ends of œcoumene : supplying the town of Rio Gallegos, southern Patagonia, Argentina. The problems concerning the provisioning of Rio Gallegos, a small administrative capital in southern Patagonia, are an expressive indicator of the regional organization of this pioneer post and of its dépendance on Buenos Aires, located 2,650 kilometers to the north. Regional offer is insufficient and not at all varied. The widespread raising of sheep is the only agricultural activity of any importance. Lamb and mutton are thus the basic foods, but the town must make an appeal to outside sources, and specifically to Buenos Aires, in order to vary its food supply. The structure and operation of its markets, as well as the food consumption of the population, is a faithful reflection of this problem. If Patagonia is dedicated to extensive sheep raising, on a large ranch-scale basis, this is due not only to the harsh climatic conditions — extreme cold and aridity — but also because of a hard and recent agricultural occupation which occurred at a moment when the main agricultural regions of Argentina were affirming themselves and when national union and improved transportation conditions favored regional specialization. If Buenos Aires is the principal supplier, in spite of the existence of less distant poles and zones of production, this is because the Argentine capital, which possesses a third of the nation's population, has become the redistribution center for the entire country. At present, Rio Gallegos, on account of its growth, aspires towards a greater indépendance and is searching for more autonomous regional supply possibilities. Agricultural oases have been established or are in the planning stage, and the authorities are attempting to expand sheep raising and to create an agricultural belt around Rio Gallegos. This undertaking has interesting implications, but if the means to provision the town are improving, this is due above all to the expanded road network and links with the North.

Douala, the town and its seaport. Douala is a port-town. The harbour operated as an organizing focus inside the town, and this is demonstrated by a precise localization of the commercial and industrial activities which are directly tributary from harbour activity. Otherwise, the study of the salarial manpower depending from harbour reveals a rather considerable potential : more than forty thousand active persons. Numerical datas and estimated classes of size are proposed concerning occupations, wage level, and foreigners participation in activities linked with the harbour. As a conclusion the author notices the parallelism between the growth of the urban population and harbour traffic. While important public works projects are starting, an important demographic growth of Douala should be expected with appropriated measures.

Oases in the Plains of the Region of Bam and Narmachir (Southern Lut, Iran). Hemmed in by mountains, the Bam and Narmachir plain, in southern Lut, has a dry and harsh climate, extremely hot in summer and cold in winter. The population, which is not numerous, is concentrated in the oases, where the town of Bam sprang up. Agricultural activities are only possible because of irrigation. The farm fields are irrigated by means of underground pipes, the ghanates, by wells, springs or rivers. The sharing of water among those having a right to it is done according to very strict and complex rules. However, on account of the uncertain climatic conditions, and the backwardness of some of the technical methods and equip- ment used on the farms, the agricultural economy is in a very precarious state. A bit of everything is grown. Dates, citrus fruits and henna are among the crops commercialized. The «land» crops, wheat, barley and lucern are grown either in winter or in summer, but only during the course of rainy years. Agricultural cooperatives aid the peasants who belong to them, especially by giving them credit facilities of various types ; but the efficacy of these organizations is limited. There are several types of landscapes. Baravat, situated close to the town of Bam, is above all a fruit center exploited by large landowners living in the town or by small proprietors in the districts where date and orange trees predominate, whereas in the outer parts of Baravat date trees, wheat and barley are grown and livestock raised. Narmachir is a multi-crop region and where some lifestock is raised, but the water supplies in it are insufficient in relation to the area of land farmed. Agrarian reform — which doesn't affect the orchards — has, in Baravat, considerably enhanced the situation of the class of small proprietors, which was already large. In Narmachir, however, where there were many large landowners and where «land» crops are grown, it has severely disturbed the structures of the rural society.