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THE WORLD CONSUMPTION OF NARCOTIC DRUGS
400 should similarly be made compulsory and extended to all types of grant-aided schools ; and that in these schools, too, the education authorities should have to establish canteens and to provide a hot midday meal. It is suggested that the cost of these schemes should be taken on in three stages : in the first stage the cost would be limited in extent and some charge be made to the families; in the second there would be lower charges and wider application ; and in the third the parents’ payments would be abolished. The cost of the three stages is estimated, respectively, at some 23, 44, and 65 million pounds and would be met by the Exchequer and local authorities. These plans are one way of meeting a need which undoubtedly exists even if its extent has not been gauged. They are put forward with practical knowledge of the problem, and they would safeguard the nourishment of the coming generations in a more effective way than grants in money or in kind could ever do. Moreover, they are designed to help adult nutrition by relieving parents of some expenses. One cannot help wishing , however that the argument had not made use of two questionable implications. The first is that the occurrence of some physical or mental defect or impairment of health in 27 per cent. of 3000 " unselected " children was attributable to malnutrition. The second is that the expenditure of 60 million pounds would be neutralised by saving on the expenses of sickness. It will be seen from our Parliamentary Intelligence that some of Mrs. Drake’s arguments were used in the House of Commons on Feb. 3rd but failed to produce a majority in favour of a change in policy. One cannot help noticing, however, that in each successive debate the Government defend themselves by explaining that the provision of milk and meals has now in fact been
increased. Some of us, who do not question the need to see that children are better fed, may perhaps be allowed to wonder whether the collective feeding of most of our children for the main meal of the day throughout the whole year will kill the kitchen sense still remaining. Will not communal feeding, for better or for worse, be required for those children when they grow up z? Is the time come to despair of educational methods and of the adjustment of purchasing power1 THE WORLD CONSUMPTION OF NARCOTIC DRUGS
Statement of 61 pages issued by the Supervisory Body under the Convention of 1931 for limiting the manufacture of dangerous drugs, information additional to that reported in our issue of Jan. 9th is furnished. From this it appears that since 1934 the amount required for world consumption, as such, of heroin has much declined, that for cocaine and codeine has shown some reduction, while that for morphine has during the last three years increased. Under the Convention each Government is required to furnish with its estimates a " statement explaining the method by which the several amounts included in the estimates have been arrived at." Nevertheless every year many estimates are received in which the description of the methods adopted is lacking: this occasions difficulty and delay and reference back for further information. In an annexe to the statement there is set out a comparative table showing for certain countries the estimated consumption of morphine, heroin, codeine, and dionin per million inhabitants for the years 1934 to 1937. In the case of morphine in 1937 Poland stands lowest IN
a
with 1’5 kg., Denmark highest in Europe with 29-6 kg., while Great Britain is credited with 16’1kg. For the United States the figure is given as 17’5 kg. and for Canada 11’7 kg., while that for Japan is 21-9 kg. Somewhat similar remarkable variations in consumption are recorded- in the case of the other FITNESS
general practitioners recognise the wisdom allowing a patient to prescribe within limits hi& own treatment. The Government, acting as physician to a none too healthy nation, has followed this same course in its proposals for the promotion of physical training and recreation. From the patient’s point of view the assurance that there is to be no nasty medicine in the form of compulsory drill will allay some apprehension. The reasons for avoiding compulsion, given in the White Paper1 setting out the Government’s proposals, are first that any such thing would be against the national character and also MOST
of
that" The aim of the Government is not to secure that between certain ages every boy and girl practises a certain physical exercise or achieves a certain standard of physical development, but to inculcate a wider realisation that physical fitness has a vital part to play in promoting a healthy mind and human happiness. It is a way of life and an attitude of mind, the importance of which is continuous and not limited to certain years in early
youth." The proposals are that funds and two central advisory councils (one for England and Wales, the other for Scotland) should back up and extend the organisations existing at present and that a National College of Physical Training should be established by the Government. The job of the advisory councils will be to advise on what is needed and how it can best be achieved. They will also have to promote the establishment of local committees and suggest means of publicity and propaganda. They will each consist of about thirty men and women. In addition the Government propose to appoint two grants committees, each consisting of three people, to consider applications for grants, and make grants if approved by the responsible minister, the President of the Board of Education or the Secretary of State for Scotland. The local committees will have the responsible jobs of making public interest active and of expressing views on the relative importance of the various proposals ; they will have to say to what extent the cost of any scheme could be met from local sources and they will be the bodies to confront with suggestions. They will each have a paid
secretary. The primary purpose of the National College of Physical Training will be to fill in the gaps that are at present most conspicuous. First and foremost it is to train leaders to organise and undertake recreational physical training. It will also be used to help supply elementary school teachers trained in the use of apparatus, and teachers for boys’ secondary schools where needed, although the training of school teachers is not ranked among the main purposes. The College will also provide the opportunity for research into the physiology of physical training. Women are not excluded from the College but it is recognised that for them in England, and for both sexes in Scotland, suitable colleges are already in being. About 2,000,000 will probably be needed for the first three years of the programme and about .!n50,OOO 1
Physical Training
H.M. Stationery Office.
and Recreation. Cmd. 5364. 1937. Pp. 12. 2d.
London:
increased. Some of us, who do not question the need to see that children are better fed, may perhaps be allowed to wonder whether the collective feeding of most of our children for the main meal of the day throughout the whole year will kill the kitchen sense still remaining. Will not communal feeding, for better or for worse, be required for those children when they grow up z? Is the time come to despair of educational methods and of the adjustment of purchasing power1 THE WORLD CONSUMPTION OF NARCOTIC DRUGS
Statement of 61 pages issued by the Supervisory Body under the Convention of 1931 for limiting the manufacture of dangerous drugs, information additional to that reported in our issue of Jan. 9th is furnished. From this it appears that since 1934 the amount required for world consumption, as such, of heroin has much declined, that for cocaine and codeine has shown some reduction, while that for morphine has during the last three years increased. Under the Convention each Government is required to furnish with its estimates a " statement explaining the method by which the several amounts included in the estimates have been arrived at." Nevertheless every year many estimates are received in which the description of the methods adopted is lacking: this occasions difficulty and delay and reference back for further information. In an annexe to the statement there is set out a comparative table showing for certain countries the estimated consumption of morphine, heroin, codeine, and dionin per million inhabitants for the years 1934 to 1937. In the case of morphine in 1937 Poland stands lowest IN
a
with 1’5 kg., Denmark highest in Europe with 29-6 kg., while Great Britain is credited with 16’1kg. For the United States the figure is given as 17’5 kg. and for Canada 11’7 kg., while that for Japan is 21-9 kg. Somewhat similar remarkable variations in consumption are recorded- in the case of the other FITNESS
general practitioners recognise the wisdom allowing a patient to prescribe within limits hi& own treatment. The Government, acting as physician to a none too healthy nation, has followed this same course in its proposals for the promotion of physical training and recreation. From the patient’s point of view the assurance that there is to be no nasty medicine in the form of compulsory drill will allay some apprehension. The reasons for avoiding compulsion, given in the White Paper1 setting out the Government’s proposals, are first that any such thing would be against the national character and also MOST
of
that" The aim of the Government is not to secure that between certain ages every boy and girl practises a certain physical exercise or achieves a certain standard of physical development, but to inculcate a wider realisation that physical fitness has a vital part to play in promoting a healthy mind and human happiness. It is a way of life and an attitude of mind, the importance of which is continuous and not limited to certain years in early
youth." The proposals are that funds and two central advisory councils (one for England and Wales, the other for Scotland) should back up and extend the organisations existing at present and that a National College of Physical Training should be established by the Government. The job of the advisory councils will be to advise on what is needed and how it can best be achieved. They will also have to promote the establishment of local committees and suggest means of publicity and propaganda. They will each consist of about thirty men and women. In addition the Government propose to appoint two grants committees, each consisting of three people, to consider applications for grants, and make grants if approved by the responsible minister, the President of the Board of Education or the Secretary of State for Scotland. The local committees will have the responsible jobs of making public interest active and of expressing views on the relative importance of the various proposals ; they will have to say to what extent the cost of any scheme could be met from local sources and they will be the bodies to confront with suggestions. They will each have a paid
secretary. The primary purpose of the National College of Physical Training will be to fill in the gaps that are at present most conspicuous. First and foremost it is to train leaders to organise and undertake recreational physical training. It will also be used to help supply elementary school teachers trained in the use of apparatus, and teachers for boys’ secondary schools where needed, although the training of school teachers is not ranked among the main purposes. The College will also provide the opportunity for research into the physiology of physical training. Women are not excluded from the College but it is recognised that for them in England, and for both sexes in Scotland, suitable colleges are already in being. About 2,000,000 will probably be needed for the first three years of the programme and about .!n50,OOO 1
Physical Training
H.M. Stationery Office.
and Recreation. Cmd. 5364. 1937. Pp. 12. 2d.
London: