Vol. XVIH. No. 440. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



71 



«r^. 



Oui^SoOKSiiELF.r 



BLACKIES SENIOR TROPICAL READER. 

 By Sir Francis Watts, K.C.M.G., DSc, etc., Imperial Com- 

 missioner of Agriculture for th« West Indies, and Rev. C. H. 

 Branch, B.A. Pp. 224. Ulackie cr= Son, Ltd. Price Is. 



This Tropical Reader forms a valuable addition to the 

 well-known series of Blackie's Tropical Readers. This volume 

 makes it possible to place in the hands of young readers 

 in the tropics a more advanced book than the previous issues 

 in the series, and gives such readers an excellent idea of the 

 relation which exists between tropical countries of the Old 

 and the New Worlds, and those lands from which they have 

 derived their modern civilization. 



The story begins with the development of transport and 

 gives an account of ancient, caravans overland, and of early 

 communications by sea. The development of modern trans 

 port is also discussed with regard to it- relation with the 

 development of these portions of the world. 



The careful summaries of theeirly voyages of discovery, 

 and their effects on geographical knowledge, and on the 

 dissemination of knowledge regarding tropical fruits, 

 vegetable.s, and other products of field and forest are 

 particularly interesting:, and should prove stimulatint: to 

 students. It is also shown that the early explorers had in 

 mind mainly the conquest of foreign lands and the acquiring 

 of gold, silver, and precious stones, but that in the sequel of 

 the discovery and exploration of the tropics has resulted in the 

 act^Otfillation of wealth m quite a differenf way from what 

 the-Ne pioneers expected. 



Field and forest have contributed to this accumulation of 

 wealth. The discovery and exploration of tropic lands have 

 resulted in many new plant products being brought into use, 

 .jtnd in many of those longer known being placed within the 

 reach of a much larger class of consumers. Maize and rice 

 among the cereals, the potato and sweep potato amongst the 

 vegetables, camphor, oils of many kirids, spicei*, perfumes, 

 and fruits, which are now in common use in all parts of the 

 world , testily to the results of the exploitation of the tropics. 

 During the great world war three tropical products 

 Ijave played a most prominent part, and in this connexion 

 the accounts given of sugar, cotton, and rubber should prove 

 of interest to all readers. 



This book naturally deals to a very large extent with 

 ii^-rieuHural subjects, because auricultural product-- have 

 played & greater part in the influence of the tropics on the 

 rest of the world than have their mineral resources, and 

 perhaps also because Sir Francis Watts is an eminent agricui- 

 ^urist. The Senior Tropical Reader, however, .shi>uld fill » 

 very useful place in connexion with the study of history, 

 jjeography, and of the tropics, for sohools in all countrie.^. 

 "ft would ai^y-vi that a book like this, while primarily iriteuded 

 for use in the tropics, would also be particulsiriy vAluable for 

 isf. in temperate countries. 



When n.sed as at first intended, it ».< an excellent means of 

 driving the .student an idea of the relation which exists hetween 

 'he tropicil countries and the rest of the world, but for the 

 .itudent 'in temperate countries it would seem to possess all 



thechai'rm of romance in dealing with historical and geographi 

 cal subjects. T'J most children the tropics are a sort of 

 wonderland, ami stories of discoveries a- d explorations, 

 and of the cultivation of the various crops which yield well 

 known tropical products are always of inteiest. 



In size this book is quite convenient, the last few pigec 

 being devoted to useful notes which explain many points in 

 connexion with the texf. The piper and letter press are good, 

 the information concise and accurate, but the illustrations 

 leave something to be desired. Some are good, s-^nie are 

 indiflerent, and others decidedly poor. It is to be hoped 

 that in another edition bettt-r illustrations will be provided. 



The chapter on health in the tropi''s only includes four 

 pages. This might have been extended considerably 

 When it is realized that many places in the tropics which are 

 now productive, and which are now reUiively healthy for 

 persons of European races to live in. which insectborne 

 diseases formerly made absolutely deadly, an idea may be 

 obtained of what might be 'said on the control of disease 

 carrying insects, and of the various auimil pirasites which 

 used to prove so inimical to Europe ins in the tiopics. The 

 construction of the Panama Canal depended in the first 

 in'stance on the control of the inserts which disseminated 

 malaria and yellow fever. In a later edition tliis chapter 

 might be considerably extended. 



On the whole, the defects of this little bnok ara few; its 

 many good points completely outbalance them, and we believe 

 that much good might be accomplished if it were in the 

 hands of juvenile readers in all parts of the world, tempente 

 regions as well i>s tropical. 



H.A.B, 



THE TREATMENT OF ANKYLOSTOMlASiS 

 BY OIL OP CHENOPODIUM 



A note on another page of this issue draws attention u> 

 the successful treatment of hookworm disease or ankylostomi- 

 asis in the Seychelles A report from Fiji, referred to ^n 

 the Colonial Journal, October 191 S, states that there are many 

 valid reasons why oil of Chenopodium or American worm seed 

 should supersede thympl in the treatment of hookworm 

 disease. Oil of Chenopodium is less toxic, is more efficient, 

 and is not so costly. 



It may be mentioned that Chenopodium ambrosioides, 

 the plant from the seeds of which the medicinal oil is obtained, 

 crows wild in most of the West Indian islands, and is 

 commonly used as a vermifuge. The whole plant has a distinct 

 smell of the oil- 



The good results obtained in Fiji by the use of this (M. 

 are attributed to the methods of adminiatntion employed. 

 Tn the afternoon before, a dose of magnesium sulphate is ad 

 ministered to the patient At seven o'clock the next morning 

 one-half of the dose of chenopodium oil is administered. Al 

 nine o'clock the remaining half of the oil i< administered, and 

 at eleven o'clock a second dose of salts. The person if 

 advised to partake of but little soli.l food until after the 

 Action of )he siecond doise of salts According to the age and 

 sex of the iortividual the dose varies from 3 drops for an 

 infant to 6(1 drops for a grown man, each dose being divided 

 into two equal parts. These doses apply to the first two treat 

 nients, ;in<f are slightiv increased for those having to hf 

 treated again. 



The writur i)f the it. port states that he does not liouot 

 hut that the ptTceniaet- i>f cnre.s with one treatment might 

 priictieally reach I (K) p^r lent, if the diet, the salts, and the 

 *mount "i rb^- dose of "he oil of chenopodium were properly 

 adjusted. 



