The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-12
CUBAN TRIP HAS
 MUCH OF INTEREST
 ID BESSEMER MAN
Dr.. E. P.> Lacey Returns From the Convention of Southern Railway
 Surgeons

in that city, and where they were hospitably entertained.
 We sailed on the steamship Miami from Port Tampa said Dr. Lacey, and had a delightful trip to Key West, and though the sea was a little tough at times and some of the mem bers of our party were seasick, was not disturbed in the least. I do not know whether this was due to good luck or to a preventive I used.
 Lust before we entered the harbor at Key West I witnessed the sun rise from the bridge of the vessel, and 1t was beautiful beyond description. Poets and philosophers have attempt ed 1t, but it Is beyond the power of words.
 "The officers on the Miami were courteous gentlemen and did every thing they could for the comfort and pleasure of the passengers, This ap- pears to be characteristic of the men who go down to the sea in ships.
 We transferred at Key West to the steamer Governor Cobb, a finer and larger ship. After VIC got out of the harbor at Key West and en- tered the Florida Straits. we encoun- tered the blue waters of the gulf stream, which Is in stricking con- trast with the green waters of the gulf coast.
 "we arrived at Havana. passing the far-famed Moro Castle on our en- trance to the harbor. and while at one time 1t was a formidable fortress, modern guns and high explosives have rendered It obsoltete.
 "Since Columbus discovered Cuba, 1t has been the land of sunshine. TO- nance and chiya1ry and tragedy, with wonderful climate and soil fer tile almost beyond comparison, the Spanish misrule and oppression de- laying its development into what should be one of the most favored spots of the earth. And then sani- tary conditions were bad until the United States government came in after the Spanish American war and cleaned 1t up and practically rid 1t of yellow fever and malaria.
 F'The principal products of the island are sugar and tobacco, The inhabitants are feeling the world wide depression which no country has escaped.
 Is Good Customer
 "Cuba Is a good customer of the United States, as she buys from us steel rails. machinery and other prod ucts. They have been great patrons of our automobile factories. While l have seen very fine cars, Fords are in the majority.
 "A combination of alcohol and gas- oline is used in automobiles two parts of alcohol and one of gasoline Alcohol sells for 2s cents gallon and gasoline for A cents. Alcohol is made from sugar. There is very lit- tie demand for sugar, the price IS low, and I presume that Is one of the reasons for converting 1t Into alcohol. I fear If you tell some of our anti prohibition friends how cheap alcohol is there will be great exodus to Cuba.
 'In spite of the fact that there Is an abundance of alcoholic drinks of all kinds, did not see an intoxicated person. They congregate in the hotels and cafes and drink. but they appear to know when to stop.
 eve visited one of the large brew cries of Cuba, where 800 men are employed, and where 1t takes 200 mules and 28 automobiles to handle the output of the brewery.
 "We went to two of the hospitals of Havana and found them supplied with all modern equipment and appli- ances and saw an operation which was skillfully performed. The medi- cal students of the University of Ha- vana finish their course at the Mer- cedes hospital and there are 150 stu dents in the senior class. They re- quire a three years course. A doctor informed me there were 1000 medi- cal students in all the classes.
 Unique Hospital
 'The Quatre Convodengo hospital Is the largest one In Havana It has 4,400 beds. It Is supported by Span ish society, the Association De Gra- cia. It has 66,000 members, who pay s2 a month. One peculiar feature of this hospital Is the fact that they have no female nurses, nor will they admit women patients.
 q made an inquiry Into the pre- vailing diseases and I learned that among them are hook worm, typhus, typhoid fever, and tuberculosis. It Is said that 66 per cent of the popu- lation is infected with hook worm.
 T noticed a large number of chill dren who appear to be suffering from malnutrition and numbers of the adults have poor physiques. A doctor with whom I conversed at tributes this to ignorance of some mothers, who know nothing of a ball. anced ration. As result the indi- vidual is stunted in childhood and never develops into strong, vigorous man or woman.
 From what I have been able to ascertain lack of milk in infancy and childhood is responsible for Q large part of lack of development.
 Tt seems that Cuba is a great suf- farar from "A ip1 which prevails throughout the world. In conversation with a policeman he said that he had not been paid in two months
 "The returns from the cultivation of sugar cane during the World war were so great that the efforts of the farmer were largely concentrated on this product, to the exclusion of al- most everything else, and when the decline in price and demand for su- gar came. 1t brought financial dis tress to all the people of Cuba. One sugar planter slid that he invested five and half million dollars in a sugar factory last year and now ie has 6,603,125 pounds of sugar on hand which he says he will not sell until there is an advance in the price.
 Interesting CathedraIs There are some very interesting cathedrals in Havana. the oldest. Co., lumbus cathedral, perhaps. which was built. if I am not mistaken, in 1858. Here reposed the bones of the discoverer until the termination of the Spanish American war, when they were disinterred by the Span iards and carried to Spain.s The images and paintings in this build ing are wonderful productions of art, at which the Spaniards appeared to be past masters.
 "Cubans appear to revere tho mem ory of their dead, as Is evidenced by the beautiful tombs and monuments nnA seas in the cemeteries. Beautiful