Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-25

some remedy which she had admins
tered in large doses every time the baby
cried, until l. was all gone.
The visiting doctor prescribed moth
ing further. He had grave doubts about
sending the woman the medicine he
considered necessary. She probably
would be unable to follow directions,
would be likely to pour the medicine
into the child's mouth with no con-
sideration OF dosage. and do more harm
than good.
DifEiculty Of Work Is Shown.
Incidents such as this illustrated to
scientific party making a preliminary
social /and psychological. survey over
the week end of the Blue Ridge "Hol-
low" people the difhculty of checking
the disintegrating process so long as the
environment remains unchanged. Med
icine was medicine to some of these
families-with little ability to differen-
tiate as to kind and dose.
The scientific party saw much that
was discouraging, but under the sur
face they saw encouraging signs. All
agreed that the standard Of living in
most of the cabins inspected was very
low, considering that they exist in the
United States in a time of unparalleled
prosperity.
A few years ago, according to DR..
Mandel Sherman. director of the WASH
ington Child Research Center, who has
travelled extensively in Southeastern Eu-
rope, just as pitiable conditions were to
be found in the huts of peasants around
the Black Sea. where Serfdom. legally
abolished, still remained in actual OPP
Grafton and may still exist In isolated
corners Of the Balkans. A comparison
is difficult. however, because Of the diff
1~a I've
lions.
The psychologists and SociologistS
were impressed by the wide range Of
living conditions in different clusters
OF cabins. Some we're spotlessly clean,
with wood fires, dishes, tables and cheap
pictures on the walls. In one was found
an old photograph. sent In by some
Summer visitor. which was in constant
operation. Even in the past month
there have been some changes, due to
the interest which the outside world
Is taking in these people. so near to
civilization yet so far removed. beside
their cloudland springs. Doctors have
been through the cabins. doing what
they could under the hsndicapS. A
notable change is that every child has
shoes. some for the first time. Some
charitable person sent a large assort-
ment to be distributed among them
old shoes, rubber boots and overshoes.
Winter Clothing to BE Sent.
The children are very proud of their
shoes They present a comical picture
as they trudge over the mountain trails.
G. Freeman Pollock, proprietor of Sky
land has another large box OF shoes
which he intends to distribute in a few
days. Also he has been approached by
church organization with offers of
Winter clothing for the children. They
shivered with cold Sunday while they
waited for the psychological examina-
tions. until a bonfire was built for them
to huddle about
Conditions seem to vary largely with
the degree of contacts. In areas where
church missions have been established
for considerable periods, according to
competent observers, conditions are
strikingly different. The area between
Old Rag and Skyland, Of course. is only
a tiny corner Of the Appalachian Noun
tain situation, and to what extent SINH