Evening star., 1941-12-18
Of Sturs, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
In Laboratory, Field
And Study
Bu Thomas r. Henry.


By Thomas r. Henry.
Decline in population growth at last
has hit prolific Japan.
Last January the imperial cabinet an
nounced far-reaching plan to increase
the numbers OF the Japanese people
from the present 73,l14OOO to 100000
by 1860. BY encouraging the birth rate
it was hoped to secure enough popula-
ton to provide at least the upper crust
of a great Asiatic empire.
But. aside from the fact that the
nation has become involved in major
war, the hope seems futile, according to
calculations just released by the Popu-
lation Association of America, based on
the latest census figures.
Japans population still is increasing
but at a diminishing rate, the associa-
tion's statisticians point out.
"The population estimates since 1887,
combined with the results OF the l940
census" says the report, indicate
rapid decline in population growth. The
estimated increment was $40, 900 In 1888,
5000 in 1899 and 1893 900 in 1910. No
vital statistics have been released since
1898, when the birth rate was 26.7 per
thousand and the death rate ia, and
the crude rate of natural increase 93.
"Since then death rates undoubtedly
have increased. Military casualties must
have been considerable The known food
deficits, the deterioration of living levels.
the increasing pressure to produce, nave
probably resulted in a higher mortality.
Infant mortality is probably increasing.
Fertility probably has fallen rapidly
because of the large transfer of men
from rural areas to cities. 1t Is appar-
ent that birth and death rates have
rapidly converged.
Increasing urbanization." the report
continues, is shown by the 1910 census.
and this almost always affects adversely
a national birth rate. Children, an eco
nomic asset on the farm, are liability
in the city.
The percentage Of the total population
living in cities Of over 100000 increased
from 178 per cent in 1880 to 25.3 in
1885 and to almost 80 per cent in 1910.
Almost three-fourths of the total popu
lation increase in the past five years.
the figures show. has occurred in the As
cities Of this size in the islands.
The intensity OF the rural-urban
movement" the Population Association
report says, SIS suggested by the fact
that in a single decade the increase in
the proportion Of the population in large
cities has paralleled that Of the United
States from the beginning of the CEN
tury until 1910. In 1910 Toxic had a
population Of 6,77900O. 1t is now the
second largest city in the world"
The hope Of achieving a population of
100 900 900 In the next 20 years, the re-
port points out, is based on the majority
Of couples having five children.
Specific plans apparently patterned
after those OF Germany include q de-
crease Of three years in the average age
Of marriage, restriction on the employ
ment Of women in factories, marriage
loans with 20 per cent Of the principal
deducted at birth of each child, reduc-
tion Of taxes for large families, taxation
Of bachelors to reward parents of large
families. reduction of infant mortality
rates.
Recent Japanese literature, Just as
that Of Germany, identifies declining fer
ttltty with national decadence and calls
for more babies in terms OF duty to the
race and state and their historic destiny,
not in terms of social, individual and
economic welfare. Thus Japan has fol-
lowed the path Of other military die
tatorships in reducing the population
problem. present and future, to the
simple one of adequate man power for
war, occupation and exploitation. The
race is easy enough to enter, but the
experience of other nations indicates
that the chances Of achieving positive
results OF sufficient magnitude to alter
the problems Of the postwar world
are slight"
Stones In the lungs hitherto un-
recognized disease which apparently has
been misdiagnosed as tuberculosis-has
Just been described by United States
Public Health Service scientists.
It Is very common throughout the
Appalachian plateau and the Piedmont
regions on both sides. Half the people
in some communities show evidence Of
1t.
The new malady manifests itself in
tiny areas Of calciflcation scattered
through the lungs. These have been
considered in the past as healed LESSONS
Of tuberculosis which tend to build walls
around themselves. Curiously, however,
many who have these calcified areas
give negative responses to tuberculin
tests which are supposed to reveal q
present or past infection with the
dreaded tubercle baccili.
Because Of this apparent paradox Drs.
B. j. Olson, w. H. Wright and M. O.
Nolan of the Public Health Service staff
made an intensive study Of the condition
in Ross County in South Central Ohio,
the center Of which is the flourishing city
Of Chillicothe.
Children in two school districts were
studied and no significant relationship
could be demonstrated between contacts
with known tuberculosis cases and the
occurrence Of lung calcification. The
children almost invariably, DR.. Olson re-
ports. were In robust health and, for the
most part, had past history Of good
health.
The cause of the condition still is un-