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Economic Association

AMERpersons interested in questions of political economy or the economic side of social and political conditions. Its 2,500 members consist largely of teachers of economics in the colleges and schools and a number of business and professional men interested in current problems. The annual meeting of the society takes place during the Christmas vacation of the colleges and is held alternately in an eastern and a western city. The associa quarterly, the "American Economic Recion publishes a very valuable periodical, view." In addition to this the society issues the reports of its annual meetings, which contain valuable monographs and theses on economic subjects. ciety of South America, situated under the ECUADOR (ek' wa-dor), a republic equator, whence it takes its name, between Peru and Colombia. It is of angular shape, its base resting mainly on the Pacific, between 4° 50' S., its apex extending to about lon. tween lat. 1° 20′ N. and of tribout 116,000 W.; area, about eru, and Colombia 00 square 71° 30′ W. miles, excluding the Galapagos Islands.

Between Ecuador, Peru, there have been boundary disputes. That with Colombia was settled in 1917. acachi, Chimbo- In the E. into 16 provinces and 1 territory, and Topography. The country is divided falls, as regards the surface, into three sections; the comparatively narrow and low-lying coast regions, the mountain region, and the extensive plains on the E.

The mountain region is formed by a double range of snow-clad mountains, inclose a longitudinal valley or tableland, several of them active volcanoes, which with a breadth of 20 to 40 miles, and varying in elevation from 8,500 to 13,- 900 feet. mountains are in the W. range, Chimborazo, Pichincha, and Cotacachi, C razo being 20, range are Cayambe, Antisana, and Coto paxi (19,500). The cultivated land and The most elevated of these the population of Ecuador lie chiefly in this elevated 20,703 feet high. In between the summits of the Cordillera, and may be considered as divided by transverse ridges or dikes into the valleys of Quito, Hambato and Cuenca. The chief towns here are Quito, the capital (pop. 70,000); Riobamba and Cuenca, all situated at a height of 9,000 feet or more above the sea. The chief port of Ecuathe Tigre, ated region, which extends along illera, The dor is Guayaquil (pop. 65,000). most considerable rivers, the are exported principally to the United to fill the home demand for beef. Hides is practically confined to raising cattle some are exported. Pastoral industry be said of tobacco and cotton, though of the Amazon; and some of them, notably the Napo, are navigable for long distances. On the W. slope of the Andes the chief rivers are the Esmeraldas and the Guayaquil.

ECUADOR on the plains, both in the E. and the W., is moist, hot, and unhealthful. In the higher regions it is rough and cold, but in great part the elevated valleys, as that of Quito, have a delightful climate.

Here the chief productions are potatoes, barley, wheat, and European fruits. In the lower regions are grown all the food products of tropical climates, cacao, coffee, sugar, etc. Ecuador is comparatively poor in mammalia, though various kinds of deer as well as tapirs and pecaries are found in the forests. the birds is the condor, which dwells on cial and political conditions. Its 2,500 the slopes of the Andes. Reptiles, includrilla, vegetable ivory, etc. yield cinchona bark, caoutchouc, sarsapaous, but perhaps the rots and humming-birds are also numering serpents, are numerous. The forests the most remarkable of Parport of Guayaquil. In 1918 the imports at $8,345,360. Imports from the United 745,265. Exported to United States $4,for the stationery, win goods, and fancy articles; the principal exports are cacao (three-fourths of entire export), coffee, hides, vegetable ivory and caoutchouc. 793,345. The principal articles imported States (1918) $4,766,215. Exports $13,- Commerce. The international trade passes almost exclusively through the are cotton and woolen textiles, furniture, hardware, cutlery, provisions, malt liquors and spirits, silks, jewelry, laces, wines, breadstuffs, leather the previous five years were valued Ecuador is cacao, and the cultivation of cent years. The cacao plantations are, this article shows some increase in refor the most part, situated lying lands in the vicinity of the Guayacent years. The cacao plantations are, this article shows some increase in re- Ecuador is cacao, and the cultivation of and caoutchouc. Industries.-The principal product of for home consumption be said of tobacco and cotton, though quil river. In 1919 the cacao crop was rubber (1917) 239,018, ivory nuts 3,000 Industries. The principal product of lbs. Sugar is manufa uated on the lowmanufactured principally ion and the same may States. is practically confine to fill the home demand for beef. Hides some are exported. are exported principally to the United confined to raising cattle Pastoral industry mang tempted in modern times in the direction of mining industry in Ecuador. In the province of Esmeraldas hydraulic washthe province of Oro. The Indians do and rivers; a small supply of gold is obtained from this source. ing of gravel beds is being carried on by istence of petroleum has been proved in ing is also in progress at Zuruma, in Mining. Very little has been atan American company, and quartz crushsome washing in the beds of streams various localities, but nothing has yo The ex- ECUADOR been done to develop an industry in this product. Deposits of of copper, lead, iron, and coal also occur, but are not worked.

In the province of Cuenca valuable lodes of silver-bearing ore are known, but are not exploited. Quicksilver is said to exist in the province of Loja. Careful prospecting of the mineral resources of Ecuador would doubtless disclose much natural wealth, but the difficulties and cost of transport have hitherto proved insurmountable obstacles to the practical development of the mining industry.

Manufactures. Manufacturing industry is confined within very small limits. It is represented by the chocolate manufacturing concerns, some woolen and cotton textile mills on a comparatively limited scale, four sawmills, a biscuit factory, a brewery and ice factory in the city of Guayaquil, and a few soap factories. It is now proposed to extend the manufacture of woolen and cotton goods, and for this purpose to utilize water to obtain the required power. The manufacture of fine straw hats is anative industry in Ecuador, these hats being shipped abroad under the name of Panama and selling for high prices.

Communications. The roads in Ecuador are principally bridle-paths generally impassible in wet and winter weather.

In 1908 a company formed in the United States completed the railroad (297 miles) from Guayaquil to Quito. There is also a Central R. R. from Manta to Santa Anna, 35 miles, les, and a road connecting Bahia, Caracas and Quito, 168 miles. Other railroads are projected.

The telegraph system covers 5,482 miles.

There are six wireless stations.

Education. The educational system of the country has been greatly improved in recent years. In 1916 new courses of study were introduced in the primary schools and these were extended in 1918 to the high-school courses. Primary instruction is free and obligatory for all children, beginning with six years. In 1919 there were 103 mixed schools, 241 primary schools, 122 grammar schools, 16 high schools, 385 fiscal schools, 57 municipal schools, and 40 private schools.

In all these there was an enrolment of about 48,000. High-school instruction is given in the national colleges. Each of the provinces, with the exception of Esmeraldas, has one of these colleges.

Religion. The Roman Catholic, under the constitution, is the only form of religion tolerated. Government. The executive government (since Dec. 1906) is vested in a President, elected for four years, who is assisted by a Council of State of five members. The Congress is the legislative body, and consists of two Houses, ECZEMA one formed of senators, two for each province, the other of deputies, one for every 30,000 inhabitants, both elected by universal suffrage. The Congress has extensive privileges and cannot be dissolved by the President. The seat of government is at Quito. In 1920 the estimated revenue was $9,997,830. The money unit is the sucre, equivalent to a 5-franc piece, but the coins of the United States, France, and Great Britain circulate.

History. Ecuador at the time of the conquest of Peru by the Spaniards formed part of the great empire of the Incas.

It was erected first into a viceroyalty of Peru, then (from 1564 to 1718) into an independent presidency. In 1718 it became part of the presidency of New Granada. During the revolutionary war against Spain, Ecuador, along with the neighboring territories, secured its independence in 1822, and was ultimately erected into a separate republic in 1831.

Of the present population, the aboriginal red face forms more than half; the rest are negro and Indian blood, and Spanish Creoles or whites. The latter are the chief possessors of the land. Pop. 2,000,000. In April, 1920, an Italian military and commercial commission visited the country. A tobacco monopoly was arranged for an Italian company in Ecuador, in consideration of which Italy undertook the construction of public works in the country. On Aug. 31, 1920, Dr. José Luis Tamayo was inaugurated president.

ECZEMA (ek-zē'mä), one of the commonest of all dieases of the skin, and also the most variable in its manifestations. It may be acute or extremely chronic, may affect any portion of the skin, and may occur at any age from infancy to old age.

In In typical acute eczema the affected portion of skin is red, and is covered with numerous small papules, which speedily turn into vesicles. These may quickly dry up, but more commonly break, and discharge a clear, glutinous secretion, which hardens and forms scabs or crusts, or if copious keeps the surface in a moist "weeping" condition. In some cases the vesicles are replaced by pustules, and the discharge is partly purulent. Chronic eczema may follow the acute form, or may arise without an acute stage. Here the skin is thickened and hard, and covered with crusts or scales; deep cracks are sometimes present, especially where the skin is subjected to much movement, as near the joints.

One of the most prominent and important symptoms is itching of the part affected; it is never entirely absent, and EDDY often replaced by a in some cases intolerably severe, but in the acute stage is oft burning sensation; it may precede any visible sign of the disease, and may persist after the skin has resumed its natthe acute stage is often replaced by a burning sensation; it may precede any visible sign of the disease, and may per- sist after the skin has resumed its nat- ural appearance. The scratching which it occasions always aggravates the disease, and is often very difficult to pre- vent. Except in extensive acute attacks, See CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. Except in extensive acute attacks, vent.

Ex consti- The disease is there is no fever and very little cons tutional disturbance. not contagious. When cured it leaves no scar.

Causes of Eczema. - In many cases definite cause for an there is no fever and very little consti- Generally speaking, however, the connot contagious. When cured it leaves defect in the digestion or assimilation of the food; strumous and gouty individuals are particularly subject to the disease. The local or exciting cause may be anything whatever which irritates the skin.

Treatment. There is no specific for eczema; different cases and different stages of the disease require widely different management, and each must be considered and treated on its own merits.

The diet must be nutritious, but as simple and unirritating as possible; digestion may require aid from medicines; the bowels should be regularly evacuated, by aperients if necessary; a gouty or strumous tendency if present must be counteracted.

The use of soap on the considered and treated on its own merits. strained oatmeal gruel, or rice water, or white of egg with boiled water, used for cleansing purposes, but even these as seldom as possible. Thorough removal of scales and crusts by these means, or by oil, or simple bread poultices, is the necessary preliminary to satisfactory local treatment. where the sw In the acute stage, swelling is great or the discounteracted. The use of soap on the strained oatmeal gruel, or rice water, or white of egg with boiled water, used for cleansing purposes, but even these as seldom as possible. Thorough removal on rags or lint and kept moist by a waterproof covering, is generally most of scales and crusts by these means, or by oil, or simple bread poultices, is the necessary preliminary to satisfactory soft water with a similar proportion of In baking-soda, or dilute lead lotion. the later stages, when the skin is moist, charge profuse, a sedative lotion applied zinc ointments, zinc and boracic ointor cold be evenly ments mixed in equal parts, cream. The ointment should be spread on linen rag, and kept in close contact with the affected skin.