THE GENERAL health of the infants and children of Puerto Rico is as good as might be expected in a tropical climate and under the existing conditions of nutrition of the entire population. The infants are spared the usual digestive disturbances and infections of the first year of life by the fact that most of them are breast fed for the greater part of that year. If any supplementary feedings are given, they are usually beans and rice, the staple diet of all the islanders. There is, no doubt, a lack of vitamin A in their diet if the breast milk is deficient, as fresh cow's milk, butter and eggs are rarely used. This may account for the unexpected number of respiratory disturbances seen in these children. Colds, bronchitis, pneumonia and laryngotracheobronchitis are common. If milk is given, the dried milk products are mostly used, although evaporated milk is now