TREASURY DEPARTMENT

UNITED STATES
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE

 

OFFICE OF
MEDICAL OFFICER IN CHARGE American Consulate General,

Hamburg, Germany,
January 6, 1930.

Dear Doctor. Kolb:

I am glad that you were interested in the Ferguson

Tables I sent in my last letter. I thought they were quite.
intesesting, especially when they were compared with the Irish
Table for the same boards, I shall be pleased to turn over

all the data to you at the end of the present fiscal year, and
am willing to perform the other tests if you think we can get
a sufficiently large number of them.

The visa work here ends at one o'clock every day.

We have on an average of ten applicants a day. Owing to the
fact that we have only one regular stenographer typing visas,
the cases move very slowly and I have about fifteen to twenty minutes
between each case. This gives me just about the right amount
of time between cases to run the Healy A and B and the Ferguson
Boards. Work usually gets started about 10 A. M. and fre=
quently we are finished by twelve otlock when I have no mental
holds; on these days I would have about an hour to do amy tests
you think best. | Ordinarily, when things go smoothly, I can
run the Ferguson Boards on about four to six people a day; this
would give us about 75 to 100 a month. To date I have run
thpough 94 men and 69 women. It was my original idea to
Standardize the Ferguson Boagds well and get about 200 men and
200 women at least; believe I could do this by July lst.

-We might, of course, continue as I have been going and then run
in the extra tests you want on the last subject I get about
mid-day.

It will also be difficult to perform tests which in-
volve a great deal of explanation or language because my nurse
is busy getting the next subject ready while I am doing the

testing and cannot do the interpreting. I cannot speak the
language yet, but even if I could manage it I do not believe
it would be fair to do so in mental tests becausegthe marked
differences in pronunciation. Of course, the nurse is
always available after the work is over in the mornigg until
one o'clock,

Trust you will not be bored with the above informa-~
tion pertaining to shop, but I just wanted to let you know
the conditions under which the tests here will have to be per=
formed. deg 44 Z
_I was rather surprised that only two Horwegians out of

fifty failed to perform six of the Ferguson Boards. You previou
told me about the good showing the Scandanavians made on the
mental tests, but the above hardbhy seems possible. Are you

sure that the subjeé¢s are not being picked? This record, if

true, must be far above the American record,

The subjects I am ustng are chosen indiscriminately.
As a matter of fact, heretofore I have examined almost everyone
within the age limit---16 to 35 years. _ The men are from 95
to 98 per cent farmers, special preference being given to all
farmers in accordance with the law. The women are 90%
domestics and housewives, _ We get a good many more men than
women.

Regarding the differences in performance of the mental
tests at the various German station? would like to suggest that
possibly Hamburg will make a bétter showing than the other sta-
tions because of its proximity to the Scandanavian countries.

A close relationship exists between the Scandanavians and the
Prussians both economically and genetically; we have quite a
number of Scandanavian types applying for visas here, but I have
always made an effort to exclude them from the group of subjects
I am using for my tests.

Well, the holidays are now over and I am not sorry.

We had a very nice party on New Years Bve here at the Uhlen-

horster Fahrhaus, a restaurant that is supposed to be the
swellest place in town. We had dinner and everything that
goes with it, including plenty of champagne afterwards and

it only cost us about $7.50 a head. = That wouldn't meet

the covert charge in New York, but booze is much cheaper here
than any place 1 have ever seen. It is a wonder to me that
the Germang wouldn't put a bigger tax on it.

Before you come to Hamburg be sure to let me know.
I am certain that I can get you a lodging place in a superior
type of pension here should you wish to go there; the rates are
about $2.50 per day and include all three meals.

3 Speaking of theatres, we have a very fine Opera House
here and we are both acvuiring our musical education this winter,
Have seen about two dozen operas so far this winter.

Best wishes to you and yours from both of us,

‘Sincerely yours,