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T HE government and peoples of the United States have frequently demonstrated congern for underprivileged peoples by their efforts to improve the situations of such groups. Whether the misfortunes of these groups have resulted from flood, earthquake, famine, or war the agencies, personnel, and supplies for relief have often been provided by this country. World War II, affecting people of all races in scattered countries, has created perhaps the greatest problem of relief and rehabilitation in history. In this conflict governments of ~he United States and other United Nations have had a special interest in the health and welfare of civil populations. This interest is not prompted merely by humanitarian instincts, but also by the fact that conditions of poor sanitation and high disease incidence among civilians are detrimental to the health of Allied troops stationed in the areas and, consequently, prejudicial to the war effort. Prolonged dietary restriction, destruction of homes and sanitary facilities, lack of adequate medical care, and the psychological trauma of modern warfare have made definite and often permanent imprint upon the health of individuals in civil populations. I t is unlikely ttiat any age groups have been more adversely affected than infants, children, and adolescents. To anticipate the nature and probable extent of problems of health trod welfare of the children in various countries, a kno~vledge of composition of populations as to age groups, birth and infant mortality rates, and adequacy and standards of prewar medical care is helpful. Such data, though modified by several years of war, provide an index to the type and extent of problems which may be anticipated. Moreover, knowledge of this type facilitates proper plans for relief and rehabititat;~on of these unfortunate younger groups.

Summary A case of progressive diaphyseal dysplasia (Engelmann's disease) is reported and the eight cases reported previously have been briefly reviewed. This syndrome is characterized by progressive symmetrical enlargement and cortical thickening in the diaphyses of long bones. The clinical findings include muscular weakness with a waddling gait, failure to gain weight properly, and, occasionally, neurologic variations. As judged by reports in the literature, the syndrome is of rare occurrence though it is possible similar cases have been undiagnosed or unrecorded.