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Fibrinolytic activity in whole blood has been determined in groups of rural Bantu, urban Bantu and white subjects. It has been found that: (1) Mean activity in rural Bantu males is significantly greater than in urban Bantu males; both groups are significantly superior in activity to the white males studied. (2) Rural and urban Bantu females have significantly lower activities than the white females studied. (3) Fibrinolytic activity determined in groups of Bantu and white subjects at noon, followed by a fat-free or a fatty meal (31 to 34 gm. butter fat), shows no significant change when determined three hours later; in Bantu males and females there is a tendency toward acceleration of activity following ingestion of the fatty meal, whereas white females tend to show a slight inhibition of activity following both fat-free and fatty meals. (4) A group of rural Bantu pursuing active occupations did not have greater mean fibrinolytic activity compared with another group doing no active work during the experimental period, nor was a correlation apparent in the numerous individual Bantu and white subjects investigated.

It is widely accepted that the South African Bantu very seldom die from coronary heart disease, but that cerebral vascular disease constitutes an important cause of death. How valid are these beliefs? Since the diseases mentioned primarily affect the middle-aged and elderly, and since the Bantu are a relatively young population in contrast to aging white populations, specific mortalities from 45 to 64 years have been calculated for certain Bantu, and for a few white populations for comparison.

Investigations have been made on groups of South African preschool children, namely, rural and urban Negroes, Negro nursery school children, and whites, in respect to height, weight, and prevalence of PCM clinical stigmata. Because the Negro nursery school group who received two meals per day at school showed low prevalences of underweight, overweight, or clinical deficiency stigmata, they were used as a local standard of growth for comparative purposes. The relative values of local and international standards are discussed, and in their construction, stress is laid on the need for information on variables other than growth, including patterns of health experienced in later life.

In South Africa, enrichment of staple cereals is under consideration. In view of the known low calcium intake of three-quarters or more of the total population, a decision is required on what priority, if any, should be given to calcium supplementation.