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A clinical trial in a field hospital in rural East Pakistan of an orally administered solution used in conjunction with intravenous fluid for the treatment of cholera in adults has demonstrated the efficacy of oral therapy. After initial intravenous rehydration, fluid balance in actively purging patients with cholera was adequately maintained in most patients, by the administration of an oral solution of drinking water containing sodium chloride, potassium citrate, sodium bicarbonate, and dextrose. It was found that 135 patients with cholera who received oral maintenance therapy required 70% less intravenous fluid than a similar group of 135 treated at the same rural treatment center in a previous epidemic. This treatment regimen has now become routine at our field hospital.

Examination of abortion experience in Georgia following the passage of an abortion law based on the American Law Institute's Model Penal Code, intended to increase the availability of abortion, suggests that nonhospital abortions are still a black health problem, especially for unmarried blacks. Abortion mortality has declined for unmarried whites, married whites, and married black women. The abortion rate is highest for women under the age of 15 (falling into the rape catagory of the abortion law) and over 34 years (due to maternal physical health conditions). Maternal mental health indications are more restrictively defined in the medical community in Georgia. A comparison with several states liberalizing abortion laws demonstrates that in proportion to live births, markedly fewer hospital abortions have been performed in Georgia than in other states. Only 20 abortions were performed in Georgia each month until 1970 when the number increased to 47 due to publicity over a proposed abortion law. To reduce nonhospital abortion mortality, hospital abortions must be provided equitably to all women in need.

Computers are being used to plot the spatial distribution of the population in need of services and those currently receiving services from Georgias family planning programs. A Fortran computer program costing about $400 uses 5 graduations of shading to show proportions of active contraceptors. Each user supplies a data deck with map coordinates which can be digitized for about $250 for a state with 100 counties. By calculating contraceptors monthly the program activity in each county can be determined to show areas of stable high performance and those areas which need to improve their family planning services. The spatial distribution according to services rendered can be mapped at intervals depending on frequency of data collection.

Of 303 women who obtained abortions in a Washington, D. C., clinic in January 1972 and were interviewed about six months later, 93 percent chose a method of contraception at the time of abortion and 91 percent were using contraception at the time of follow-up. Eighty-six percent chose the pill or IUD at the time of abortion; and 78 percent were protected by the pill, IUD, or sterilization six months after the abortion. Although one-fourth of the women changed methods during the six-month period after the abortion, the vast majority were highly persistent in using effective methods of contraception.