No month was
only four cases were recorded in October. completely clear; out of a total of 566 cases, there were 137 deaths giving a mortality rate of 24.2 per cent.
(f) Diphtheria.
122 cases of diphtheria occurred with 52 deaths showing a mortality rate of 42.6 per cent. Every effort is being made to improve anti-diphtheritic measures in the form of active immunization and propaganda. Many of the cases only came to light when it was too late for effective treatment, this state of affairs being due to ignorance on the part of the parents and treatment by persons other than qualified medical practitioners.
(g) Dysentery.
158 cases of dysentery were reported of which 18 were fatal showing a mortality rate of 11.4 per cent. Of these, 54 cases were amoebic. These figures probably do not give a true picture of the incidence of this disease in the Colony as many cases described as enteritis are probably in reality dysentery.
(h) Malaria.
The figures for malaria do not give a true picture of the incidence of malaria in the Colony. There is a moving population coming and going from the mainland and it is fair to say that most cases are found amongst them. This is borne out by the small number of cases occurring in the static population.
(i) Rabies.
4 deaths were reported from this disease. Negri bodies were found in 2 of these cases. 5 cases of animal rabies (dog) with positive Negri bodies were reported.
There is an increasing number of dogs and cats in the Colony, and in the case of dogs precautions are taken to ensure muzzling. Stray dogs are picked up and kept until ownership is established or the dog destroyed. As far as possible all cases of dog-bite are reported and the dog responsible is kept under observation for 2 weeks. Free anti-rabic inoculation is available and 1,280 treatments were given during the year, but patients are not always conscientious in persevering with the treatment.
(j) Relapsing Fever.
25 cases of this disease, six of them fatal, occurred in the first six months of the year. Of these 10 occurred in June; the rest of the year was free.
(k) Scarlet Fever.
This disease is comparatively rare in the Colony, only 1 case being reported for the year under review.
(1) Whooping Cough.
This disease was added to the list of notifiable diseases on 23rd October, 1947. It was felt that notification might help to provide information which would explain the frequency of broncho-pneumonia, a disease which is prevalent. Only 2 cases of whooping cough were reported towards the end of the year.
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