K 51
The ground is very wet and soft and with the repeated land slides which occurred on opening up the South end of the tunnel, pool formation could not be prevented.
The workmen, moreover, in consequence of the extremely wet nature of the ground, have had to work under most trying conditions, almost always being knee-deep in water or soft mud, and this no doubt has been a responsible factor in the incidence of sickness.
Now that the work is well in hand, drainage and scavenging are being carried out as thoroughly as possible, coolie houses are frequently cleansed with disinfecting fluids, and the result has been a remarkable improvement.
Oil is used freely all over the line as a means of destroying mosquito larvæ in pools impossible to drain.
Case books have been kept at the two main camps at Beacon Hill Tunnel, and since the appointment of a resident Assistant Medical Officer at Taipo Kau, at that place also.
It is impossible to record every case of sickness occurring amongst the coolies living in outlying matsheds, but speaking generally, there has been a great decrease in all cases occurring in places not attached to main camps as well as in the main camps themselves.
Quinine has been dealt out freely, though perhaps not so freely as formerly, as I found that a considerable amount was wasted by being thrown away into the nullahs or bartered at the small stores for food, etc., the natives, especially when new to the territory, not taking kindly to the drug, and it has often to be given under compulsion. As soon as the practice was discovered, steps were taken to stop it.
Serious accidents have, fortunately, been rare during the year.
One of the most troublesome ailments at present is the effect of the dynamite fumes in the big tunnel.
The heading is about three thousand feet from the entrance at each face. Ventilation will, however, be much improved when the headings meet in the course of a few months, allowing a free current of air through the whole length of the tunnel.
Most of the workers, especially at South Face, suffer constantly from severe irritation of throat and lungs as a result of breathing the air heavily charged with dynamite fumes.
Occasionally, coolies have to be carried out from the workings, being overcome by the fumes after blasting operations. A few minutes in the fresh air, however, always revives them, and there have been no serious results.
The total number of cases treated at North and South Face Camps, No. 2 Tunnel, during the year is 2,064, and for 1907, 3,667.
Of these, the following are the principal diseases:-
Malaria, Dysentery, Beri-beri, Injuries,
1908 1907
556 1,168
53 124
58 81
354 371
The following table shows the monthly Malaria returns at the two camps and the comparative percentages for 1907 and 1908:-
Jan. Feb. Mar. April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Number of cases of Malaria, 1907 60 59 48 59 166 185 203 117 85 62 65 59 1908 56 25 23 23 1 16 37 $9 65 42 55 55 51 33 Percentage to total number of coolies on the line, 1907 1.9 3.7 1.7 2.03 7.4 8.5 11 6.8 3.4 2.3 2.4 2.6 1908 2.3 1.2 1.04 .6 1.2 2.8 1 1.1 1.5 1.3 0.9