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The disease is comparatively easy to diagnose as other forms of peripheral neuritis are not common here, but it is probable that many cases vaguely named "rheumatism," and paralyses of different kinds, are instances of beri-beri, so also are many of the cases which are said to be locomotor ataxia. For some reason the "wet" variety is uncommon.
From time to time circulars have been issued by the Sanitary department to all large employers of coolie labour in which the danger of using polished rice as a food is explained and the appropriate advice given as to the proper selection of their food. It is so difficult to alter the customs of the ages that it is not easy for any one to buy unpolished rice in the open market; it has to be sought for specially. A few years ago we got out a new preparation derived from yeast, known as "marmite", which is supposed to contain one of the vitamines and to be useful in the treatment of beri-beri. Dr. McKenny reports that "it is liked by the majority of patients and is rapidly effective" in removing sensory symptoms”. He thinks it is useful also for improving the condition of the muscles in the earlier stages of the disease.
Plague. From 1915-1921 inclusively the number of cases of plague in each of these years may be considered a moderate one for an area in which it exists in an endemic form. But the disease was more prevalent this year, and 1,181 cases were certified. Plague is to be regarded as a disease of rats primarily and as one of nature's methods for restricting their indefinite multiplication. The three species of the rat family which are found in the colony are Rattus norvegicus, Rattus rattus and Mus musculus, and the comparative percentages of these are 41, 32 and 27 but the comparative figures for the R. norvegicus and R. rattus are 557 and 443, respectively, in Kowloon, and 60 and 40 in Victoria. In the last nine years the brown rat was found to be infected with the plague organism for just about twice the number of months that the black rat was found infected; and on the average, the brown rat has been recorded as infected for seven months of this period. Of the entire number of rats which were reported as infected during this period, 15 per cent. were black rats and 85 were brown rats. The fleas known to be present are the Xenopsylla cheopis and the Ctenocephalus felis and canis but a systematic search has not been made so far.
Preventive measures.--To prevent rats from gaining access to dwellings the Sanitary Department requires the ground surfaces of all dwellings to be covered by concrete, and every drain or opening for ventilation is protected by iron gratings. Ceilings and hollow walls are not allowed in new buildings, and in some instances in which they existed they were removed by order; in the native parts of the town all dead rats are collected and examined to ascertain whether they are infected or not. There are hundreds of bins containing a disinfectant, which are distributed throughout the city and suburbs for containing every rat either found dead or trapped. The information required as to the particular house or tenement from which the rats have been collected is obtained and a special inspection of the premises is