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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O.885
19 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
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Between the Colonial Hospital and the Kissy Institutions there is a large amount of material which, with the present insufficient staff for even the ordinary limited extent, and then very medical work, it is impossible to investigate except to a only to assist or confirm the diagnosis of cases.
The following list shows the variety of the purely diagnostic work now being done by Dr. Burrows in the short time at his disposal during the performance of his routine hospital duties:-Ova of Nematodes, Trichocephalus Dispar., Ascaris Lumbricoides, Ankylostomum duodenale, Gonococci (urethral and ophthalmic), Streptococci, Malaria, Tubercle bacilli, Pneumococci, Filaria perstans, Amœbæ Coli, Blood Counts, Cysticerci; and I have no doubt the variety and importance of the list could be greatly increased by special investigation in the large field offered in this locality.
I also wish to point out that the following officers of the West African Medical Staff of Sierra Leone have contributed material, and are mentioned in the reports, viz. :-
Dr. Kennan, Senior Medical Officer.
Dr. Arbuckle.
Dr. Jackson Moore.
Dr. Renner.
It is satisfactory to note that, of the nine medical officers who are mentioned as having sent material from West Africa, so large a proportion should be formed by medical officers from this Colony, considering the small number of the staff here as compared with the total number of medical officers in West Africa.
Colonial Medical Department,
41950
Freetown, Sierra Leone,
21st October, 1908.
No. 56.
R. M. FORDE, Principal Medical Officer.
THE LONDON SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received 16 November, 1908.)
41676
London School of Tropical Medicine (University of London),
Royal Albert Dock, E., 13 November, 1908.
[ Published as No. 2 in Appendix V. to [Cd. 4476], March, 1909.]
No. 57.
CEYLON.
APPENDIX TO REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL CIVIL MEDICAL OFFICER AND INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF HOSPITALS FOR 1907. (Received in Colonial Office 14 November, 1908.)
MEASURES TAKEN TO ERADICATE MALARIAL FEVER IN CEYLON DURING 1907. In compliance with the order of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State contained in circular despatch of June 6, 1906,* to make a special report yearly on the measures taken to eradicate malarial fever, I have the honour to submit my remarks.
2. In a similar report for 1906 the rainfall and general configuration of the island was described.
3. The general principles for the prevention of malaria, namely, (a) by educating the public as to the cause of malaria and how to prevent it, (b) improved sanitation, and (c) the use of quinine as a prophylactic, were continued this year.
4. (a) Education.-Thousands of pamphlets printed in the English, Sinhalese, and Tamil languages have been widely distributed. In them the cause and preven- The synopsis tion of malaria have been described in a simple and popular manner. of a popular lecture on this subject has been sent to every medical officer and apothecary, and these have been instructed to lecture to the inhabitants living in
No. 88 in Miscellaneous No. 173.
35
their immediate neighbourhood. The provincial surgeons have also been instructed to lecture to the people on their tours of inspection. "On the whole, the attendance at these lectures has been satisfactory, and some good will have been accomplished, fever" with much but the natives receive this new doctrine as to the cause of scepticism, which is not to be wondered at when it is remembered with what tardiness The native the medical profession accepted it when it was first promulgated. further argues, with some reason, that he cannot understand why he should take medicine when he is well. He recognizes the value of treatment when he is ill.
5. (b) Sanitation. In all the provinces more attention has been paid to improved sanitation, more especially with regard to the cleaning up of individual compounds. In many places the surrounding brushwood and low jungle have been removed from the immediate neighbourhood of dwellings, pots and broken vessels likely to collect water have been rendered innocuous. Small hollows have been filled up and attention has been paid to improve drainage; but no works on any large scale have been carried out. These are receiving the attention of His Excellency the Governor, who has a scheme for the gradual improvement of the sanitation of those parts of the island where malarial fevers are most prevalent.
6. (c) Quinine as a Prophylactic. In 1906 paid distributors were employed to carry the remedy to the remote villages and small towns. This was a very expensive and unsatisfactory arrangement, for there was no check over the amount There of the drug distributed nor as to the number of people who received it. was reason to believe that the distributors did not perform their duties honestly, and that they sold the remedy to those actually suffering from fever. Therefore, in 1907, paid distributors were discontinued, and headmen and others holding respect- able positions were supplied with quinine for distribution free to any person apply- ing for it. This change in the manner of the distribution of the drug has not got into proper working order yet, and the numbers returned in 1906 as having been treated were less numerous in 1907. Returns from many of these voluntary distributors are not available, nor is evidence available as to the incidence of the disease in those undergoing protective treatment for comparison with those who did not take the prophylactic.
7. The compulsory treatment of children in schools and of prisoners in jails The sick rate from malaria has been continued this year, with marked success.
has been very low in the prisons, and the attendance of children in schools, I believe, has been regular.
8. The following is a synopsis taken from the reports of the Provincial Surgeons as to the measures adopted
+--
Western Province.-General sanitary improvement of compounds; quinine prophylaxis in jails and schools.
Central Province. The issue of free quinine to the general public and schools; 123 villages were supplied and 11,606 persons treated. Education as to the cause and prevention of malaria and improved sanitation.
Northern Province.-187 villages were selected for the distribution of free quinine, the estimated population of which was 188,097. 15,801 of these took the remedy for two consecutive days weekly for ten weeks during the fever season. thesc, 2,861 suffered from fever, 12,488 remained free from disease.
Of
Attempts have been made to fill up hollows and to improve drainage. The general improvement in the sanitation of private compounds has been more or less enforced. Pamphlets in the vernacular have been distributed and lectures given.
North-Western Province.-Improved sanitation in general, filling up hollows, burning rubbish, improved drainage, the clearing of brushwood near dwellings. The education of the masses in malaria. The distribution of quinine in six of the most malarious districts, which contained 431 villages with a population of 129,692. 18,552 of these took the remedy.
North-Central Province. In the principal town (Anuradhapura) the jungle was cut down near dwellings, hollows have been filled, other collections of water have been oiled, the delivery of popular lectures in various parts of the province. The free distribution of quinine to the people and to schools. 33,279 individuals took the remedy.
Province of Uva.-Popular lectures at various centres. Quinine distribution to school children.
Province of Sabaragamuwa.-Popular lectures have been given, but the distribution of quinine has been carried out indifferently.
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