PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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C.O.
Reference :-
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20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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work in this direction on sugar estates, and especially those with indentured immi- grants, should proceed on the lines already initiated by you quite apart from action which may be taken in villages under the control of Village Councils and the Local Government Board.
I have, &c.,
SIR,
Enclosure 3 in No. 48.
(Circular. No. 2708.)
Government Secretary's Office,
J. HAMPDEN King.
Georgetown, Demerara, 24th July, 1908. I AM directed by the Governor to inform you that in connection with the efforts which have been made by the Government to stamp out ankylostome infection among East Indian immigrants it has been found that upon those sugar estates where suitable latrine accommodation has been provided and where efforts have been made to prevent the resident population from defoecating elsewhere there has been a marked improvement in health conditions.
2. The Secretary of State for the Colonies has, under the circumstances, sug- gested for consideration that in order to make these arrangements universal, and thus to lessen the risk of ankylostome infection to the general labouring population of the Colony, the allotment of new immigrants to an estate should be dependent upon its being made clear that proper latrine accommodation has been provided.
3. The matter has been considered by the Governor-in-Council, and I am to inform you that having regard to the importance of combatting ankylostome infec- tion, it was considered very desirable that the suggestion should be adopted. I am therefore to inform you that, while no immediate action will be taken to give effect to it as the allotment of immigrants during the current year has already been approved, the question will necessarily come before the Governor-in-Council when the applications for next year's allotments are received, and His Excellency trusts that if you should apply for immigrants next year you will be in a position to state that suitable latrine accommodation has been provided.
I have, &c.,
To
The Honourable the
1.
GOVERNMENT SECRETARY,
Enclosure 4 in No. 48.
CHARLES T. Cox.
Government Secretary.
I propose dealing with the paragraphs of the Earl of Crewe's despatch which are marked, viz., 5, 6, 7, 9, 10.
2. Paragraph 5:-
With this I entirely coneur. It has been pointed out not only in my annual reports, but personally and repeatedly by the Medical Inspector to the planters, the great loss of labour on the sugar estates from the disease.
3. Paragraph 6:--
This hardly applies to this Colony; we have certainly had to contend with a good many difficulties, the chief of which was the opposition to the erection of latrines; we were told over and over again that the coolies would not use them, but experience has shown that where the latrines are properly erected in suitable places the coolies use them freely, and have in some instances asked for more. Notwith- standing our difficulties, we have persevered in getting latrines erected and in other preventive measures.
4. Paragraph 7:—
With this I also concur, except with regard to the reference to latrine accommo- dation. Our experience has shown that where the sugar estates are situated near the banks of the river or the sea, the best plan is to place the latrines over trenches and flush them out frequently. But on the inland estates, where the draining trenches have to run several miles before getting an outlet, this cannot be done. We have tried the holes or trenches described, but they have been a failure because they filled with water and became breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Pails are being tried, and they promise to be a success.
5. Paragraph 9:—
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(a) I do not at present recommend that any further compulsion be resorted to, as Government Secretary's Circular, No. 2708, dated 24th July, 1908, has had the effect of impressing on those who had not erected latrines on their estates the necessity of doing so, and from the correspondence on the proposed allotments for 1909-1910 the estates authorities have undertaken to comply with the requirements of the Medical Department.
(b) This can be enforced under the Local Government Ordinance as regards water, and I consider it should also apply to the soil; in other words, persons should only defœcate in such places as are set aside for that purpose.
(c) This is not necessary in this Colony as the whole Colony is divided into districts under local authorities responsible to the Local Government Board.
(d) I should like to see the pamphlet referred to before expressing an opinion. (e) I am not in favour of this at present. The residents on the sugar estates are well looked after in this respect where they have medical attendance and medicine free. Those residing in the villages and other parts of the Colony are not sufficiently educated to realise the importance of the subject; they can also get medical attend- ance for nothing, or at a very cheap rate.
6. Paragraph 10:-
I have given this question a good deal of consideration, but I cannot see in what way we should derive any benefit. The question of anchylostomiasis, its treatment and prevention, has occupied the attention of this Department for some considerable time. We are well aware of its more or less universality and the proper methods for stamping it out. We have an organised medical staff, the members of which are scattered all over the Colony and responsible to one Head. There is in addition a medical inspector, who, as far as the sugar estates are concerned, has, by persuasion, laid the plans for dealing effectually with this disease. As I have previously shown the other parts of the Colony are divided into defined districts governed by local authorities responsible to the central administration, the Local Government Board. The Government medical officers are the sanitary advisers. It is true that very little practical work has been done to tackle this question outside the sugar estates, but this is due to want of funds, which have to be supplied by the districts by direct taxation on their lands and houses, which funds are barely sufficient to keep their villages drained. The Local Government Board and the local authorities are quite alive to the importance of the subject, and in some instances public latrines have been erected. An Inspector-General could only point out what was required, but bis recommendations would be met by the same obstacle-the want of funds. I can quite understand that in Colonies which have not the same machinery as we have for dealing with subjects of this sort such an officer would be invaluable, but I cannot see how he would be of any use to us, and, therefore, as far as this Colony is concerned, I think we should be excluded.
7. I may mention that the question of anchylostomiasis is referred to annually in my report, and I attach copy of the references.
8. To sum up, the following are the measures at present employed to assist in eradicating the disease:-
(1) The erection of latrines.
SUGAR ESTATES.
(2) The examination and treatment, once a month, for the first year, of all
new immigrants.
(3) The examination and treatment of all persons showing any signs of
infection.
(4) In certain districts where disease is suspected to be, or known to be, very prevalent, the routine examination for anchylostomiasis of every patient who comes to hospital, no matter what his complaint, and whether he shows signs of infection or not.
VILLAGES AND COUNTRY DISTRICTS.
No special measures have been enforced, the lack of funds being the great obstacle, but the necessity for latrines is being constantly brought to the notice of the local authorities. Time and patience will, I am sure, solve the difficulties. It must be remembered that the style of latrine suitable for a sugar estate would hardly do for village communities, and personally I hold that the villages and other