PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
C.O.885
21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
290
In this connexion, I venture to quote an extract from a minute of Dr. Godfrey's, dated 1st December, 1911 :-
"The diagnosis and treatment of cases on the voyage is a different matter, and I am far from being convinced that it cannot be carried out. We have had, as you are well aware, with a few notable exceptions, the strongest opposition from the Surgeons Superintendent. The late Dr. Fonseca ren- dered most valuable assistance by his ready and hearty co-operation; his reports were always full and complete. His recommendations were the sub- ject of correspondence with the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and they were strongly supported by Sir Patrick Manson, who recommended that they should be adopted 'in toto.'"
2. The object of this despatch is to again invite attention to the desirability of only employing as Surgeons Superintendent on immigrant ships men who have taken a course at one of the Schools of Tropical Medicine in lieu of surgeons who have reached or passed middle-age, and who, though they may have acquired some experience in dealing with the particular conditions which prevail on coolie ships, as stated by the Crown Agents in their letter of the 30th December, 1910, enclosed in your despatch No. 12 of the 13th January, 1911,* still do not think it worth while to study the diseases from which the coolies placed in their charge are most gener- ally suffering by attending a course of instruction in Tropical Medicine at the Schools of London or Liverpool.
I have, &c..
Enclosure in No. 4.
WALTER EGERTON.
PERCENTAGE OF ANCHYLOSTOME INFECTION AMONGST INDENTURED EAST INDIAN IMMIGRANTS ON ARRIVAL IN THE COLONY.
"Eme
Ganges
14
Percentage of Infection on:
Average Percentage of Infected on:
Season.
Ship
Number Number Number Landed. Examined. Infected.
Number anthel.
Number Examined.
Xumber Number Landed. Examined.
1907-08...
"Ganges
508
508
263
50.0
50-0
"Ema "
667
653
388
50-6
51.7
50-0
50.7
Mersey"
680
668
887
49.5
50-4
1908-09...
"Mutlah "
428
396
288
68.0
72.7
Sutlej
284
269
181
68.7
67.2
65H
639
858
59.6
58.0
55.2
62.8
:
434
875
208
46.7
64.1
1909-10..
"Sutlej"
844
820
665
78-7
81.0
"Ganges
847
821
680
69.1
71.8
78.9
"Indus **
76.4
817
786
006
74-1
77.1
1010-11...
Sutlej " (i)
806
778
608
75.4
78.7
" Iudas"
814
788
572
70-2
72.6
74.2
44
Sutlej" (ii).
76.6
558
548
I 426
77.0
78-6
"Indus"
(i)
410
888
261
68-6
Chenab" (i)
08.1
895
878
268
67.8
70-9
"Ganges"
815
807
228
72.8
74.2
Sutlej
203
186
177
87-1
71-1
95.1
75-5
"Indus" (ii)
255
287
178
"Chenab" (ii)..
68.0
78.0
190
179
120
68.0
72.0
1912-18... Sutlej " (i)
14
850
820
688
74.4
77-2
"Indos "
410
398
298
72.7
75-8
"Mutlah
400
876
259
68.8
68-8
"Chenal"
09-7
78.4
418
997
260
82.9
65.5
“Sutlej '' (ii).......
127
118
95
74.8
80-0
1911-12...
* 89944/10: not printed.
15653
SIR.
(No. 136.)
291
No. 5.
JAMAICA.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 9th May, 1913.)
WITH reference to Mr. Cork's despatch, No. 56, dated the 20th February last,
King's House, Jamaica, 21st April, 1913. and to my despatch No. 90, dated the 18th ultimo,* I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a report by Dr. D. B. Neish, Health Officer, Port Royal, on the treatment for hookworm with thymol at the quarantine station of the East Indian immi- grants arriving in this Colony on the s.s. “Indus" and the s.s. Mutlah."
I have, &c.,
W. H. MANNING,
Governor.
Enclosure in No. 5.
[1
Report By Dr. D. B. NEISH, HEALTH OFFICER, PORT ROYAL, ON THE THYMOLIZING OF INDENTURED EAST INDIAN IMMIGRANTS AT THE QUARANtine Station.
Port Royal, 29th March, 1913.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to report as follows on the treatment of East Indians at the quarantine station for hookworm with thymol :-
The s.s." Indus" arrived on the 12th January last with 374 indentured East Indians on board for Jamaica.
In accordance with instructions these were landed at the quarantine station. Of the 374 coolies, 265 were males and 109 females.
Of the 374 coolies, 210, or 56 43 per cent., were found to be infected with
ankylostoma.
Of the 265 males, 153, or 57 33 per cent., were infected, and of the 109 females, 57, or 52:20 per cent., harboured the worm.
After a preliminary dosing with sulphate of magnesia and restriction of diet for two or three days, 30 grains of thymol was administered, followed in about an hour with another dose of a saturated solution of sulphate of magnesia. After an interval of two or three days, an exactly similar dosing was given, until in all three doses of thymol of 30 grains each had been given. Particular care was taken to avoid any of the solvents for thymol in their diet.
The drug was readily taken, and in no instance did any ill effect follow its administration. All were put on a tonic mixture consisting of quinine, iron, and strychnine, from which they derived great benefit. They were also made to do some useful work, and before they left the quarantine station they bushed over the entire grounds, and cleaned up generally. Following the instructions of the Quarantine Board, suitable trenches were dug, and these were each evening burned out with tar. A few days before the actual arrival of the coolies, a trial was made to ascertain the best method of lighting and firing the trenches with tar. failures, a method was finally evolved which almost completely consumed the con- After a good many tents of the trenches- Universal" disinfectant was freely used in and about the trenches during the day and night.
The soil in the vicinity of the trenches and the pathways leading to the wards was also saturated freely during the day with sea water, which is now held to be most destructive to the hookworm and its ova, and the abundant supply at the quarantine station was freely used. Frequent bathing in the sea and the washing of the clothes in sea water was insisted upon.
Imme
The effect of the administration of the thymol was most beneficial. diately after the first dose was given large numbers of ankylostoma and their ova were passed. After the second dose many less were seen, while after the third dose comparatively few were observed in the sieve. stools showed a great diminution of ova after the second dose, and none after the The microscopic examination of third.
* 8208 and 1242: not printed). See Nos. 2 and 3 in this Appendix.