PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
'| | | |
C.O. 8
885
56
feel desirous of making one myself (the hotel in which I stayed was one huge mosquito-proof compartment).
(i) Doors of screened houses must all open outwards and he, as a matter of routine, fitted with strong springs to ensure proper closing.
Some such system of double doors as used in the hospitals at Para should be adopted, more especially in institutions.
(j) In all places where the wire gauze is liable to injury as in doors, hospitals, &c., it should be protected by wire netting on one or both sides, placed either immediately against it or leaving an interval between them which should vary with the size of the mesh of the netting.
(k) Electric fans of the horizontal type coull be fitted in many houses in Lagos with advantage and would incidentally increase the private consumption of electricity.
They are used in many of the unscreened public resorts, both up the Amazon and on the Isthmus, and are much appreciated. Punkahs should be put up where electricity is not available. These means should minimise any sensation of closeness due to screening which might otherwise be observable.
(1) Sleeping accommodation somewhat after the style of that used in the labourers' dwellings and described above should be installed in all Government Kroo houses, which would thus be made much more sanitary and would render their cleaning much simpler than it is at present.
(m) Drains. The present drains require extension in many parts of Lagos town. In all cases where are made drains should be laid down as a matter of course.
proper roads Arrangements should be made for the use of subsoil drains where conditions are suitable as they require so little attention.
(n) We should take more advantage of the trenching method of drainage than we do. It would render casier the attack on some of the breeding haunts of mosquitoes.
(0) Sprays of the type used in Panama should be in- troduced as they are so easily carried and worked, and are Bo effective.
In conjunction with drain-cutting and trenching the spray and burner is most useful and should be tried.
(p) Drippers similar to those described above will be of great assistance in some of the places in Lagos and in many other parts. They are very inexpensive and require little
attention.
57
(9) Mosquito traps have been found to give very good results in Panama and should be introduced, especially in places where it is difficult or impossible to get rid of all breeding places. Colonel Gorgas considers this method a very valuable adjunct to other means where mosquitoes are plentiful.
(r) Wells.-Every householder likes to have his own well, but a number of those at present in use are a great source of danger. No wells should be allowed in future without permission.
As many as possible of those now existing should be closed and filled. The excuse generally given for them is that they are for washing purposes.
Certain wells, as those provided by Government and properly made, and any private ones certified by the Medical Officer of Health as properly covered and kept, might be allowed for drinking and other purposes.
All others should be regularly treated by the Inspectors on their weekly rounds to prevent mosquitoes breeding in them.
(s) As we all know, Lagos is greatly overcrowded, especially at the west end of the island."
Enquiries should be made and a scheme formulated for cutting thoroughfares through the worst parts and the facilities for egress and access should be increased to enable people to live outside the town.
(1) The question of the designation of houses in the town by numbers should be considered and commenced so that records can be kept for present information and future reference.
to
(u) Large open airy markets are very badly needed. present ones are small and overcrowded; especially in regard The meat markets are improvements urgently required. These changes should be made to pay for themselves.
(v) The provision of a laundry would lead to a con- siderable diminution in the amount of parasitic skin disease which is at present so prevalent. This also is a matter which should yield a return, especially when one knows that some of the natives send shirts and collars to Liverpool to be laundried.
(e) In Panama it has been a question of floors with regard to rats. On the coast it is mostly one of roofs. Influence and pressure should be exercised to persuade the owners to replace the thatch with galvanised iron, but later stronger measures may be require.l."
22370
E
21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO