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SIR,
(No. 154.)
No. 114.
JAMAICA.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 10th May, 1915.)
King's House, Jamaica, 23rd April, 1915.
IN continuation of my despatch No. 448, dated the 16th October, 1914,* I have the honour to transmit berewith, for the information of the Committee of the Tropical Diseases Research Fund, the report of the Government Bacteriologist on the work done in the Pathological Laboratory during the six months ended 31st March, 1915.
I have, &c.,
W. H. MANNING,
Governor.
15. Table of deaths in principal town:-
Town.
Where Situated.
Population (1911).
Plymouth Parish of St. Anthony
1,534
N
Total Deaths."
December.
Total.
4
9
5 17
16. Rainfall at Botanic Station :---
Rainfall.
Where Observed.
District.
Botanic Station
January.
February.
March.
August.
September.
October.
November.
December.
Total,
St. Anthony 2-214-86 4-41 2-93 7-32 419 6-343-12 2·99 4·62 3·53 5:46 51-98
17. (a) Anti-mosquito regulations proposed but not yet in force.
(b) No systematic examination for enlarged spleen. No kala-azar.
No systematic examination for filaria.
(d) No works for surface drainage beyond the town gutters and estate
drains. The sloping surface draina naturally, drained.
No men employed for anti-mosquito work.
No quinine distributed or sold generally.
Eight paupers maintained in a ward at hospital.
No alteration in frequency of above diseases.
One swamp not>
Of these diseases filariasis only is known, and that to a moderate extent.
J. C. MCPHERSON,
Senior Medical Officer.
Enclosure in No. 114.
SIX-MONTHLY REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT BACTERIOLOGIST, SEPTEMBER, 1914–March, 1915.
SIR,
Pathological Laboratory. Public Hospital, Kingston, Jamaica,
3rd April, 1915.
I HAVE the honour to place before you, for transmission to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, for the information of the Tropical Research Committee, my report upon the work of the Laboratory for the six months September, 1914-March, 1915.
The numbers of specimens dealt with and the number of examinations carried out are very high, namely, 6,318 for the period mentioned, giving a total of 12,930 for the year.
This large number has been divided up under the several headings noted in Table I., in order to facilitate a consideration of what has been done.
To avoid vain repetition, the work will be dealt with under the following
ROUTINE:---
groups:
1. Widal examinations for diagnosis of enteric fever.
2. Other blood examinations for parasites-malaria, filaria; differential
leucocyte enumerations, and so forth.
3. Examinations of excreta for helminthiasis and dysentery.
4. Examinations of pus, urines, and sputa.
5. Examinations of rats.
6. Examinations of water supplies.
7. Autopsies of special cases.
8. Tissues examined for diagnosis, eto.
9. Miscellaneous, comprising Wassermann reactions, preparations of vaccines, analyses of gastric contents, throat cultures for the Klebs- Loeffler bacillus, effusions, transudations, cystic fluids, etc.
II. SPECIAL-RESEARCH:--
1. Enteric fever.
2. Vomiting sickness.
Before starting on a detailed description of the work I would like to bear testimony to the valuable aid afforded by Dr. Catto, the Assistant Bacteriologist. The fact that since his advent we have been able to deal with twice the former number of specimens is sufficient evidence, firstly, as to the necessity for the appointment of an assistant; secondly, to the seal and assiduity with which he has aided me in coping with so much work; and, thirdly, to the value of bacterial inves- tigations to the general practitioners, since for an island of this size to afford over one thousand specimens monthly it is clear that almost every medical man fully avails himself of the opportunities open to him to obtain help in diagnosis, and confirmation of the results of treatment in obscure cases.
↑ No. 7 in Appendix VIII. in [Cd. 7798], April, 1915.
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TC.O. 885
23 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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