PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
19
Reference :-
། ། ། :། :། mumimmimi.C.O. 885
23 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
not known
37785
£23,356
167
No. 124.
WESTERN PACIFIC.
THE HIGH COMMISSIONER to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received 16th August, 1915.)
[Answered by No. 126.]
Office of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific,
Suva, Fiji, 28th June, 1915. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you, for your information, with reference to my despatch No. 118, of the 10th March, 1915, a copy of correspondence with the Resident Commissioner, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, on the subject of mosquito-borne diseases in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands.
2. I attach also a copy of correspondence containing Mr. Eliot's letter No. 61,
of the 4th May, 1914, to which he has referred in his letter No. 111 of the 12th .ultimo.
(f) Total admissions and attendances at hos-
pitals and dispensaries
11.
Estimated revenue of Colony :-
Total during the year (financial year)
12. Estimated expenditure of Colony (financial
year):
(a) Total during the year
(b) Annual medical and sanitary expendi-
£27,408 9 2
tyre
(d) Total salaries and allowances of Medi-
cal Officers
(c) Upkeep of Government hospitals and
dispensaries
£1,215 11 8
£228 0
(No. 318.)
SIR,
£789 11
8
13.
14.
(e) Total annual sanitary expenditure Towns under municipalities or town councils Table of deaths by districts
nil
none
none
15.
Table of deaths in the principal towns
no towns
16.
Rainfall during the year:-
Where observed--Tulagi.
January
March
February
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
6.99
22.57
7.54
9.55
2.18
2.08
2.55
0-24
4.20
1
1.16
4.80
57-75 (?) inches.
SIR,
December
Total
17. Additional information to be given if possible on the following points :-
(a) Is there any legislation in force against the breeding of mosquitoes
in premises?-No.
(b) Number of children examined for enlarged spleen.--None.
Does kala-azar exist?—No known cases.
(c) Number of persons examined for filarial diseases.-No systematic
examination.
(d) Any large works for surface drainage of towns or reclamation of
marshes. None.
(e) Number of men employed in towns and villages for petty anti-mos-
quito works. None.
(f) Amount of Government quinine sold or distributed gratis during the year. Quinine distributed gratis to Government officials and employees only and to natives employed by the Government. Amount distributed, 9,500 5-grain tabloids, 12 ounces of pulv. quin. sulp.
(g) Is quinine distributed regularly in the schools?-There are no
Government schools.
(h) Measures taken against these diseases on estates employing inden-
tured labour. As far as is known, the use of mosquito-nets.
(1) Any steps taken regarding the housing of the poor.--Ñone.
(j) Any exceptional increase or decrease of these diseases recently noted.
-No marked changes.
Tulagi, British Solomon Islands.
6th May, 1915.
NATHANIEL CRICHLOW;
Government Medical Officer.
I have, &c.,
BICKHAM ESCOTT,
High Commissioner.
Enclosure 1 in No. 124.
(W. P. H. C. No. 111 of 1915.)
Office of the Resident Commissioner, Ocean Island,
19th May, 1915. REFERRING to Your Excellency's letter No. 327, dated 8th December, 1914, and to previous correspondence on the subject of mosquito-borne diseases, I have the honour to enclose copy of a letter from the Senior Medical Officer, Tarawa, and of his preliminary report attached thereto.
2. Regarding Dr. O'Reilly's remarks as to the danger of the spread of elephantiasis to the Gilbert group I would refer Your Excellency to my letter No. 61, dated 4th May, 1914.
His Excellency
SIR,
The High Commissioner
for the Western Pacific,
Suva, Fiji.
(S.M.O., Tarawa. No. 2A of 1915.)
I have, &c.,
E. C. ELIOT, Resident Commissioner.
Tarawa Island, 15th March, 1915.
I HAVE the honour to enclose a preliminary report on mosquito-borne diseases in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate.
It will be noted that there are no statistics, and statistics were especially required in His Excellency's letter No. 85 of the 20th March, 1914.
It is quite impossible to get statistics without living for a short period on each island. There are twenty-six islands, and with ordinary communication this would take about three years if the Medical Officer did nothing else. Under the present circumstances that time would be much extended. In the eighteen months I have been in the Protectorate I have been round it twice: once accompanying you on your tour and on the other occasion performing the medical duties of a labour-recruiting trip, on which we occasionally visited two islands a day.
I merely mention these matters for the information of persons not conversant. with the conditions of life in this Protectorate.
I have, &c.,
His Britannic Majesty's Resident Commissioner,
Ocean Island.
B. C. N. O'REILLY,
Senior Medical Officer.
* No. 111.