PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
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23 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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27. This conincides with the writer's fourteen years' experience. I have had no experience of the more recent forms of treatment, which are highly spoken of, but the results with the older drugs have been so satisfactory that I see little reason to change.
28. General Prophylaxis. Latrines. Perhaps the ideal system would be a bucket system with incineration of the night soil, but failing this, trenching can be very satisfactorily carried out. Special coolies should be told off in all cases to attend to the removal of night soil, and if the common trench system is in force they should see that the trenches are clean and the fæces regularly covered with earth, quick lime, or disinfectant, to avoid flies. The foot boards should be cleaned. In view of the fact that coolies use water and the left hand to clean themselves, water with some disinfectant in it should be supplied at or near to the latrines at a suitable site.
29. Multiple latrines are better than one common latrine, and by this system A small number of the "caste" prejudices can be avoided to a great extent. latrines supplied with buckets placed near the lines can be available for use at night. Easily moved trench latrines for the use of weeders covered in with attaps Water carried removal of fæces is should be erected near large gangs in the field. dangerous to others and should be avoided, though it is common amongst the Chinese, who, however, drink boiled water with infusion of tea.
30. Sir Patrick Manson recommends, on page 726 of his latest edition, cess- pits on the Chinese principle. However good they may be in China I should not care to adopt them here.
Water Supply. This should be above suspicion, and dripstone fillers I have used with good effect.
Cleansing water for latrines should not be allowed to contaminate the drinking water supply; it should come from some other source.
Food. Coolies' food cannot be greatly interfered with, but arrangements It is easily to supply food hot in the field to large gangs might be carried out. done with portable ovens, etc.
31. Contaminated Land. It has been suggested to spray this with strong dis- Oliver considers that cinders infectants, and in small areas this might be done.
and slag destroy the larvae. The land should be ploughed over at least.
Literature. Coolies might be supplied with a short description of the symptoms and prophylaxis of the disease, and the advantages of foot wear might be pointed out, but coolies would not adopt this last.
Systematic Drugging.-Even if correct diagnosis were not made all suspects In the Porto Rico campaign might be drugged, and all cases of anæmia treated.
The death
55 Anemia Dispensaries" were opened. During 1909-1910, 50,000 persons were treated, and since the dispensaries opened 300,000 persons attended. rate fell from 42 per 1,000 to 20.9 per 1,000.
32.-The use of night soil, or human excreta, on vegetable gardens, should be made a criminal offence and severely punished. Sanitary Inspectors, reporting to the Medical Officer of Health, with a good knowledge of the signs of the disease, should be appointed to inspect estates, vegetables gardens, and mines. Infected per sons should be sent to hospital and sending them should be made compulsory. I am of opinion that though the disease, doubtless, is common and widespread, it is a danger to the individual rather than to the community, except on certain estates. Even then the estate's health is 80 per cent. better than when planting of rubber first started.
R. DOWDEN,
Medical Officer,
19248
GENTLEMEN,
No. 57.
COLONIAL OFFICE to CROWN AGENTS.
Batu Gajah.
Downing Street, 9th June, 1914.
I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to refer to the letter from this Department of the 9th ultimo,* respecting the purchase of microscopes for the use of officers in certain West Indian Colonies in the campaign against ankylostomiasis,
* No. 44.
119
and to inform you that he understands from a despatch received from St. Lucia the the Administrator has forwarded to you an order for instruments required for that Colony.
I am to state that the instructions in the letter referred to above should be regarded as superseding the order from the Colony.
I am, &c.,
21339
SIR,
No. 58.
TRINIDAD.
HENRY LAMBERT.
COLONIAL OFFICE to INTERNATIONAL HEALTH COMMISSION.
Downing Street, 13th June, 1914. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to state, for the information of the International Health Commission, that, to conduct the campaign against ankylos- tomiasis in Trinidad for which provision has been made, he has selected Colonel J. R. Dodd, M.D., D.P.H., formerly of the Army Medical Service, for appoint- ment as Medical Officer in Charge, and Mr. C. G. H. Campbell, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., for appointment as Assistant Medical Officer. They will sail for Trinidad on the 15th July.
Selection for the appointment of second Assistant Medical Officer will be made as soon as possible.
19111
(No. 148.)
SIR,
I am, &c.,
H. J. READ,
for the Under-Secretary of State.
No. 59.
BRITISH GUIANA.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.
Downing Street, 16th June, 1914.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 157, of the 6th May,* enclosing particulars of the plan of work for the eradication of ankylos- tomiasis in the Peter's Hall District of British Guiana.
I have been much interested to learn of the generous provision made by the International Health Commission for this work, and I have no doubt that, under the guidance of the Surgeon-General and Dr. Ferguson, the funds will be expended to the fullest advantage of the Colony.
It was arranged with Mr. Wickliffe Rose, while he was recently in this country, that the estimates of expenditure in the several Colonies from the funds provided by the International Health Commission should be examined by the representative Committee which I have appointed to advise me and to co-operate with the Com- mission. The plan of work adopted in British Guiana appears to be well con- ceived, and I do not desire to criticize it in any way; but in order that full advantage may be taken in other Colonies of the experience gained in British Guiana, it is important that I should be furnished with periodical reports of the work done, and of any changes in policy or improvements in administration that experience proves to be necessary.
In particular you will recognize that the value of the work which the Commis- sion propose to undertake will be materially impaired unless adequate, continuous, and energetic measures for the improvement of sanitation and the enforcement of I have no doubt that the campaign of the sanitary regulations are also adopted. Commission will have a valuable effect in educating the people in the necessity of simple sanitary precautions; and this should make it easy for the Government, at a
* No: 59.