PUBLIC RECORD
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CO. 885
22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC= { COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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absolute variance with the Governor's. He admits, however, that "the Government and the district medical officers are alive to the necessity of action, and are now only kept back through want of funds." Such was the state of affairs ten years after the mode of prevention was fully laid down. There are regulations against domestic mosquito-breeding. No mention of filariasis.
The Report for 1909 contains a letter dated the 12th June, 1909, from the Surgeon-General's Office, Trinidad, in which "the high standard of sanitation" maintained there is dwelt upon, with reference to the good drainage of Port-of- Spain, the proofing of hospitals, and sanitary education. On the whole, his remarks, are endorsed by those on Trinidad in Sir R. Boyce's book; but there is little reference to malaria and filariasis in the latter, except that on page 220, malaria is credited with causing 35'8 per cent. of the "gross tale of sickness amongst inden- tured immigrants"-a very serious percentage demanding special attention (and, in my opinion, report). An outbreak of yellow fever in 1907-8.
The Report for 1910 contains much correspondence regarding St. Lucia (pages 12-17), mostly regarding an excellent scheme for quinine distribution. Malaria is admitted to be very prevalent, but it is stated on page 17 that: "Mosquitoes of the three species mostly found in this island are not plentiful nowadays, as the war against them has been pitiless, and has proved too much for them." This is attri- buted to the energetic efforts of the police. Special persons to be engaged for quinine distribution, and the whole campaign to be under the direction of one of the medical officers (page 16). Scholars to be dosed once a week, and 61 depôts to be supplied with quinine mixture. Sir Rubert Boyce gives regulations regarding mosquito destruction. A considerable anti-mosquito campaign was carried out in 1902-3 near the military barracks here, but, after about £4,000 had been spent on the scheme the barracks were, I understand, abandoned. No mention of filariasis. No yellow fever since 1904.
17
Regarding St. Vincent (Report for 1910, page 17), we read that malaria is pre- valent, but the Administrator doubted the advisability of distribution of quinine, as he says it has "a hunger-producing effect which it is not always in the interest of the labourer to cultivate." The old story of "the education of the masses is repeated, but nothing is said regarding the education of the authorities. There was yellow fever in 1909, and Sir R. Boyce records the existence of a considerable number of cases of filariasis.
I have received no Return regarding the Gold Coast. The Advisory Com- mittee's Report for 1909, pages 23-4, contains letters in which the Acting Governor opposes mosquito reduction and favours quinine, and the Príncipal Medical Officer adopts the converse opinion. That for 1910, page 11, records an experiment (statis- tically unsound) regarding the effect of quinine on five children; and a spleen census (page 12) on 600 children, showing a 28 per cent. spleen rate. At the end of the year 1910 much activity against Stegomyia was displayed in consequence of the presence of yellow fever and the visit of Sir R. Boyce, and details will be found in the Annual Medical and Sanitary Report for 1910, and under letter from the Governor to the Secretary of State, No. 425, of the 28th July, 1911. A special vote of £9.305 was given for yellow fever prevention. The malaria admission rate was 6.3 per cent.-not very high. Details of the Annual Report show very considerable activity against mosquito-borne diseases.
No return from Northern Nigeria has been submitted, although such a thing would be feasible; and no useful details are published in the Reports of the Advisory Committee on this Protectorate.
The Report for 1909 publishes a series of communications regarding South Africa (pages 27-31). Malaria is said to be unknown in Basutoland. In North- Western Rhodesia quinine prophylaxis is adopted among a large proportion of the European population, and the education of the people is said to be gradually pro- ceeding. The Medical Director, Southern Rhodesia, states that " malaria is of little importance now in our larger towns," and that education of the settlers is the best means at disposal. The Medical Officer, Bechuanaland Protectorate, says that the prevailing disease is malaria; that "mosquito-proof quarters are almost universal now: that bush and scrub have been cleared over large areas; and that much quinine is distributed.
The Report for 1911 contains further correspondence. Southern Rhodesia sends lists of admissions for malaria and also blackwater fever, but without giving the total admissions required to calculate the percentage. The towns are again said to be well drained. From Bechuanaland an "almost magical" prescription for curing
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malaria is sent. The Resident Commissioner, Mafeking, says that it would be im- I can possible to obtain statistics of any value for the Return asked for in 1906. see no reason why all these areas cannot send the Return. In none of these com- munications is there any mention made of the well-conducted campaign at Durban or of the South African Anti-malaria League founded by Lord Selborne--though these are the two most important points connected with the subject in South Africa.
No Return in the prescribed forms was sent in for Nyasaland, but in 1911 the Acting Principal Medical Officer forwarded a number of the forms partly filled in for some districts, with notes from others. It is impossible, without knowledge of the country, to complete and abstract these properly, but some of them are of interest. Many of the hospital figures show a rather large malaria admission rate. Out of 50 children examined in the Zomba District, 20 had enlarged spleen. There seems to be a considerable amount of blackwater fever, but little filariasis, except according to the Acting Principal Medical Officer in the Nyasa District. He says that malaria and tick fever are very common; but thinks that the Return is scarcely applicable to Nyasaland. On his Return, however, the Principal Medical Officer (Dr. Hearsey) has taken great interest in the collection of the figures. In a recent circular he quotes instances where the figures could have been easily given and adds: "These two instances (and there are many) are brought to notice merely in order to draw attention to the necessity which obviously exists for a more careful preparation of the Return; and it is hoped that steps will immediately be taken for keeping a proper record of the information asked for." I quote this passage in order to show that the difficulties are not so great as they have sometimes been stated to be, in this and other Colonies.
In the Report for 1909, pages 41-43, the steps taken in Cyprus are described— education, quinine, distribution and a major scheme in connection with irrigation works in the Messaoria, which were accused of causing sickness. The scheme was reported as having resulted in marked improvement in the health of the villages affected (page 43).
There appears
Papua is referred to on pages 19 to 20 of the Report for 1910. to be a good deal of malaria, and the Chief Medical Officer found enlarged spleen in 92 out of 262 children examined. Quinine and mosquito-reduction are recom- mended, but there is no record of anything having been done.
In Australia (Report for 1909, pages 39-41), local authorities are reported to have adopted various measures in Queensland, and a small but successful anti- malaria effort is reported from Adelaide.
6. Summary.-Yellow fever was reported during the year only from Sierra Considerable Leone, where there were 13 certified cases and 10 suspicious ones. efforts against this disease were commenced in the West African Colonies.
Dengue was reported during the year only from Uganda, Straits Settlements, Hong Kong and Fiji. The disease appears to have been slight in the first three of these; but in Fiji the admission rate for it is given at 15 per cent. Filariasis was reported from 15 of the Colonies, as below:-
Jamaica Antigua
St. Kitts Dominica
Barbados
British Guiana
Gambia
Colony.
Southern Nigeria
Uganda
Eaut African Protectorate
Mauritius
Ceylon
Straits Settlements
Hong Kong Fiji.
+4
Admission Rate.
Cnees.
Per cent.
?
1.7
6-1
?
0-6
1-5
?
1.7
High.
"Not high."
?
?
2-6
| | | | | | | _THE
This disease appears therefore to be very frequent, and it is always a serious
one, owing to the very objectionable symptoms produced by it. No special efforts
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