CO885-(21-23) — Page 98

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference →→

C.O. 885

22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

15

The important Report of the Malaria Commission to 31st December, 1910 (Government Printing Office, Kingston, Jamaica), gives many details—which can scarcely be examined here.

(4) Antigua-Return undated and unsigned.* Thickly populated. High birth-rate and death-rate. No yellow fever or dengue, but a filariasis admission rate of 17 per cent., and a malaria rate of 29 per cent. Apparently no out-patients. Nine medical men.

The figures for the expenditure in this Colony and in St. Kitts-Nevis, Dominica and Montserrat (Leeward İslands) appear to have been all entered by the same person, because they all make the same mistake of taking the whole medical and sanitary expenditure as consisting only of the sum of salaries and the sanitary expenditure with some arithmetical errors. So far as I can gather, the proportion of the Colonial expenditures in the four islands, devoted to medical and sanitary purposes amounts to 28 per cent., 206 per cent., 9 per cent., and 158 per cent.-the highest Anti-mos- group of figures given. I assume, therefore, that they are not correct.

quito legislation is in force. No census for malaria or filariasis. No major works; out we read that 29 men were employed for minor works at a total cost of £4,510- that is £155 for each man (including implements, I suppose). The quinine distri- buted amounted to £15 (? lbs. 15).

A previous report by the Acting Governor (Annual Report of the Advisory Committee for 1909, page 36), gives more detail for the whole group of the Leeward Islands, regarding quinine distribution, mosquito reduction, and the utility of the fish known as " millions."

"

(5) St. Kitts-Nevis.--Return dated the 4th May, 1911,* and signed by the Senior Medical Officer.t High birth-rate and death-rate. No yellow fever and dengue. High admission rate for filariasis (6·1 per cent.) and low admission rate for malaria (09 per cent.). Apparently no out-patients. Ten (1) medical men, including two health officers. Details of expenditure unreliable (see above). It is stated that from an examination made in 1901, it was estimated that 30 per cent. of persons were affected" with filariasis. No details or actuals given. Anti-mos- quito legislation in force. A swamp drained at the approximate cost of £1,000. No minor measures. The writer admits the great prevalence of the terrible filarial diseases, but excuses the absence of reduction measures by saying that "apathy on the subject is very great, and it will take some time ere much good results." does not say whether the apathy is confined to the people. Expenditure figures wrong and wrongly added. Population of the two towns given in large round numbers.

He

(6) Dominica.-Return undated and unsigned.* High birth-rate. No yellow fever and dengue and little filariasis; but a considerable malaria admission rate of Expenditure 79 per cent. and attendance rate of 65 per cent. Five medical men

No census, major works or minor works. unreliable. No legislation in force. Quinine distributed said to be “ 42 gross pills."

(7) Montserrat.-Return dateď 31st March, 1911,* and signed by the Senior No admissions for yellow Medical Officer. Low birth-rate and very low death-rate.

Two medical fever, dengue, filariasis, or malaria. No record of attendances kept. officers, one sanitary officer and one medical officer of health. No anti-mosquito legis- lation, major works, minor works, or quinine distribution. Island reported excep- tionally healthy, but no explanation attempted.

per

(8) Barbados. Return dated 8th November, 1911,* and signed by the Poor Law Inspector. Crowded population. High birth-rate. No registration of deaths (!) cent. No yellow fever, dengue or malaria, but filariasis admissions amount to 0.6

Considerable proportion of Fifty-three medical men. No medical officer of health expenditure for medical and sanitary work. Quotes Dr. Low's estimate of filariasis as 10 per cent. out of 800 people in 1901. No major or minor works; but there are 38 sanitary inspectors who are engaged in enforcing the mosquito rules. The writer thinks there has been apparently a steady increase in filariasis for some years, but can give no figures.

(9) British Guiana.-Return undated and unsigned (received 3rd October, 1911*). Sparse population. Death-rate higher than birth-rate. No yellow fever and dengue. Filariasis: Admission rate, 15 per cent.; attendance rate, 15 per

In Appendix I. to [Cd. 6024]

Who appears by the Colonial Office List to be also Health Officer and Analyser of Vital Statistica.

19

cent.; very prevalent. Malaria rates high. Sixty medical men, including one special health officer. Among 62,477 indentured labourers, there were 22,312 attendances for malaria, and a total death-rate of 23 per cent. Spleen census made, but not reported. Filariasis census not made. Medical. and sanitary expenditure rate is high (139 per cent.). Mosquito Ordinance in force, but the recent mosquito census in Georgetown has revealed an enormous amount of house-breeding, notwithstanding. not aware of the Apparently no major works, and the reporter says that he is

In Georgetown, mud number (of men) employed in petty anti-mosquito work " (!). drains are being gradually replaced by concrete or stone, and drains (1) are stocked with fish. There is a large quinine distribution. The reporter says that there is a considerable decrease in malarial fever, especially on the sugar estates; but from statistics seen by me I should think that this is scarcely proved yet.

(10) Gambia (Colony and Protectorate).-Return dated 18th May, 1911,* un- signed, and applies chiefly to the Colony. Death-rate higher than birth-rate. No Malaria admission rate high. yellow fever or dengue. Four cases of filariasis. Enlarged spleen found in 16 per cent. of 375 children in Bathurst, and in 7 per cent. of 100 children in the Protectorate. It is stated (apparently with levity) that two persons were examined for filarial disease, and that 100 (? 100 per cent.) of them were found infected. Five medical men, including the special health officer, shared with Sierra Leone. Medical and sanitary expenditure rates comparatively high. No legislation in force. No major works. No reply to question regarding number of men employed for minor works, except that prizes amounting to £283 were given for clean and well-kept towns. Apparently a small quinine distribution, with a weekly dose in schools by a dispenser. A European town warden for Bathurst and new sanitary dustbins and incinerators are favourably reported on.

(11) Sierra Leone.-Return under date 15th January, 1912,† unsigned. Death- rate (apparently) much higher than birth-rate in Freetown. Yellow fever, 13 cases and 10 suspicious cases. No dengue. Filariasis, 11 admissions. Malaria admis- sion rate and attendance rate not high (only 8 per cent. and 28 per cent.). Spleen census, 175 per cent. affected out of 1,451 children (not very high). No filariasis census. Twenty-four medical men. Medical and sanitary expenditure rates only 6.6 per cent. and 0.98 per cent. of total expenditure. Legislation in force. Major works,

none to my knowledge" (!). Number of men employed for minor works: "I have The reporter appears not to be familiar with the subject, because he says, endeavoured to obtain this information from Mr. Cole, but without success.' reader is not informed who Mr. Cole is. A certain amount of quinine distribution, but none to schools.

64

"

The

(12) Southern Nigeria.-Return under date 29th August, 1911.* signed. Principally for the towns Lagos and Ebute Metta. Both birth-rate and death-rate high. No yellow fever or dengue recorded. Filariasis admission rate 17 per cent., which is high. Admission rate for blackwater fever to total malaria admissions is Attendances 93 per cent., which, also is high—with a case mortality of 23 per cent. for special diseases not given. Large spleen census taken, but numbers not recorded. At Ikom Prison, 125 per cent. were found to be suffering from filarial diseases. Eighty-seven medical men, including three special health officers. Special sanitary expenditure not given. A Mosquito Ordinance in force in many towns. different major works, costing £8,883 altogether, and including drainage, reclama- tion and dredging. Number of men employed for minor works were 97 for Lagos, 13 for Calabar, 15 for Bonny and 7 for Degema-that is 132 altogether, at a total cost of £1,303. A considerable quinine distribution at Government dispensaries and schools, but the regularity of the latter is not vouched for. A good return, and the Acting Governor promises more details in the next. (Much more work is reported during 1911, showing a vigorous campaign in this Colony.)

Ten

(13) Ugandu Protectorate.-Return under date 3rd August, 1911,* signed by the Principal Medical Officer. Figures for births and deaths too low to be reliable. No yellow fever. Some admissions and attendances for dengue. Admissions and attendances for filariasis "not available." Rather high figures for malaria, even among the natives. Reporter states that there is "no record" of any spleen census or filaria census. Anti-mosquito "rules" drawn up, but no notices given under them. Twenty-two medical men. Marsh at Kampala drained for £312 approxi- mately. Quinine distributed at Government dispensaries. "Clearing of grass and undergrowth in townships and compounds. Wire-gauze doors and windows to

33411

In Appendix I. to [Cl. 6024].

† In Appendix I, to [Cd. GG6 '],

B2