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PUBLIC RECORD

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OFFICE

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Reference :-

........................... C.O. 885

23 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

Year of Issue.

1908.

1907.

1908.

1907.

Local Government Ordinance 13 of 1907 gives powers to deal with public health and general sanitary matters to Local Government Board.

Report by Dr. Fonseca on treatment of immigrants for ankylos- tomiasis on ship "Mersey," 21st January, 1908 :--

No coolies objected to treatment. 602 adults were treated in 18 days, and again repeated during the voyage. Cost works out at less than a penny each case treated. Advocates treatment on ship as simple, safe and inexpensive, taking very little time.

Secretary of State asks for particulars of disease in Colony, 23rd December, 1907.

Hon. Surgeon-General replies 28th February, 1908, giving particulars as to sugar estates, and states disease exists in other parts of Colony, but cannot get reliable statistics. 23 sugar estates provided with latrines in last three years. In village and country districts the latrine accommodation is very unsatisfactory. Matter is not nearly so important in the villages and country districts as on the sugar estates. Suggests compulsion on sugar estates as to erec- tion of latrines. Village and country districts under consideration of Local Government. Board; does not advise any further steps at present.

Hon. Surgeon-General, Official Gazette, 5th February, 1908. Of 653 immigrants arriving ex ship "Ems," 338 were found to be infected with ankylostomiasis.

Official Gazette, 19th February, 1908.

Of 688 immigrants arriving by ship" Mersey" 337 infected." Official Gazette, 26th February, 1908.

Of 508 immigrants arriving by ship" Ganges" 253 infected. Dr. Ozzard, in reply to Hon. Surgeon-General, 11th January, 1908. Suddie. Has not noticed any marked increase during rainy season, but thinks there should be at commencement and ending of rainy season. Thymol better than beta-naphthol.

Dr. Von Winckler, 10th January, 1908. Peter's Hall. Marked increase of ground itch in rainy season. Villages generally infected with ankylostomiasis. Chronic ankylostomiasis very refractory to treatment, and generally ends fatally from renal complications.

Dr. Kennard, 12th January, 1908, Port Mourant.

Does not consider any marked increase in the severity of the disease in rainy season.

Considers beta-naphthol acts quite as well as thymol and has no depressing action. Considers eucalyptus treatment depressing.

Acting Medical Inspector, 15th February, 1908.

31 estates have latrines, 9 without.

Chairman, Central Board of Health, to Government Secretary, 14th March, 1907.

Cost of providing water and latrine accommodation to the 21 incorporated villages:

Water vats and tanks Latrines

$ C.

90,000.00

46,000.00

$136,000.00

In view of this large expenditure, the Board does not consider

it advisable to call upon the various local authorities and others responsible to have the law on the subject carried out.

His Excellency the Governor, 31st March, 1907.

Why not see that every newly-erected house is provided with a suitable vat and approved privy (renewals to old houses to be in- luded), and gradually introduce a new state of things? The lay

Year of Issue.

1908.

1911.

seems to be adequate for the enforcement of such an order. again to Central Board of Health.

Refer

Chairman of Local Government Board, 1st November, 1907. Nearly 80 per cent. of the villages were opposed to being forced to provide a suitable water supply. They were, however, in favour of the erection of latrines. In my opinion it would not be advisable to call upon the authorities to have the law upon the subject of water supply rigidly enforced.

Dr. Ozzard, 28th January, 1908. Report to Hon. Surgeon- General.

Suggests: (1) Printing of cards warning people against disease. (2) On no account should an immigrant be allowed to go on an estate until free from infection. (3) Latrines on estates. (4) Villages to have proper latrines, regularly inspected.

Dr. W. J. Von Winckler, 28th January, 1908.

Suggests: (1) Latrines over trenches on estates. Jetty latrines on river bank. (2) Protected water supply on estates. (3) Dis- pensers taught sanitation and instructed to treat ordinary cases. (4) Public latrines and washhouses. A proper water supply and a Sanitary Inspector rather than an overseer to collect rates are much needed in villages. Suggests broad irrigation scheme for villages.

Dr. Kennard, 26th January, 1908.

(1) Treat all coolies who show signs of anemia. (2) Condemns dry latrines, but recommends latrines over trenches.

Circular to

Hon. Acting Surgeon-General, 26th January, 1908.

all Government Medical Officers giving alternative treatments for ankylostomiasis.

Dr. Barnes, 18th March, 1911. Suggested chlorine water as a treatment for ankylostomiasis, but the results obtained on trial did not come up to expectations.

Dr. Ferguson has for several years now treated the disease by giving small doses of thymol regularly, with very good results. He describes it as a "thymolization of the intestine."

ADDENDUM.

Very little remains to be added to the foregoing to bring the history of ankylos- tomiasis in the Colony up to date. The treatment of coolies at the depôt in Calcutta or during the voyage having been abandoned, it is now the duty of the Government Medical Officer in charge of estates to examine and treat the new coolies on arrival. It was, I believe, suggested that the immigrants should be treated at the depôt here, immediately after arrival and before being allotted to estates, but this has not been done.

A steady general improvement in the sanitary condition and the water supplies of estates has been going on, and all estates are now provided with efficient latrine accommodation. The water supplies on some estates are still, however, in an un- sugar satisfactory condition, but are constantly being improved. The inspection of estates is now undertaken by the Government Medical Officers of Health, as the office of Medical Inspector has been abolished; special attention is paid to the sanitation on estates, and vital statistics obtained.

In September, 1912, the Local Government Board turned its attention to the improvement of the sanitary conditions obtaining in the villages and country dis- triots. The first step taken was the appointment of two Government Medical Officers of Health with powers of action under the Local Government Board over the whole Colony. These officers visited the villages and endeavoured to interest the village councils and overseers on sanitation. In December, 1912, a Government Sanitary Inspector, holding the certificate of the Royal Sanitary Institute, and of the Royal Army Medical Corps, was obtained from England; he was, on arrival in the Colony, attached to the newly-created Public Health Department.

A systematic inspection of villages and country districts was undertaken, but it was found that the local authorities were unwilling to apply drastic measures in order to bring about reforms.