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(8) Number of men employed in towns and villages for petty anti-malarial measures.-Anti-malarial gangs of from three to eight men have been employed at seventeen stations during the

year.

(f) Amount of Government quinine sold or distributed gratis during the

year:-

26655

159

No. 118.

SOUTH AFRICA.

THE HIGH COMMISSIONER to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 9th June, 1915.)

(Miscellaneous. No. 409.)

High Commissioner's Office, Cape Town, 22nd May, 1915. WITH reference to my despatch No. 141, of 20th February. I have the honour to enclose, for your information, a copy of a despatch from the Adminis- trator, Southern Rhodesia, on the subject of mosquito-borne diseases.

Quinine.

Tablets or Tablolds. (5 gr)

Quinine in Powder.

SIR,

lb. ozs.

Quinine bi-sulphate

41,400

107 4

Quinine hydrobrom.

500

2 12

Quinine hydrochlor.

28,400

27 15

Quinine bi-hydrochlor.

1,800

8 4

Quinine sulphas.

31 15

Quinine salicylas.

1 0

Totals

67,100

178

8

I have, &c.,

BUXTON, High Commissioner.

Enclosure in No. 118.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TCO 885

23 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

Agencies employed.-Government dispensaries.

(g) Is quinine distributed regularly in schools?---No

(h) Measures taken against these diseases :-

(i.) Drainage and reclamation of swampy areas in or near certain

townships, e.g., Kampala and Mbale.

(ii.) The employment in the more important townships of anti- malarial gangs, whose business it is to periodically inspect the various parts of the different townships and report to the Medical Officer on any collections of larvæ found, any tanks, barrels, or other receptacles for water found unprotected against mosquitoes. They also collect empty tins, bottles, etc. from compounds, and see to the clearing of rain guttering on the houses.

in

(iii) The oiling of certain pools and receptacles for water. (iv.) Clearing or periodical cutting of long grass, scrub, etc.,

and about townships and the planting of French grass in the cleared areas.

(v.) The protection of the individual by the use of a mosquito-net at night, and the protection of houses against the entry of mosquitoes by gauze wire for all entrances and exits. This latter measure has not yet been completed satisfactorily in the majority of houses, but continued improvement is being made. (vi.) The systematic use of quinine by individuals living in places known to te malarious, and by those who are suffering from, or who have recently suffered from, malaria.

(vii.) Simple instructions on anti-malarial precautions is given in certain native schools, and also to the military and police.

(i) Housing of the poor--No measures.

(7) Any exceptional increase or decrease of these diseases recently noticed. -Blackwater fever again shows an increase, with twenty-one deaths as against twelve last year. See special report.

(*) Any further information which may become available will be embodied

in the Annual Medical and Sanitary Report for 1914.

Entebbe, Uganda,

12th April, 1915.

A. D. P. HODGES,

Principal Medical Officer,

Uganda Protectorate.

(High Commissioner. No. 92.) MY LORD,

Administrator's Office, Salisbury, 8th May, 1915. WITH reference to my despatch No. 26, of the 11th February, I have the bonour to transmit a report on mosquito-borne diseases in Southern Rhodesia in respect of the year 1914.

I have, &c.,

The High Commissioner for South Africa,

His Excellency

The Right Honourable

Viscount Buxton, G.C.M.G.,

&c., &c., &c.,

Cape Town.

F. D. P. CHAPLIN,

Administrator.

EXTRACT FROM PUBLIC HEALth Report, 1914.

MOSQUITO-BORne Diseases, SOUTHERN RHODESIA, 1914.

Malaria.-Possibly on account of the short rainfall in the season of 1913- 1914, which in many parts of the country amounted almost to a drought, there was a marked decrease in the number of admissions to general hospitals on account of malaria during this year, 569 Europeans and 169 natives being treated in these institutions, as compared with 779 Europeans and 241 natives in 1913. The deaths were very low, amounting to three Europeans and eight natives, giving a case mortality rate of only 53 per cent. for Europeans and 473 for natives.

Although, as I have stated, it is probable that the reduction in malaria was largely influenced by rainfall in the previous wet season, it must also be admitted that, to a certain extent, some benefit can be ascribed to the adoption of anti-malarial precautions by the settlers in outside districts and more hygienic methods of living generally, this being a direct result of the visits of General Gorgas and Sir Patrick Manson, and also of the flood of anti-malarial literature which has been sent out from time to time by this Administration.

The mosquito plague is still very evident in our towns and villages, though for the most part they are varieties of culex which are harmless as far as the spread of malaria is concerned.

Still farmers and others in outside districts frequently complain that they are more bitten by mosquitoes on coming to town on business or pleasure than in their own homes, and this is a reflection on the common sense of our local authorities which is not unjustified. Efforts are being made this year to induce local authori- ties to adopt by regulation and by their own efforts a campaign against mosquitoes in towns and villages.

* No. 108.