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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O._885

23 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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He considers that a cause of widespread injury to most frequently identified. health has been discovered, and that it demands systematic attack and further investigation.

Sierra Leone, 1914.-Dr. Butler, West African Medical Staff, Sierra Leone, has recently written as follows :—

"I am finding a very large percentage of the prisoners have ankylos- tomiasis, and I fancy I shall be able to decide that that disease can account for a large number of cases showing albuminuria and many other mild illnesses. I have had my eyes very considerably opened by this prevalence of ankylostomiasis, and I hope I shall be able to send in a report showing the extensiveness and the necessity for treatment."

Gold Coast, 1914.-Dr. Le Fanu has recently sent in a report on ankylosto- miasis in the cocoa districts of Akwapim in the Eastern Province of the Gold Coast. He found Necator americanus in 28 out of 77 persons examined (37-6 per cent.).

He is of opinion that these infections are by no means confined to the cocoa districts, but that they exist wherever the same insanitary conditions exist, and where a careful search is made for them.

H. L. B.

20th May, 1914.

19111

(No. 157.) SIR,

No. 59.

BRITISH GUIANA.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 26th May, 1914.)

[Answered by No. 59.]

Government House, Georgetown, Demerara, 6th May, 1914. WITH reference to your despatch Miscellaneous of the 23rd March,* I have the honour to transmit, in continuation of my despatch No. 317 of the 17th October last, † copy of correspondence from the Rockefeller Foundation International Health Commission approving of the enclosed plan of work submitted by Dr. J. E. A. Ferguson, Government Medical Officer of the Peter's Hall Medical District in this Colony, for the eradication of ankylostomiasis in that district.

2. The sum of $7,244.70 of the funds of the Rockefeller Institute has been paid into the British Guiana Treasury, for use in connexion with this work, and active operations are at present being carried out by Dr. W. H. Howard, of the Institute, and by Dr. Ferguson, Government Medical Officer, in the treatment with thymol of the many patients in the district suffering from ankylostomiasis.

3. I enclose a newspaper account of a lecture delivered by Dr. Howard, at Agricola, on the 17th instant, which I attended. The lecture was listened to and appreciated by many of the villagers, who are taking a keen interest in the work which is being undertaken and carried on in their midst.

I have, &c.,

WALTER EGERTON.

Enclosure 1 in No. 53.

Government Secretary's Office, Georgetown. Demerara,

2nd January, 1914. SIR,

WITH reference to your visit to this Colony in connexion with the work of the Rockefeller Sanitary Commission, I am directed by the Governor to transmit herewith copy of a report by Dr. J. E. A. Ferguson, Government Medical Officer. detailing the scheme it is proposed should be adopted for the relief and control of

Not reprinted.

* No. 32.

No. 7 in Miscellaneous No. 297.

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ankylostomiasis in the Peter's Hall Medical District in this Colony, and to inquire whether the scheme, which has the full concurrence of the Surgeon-General and the Government Bacteriologist, commends itself to the Commission.

I have, etc.,

Wickliffe Rose, Esquire,

SIR,

Director, Rockefeller Foundation

International Health Commission.

C. CLEMENTI,

Surgeon-General's Office, Georgetown, Demerara,

8th December, 1913.

WITH reference to your minute dated 7th November, 1913, on your file 5360,

I have the honour to submit the enclosed report from Dr. Ferguson.

2. The whole question was fully discussed by Dr. Ferguson, Dr. Wise, and myself, and we are in full agreement with the report.

3. Mr. Rose came on board the R.M.S. "Trent" when she arrived at Trinidad

on the 4th ultimo, and had a long interview with me.

4. He expressed his great satisfaction and admiration of the work that had been, and was still being, carried out on the sugar estates in this Colony, more especially in the Peter's Hall District, under the direction and supervision of Dr. Ferguson.

5. His idea is to take the block comprising the Peter's Hall District, treat every case of ankylostomiasis found in the different villages and sanitary districts, clean up this exclusive of the sugar estates, and, as he graphically described it, block."

6. We now have the chance of carrying out a great work, which will eventu- The benefits to be derived cannot be estimated. ally include the whole Colony.

but will certainly include-

(a) Improved health conditions.

(b) Reduction of the death rate.

(c) Increased birth rate.

7. The scheme as submitted only deals with the treatment of those suffering from ankylostome infection, and not with the measures to be taken for prevention of re-infection.

8. The chief measure to prevent re-infection, and the one that has proved so successful on the sugar estates, is the erection, proper supervision, and maintenance of latrines.

9. It is obvious that unless the question of supplying proper latrines is taken in hand at the same time as the treatment of the disease, we shall not get the full results of the money spent, as a large amount of re-infection will follow.

10. I am not in a position to say if the Rockefeller Sanitary Commission intend to undertake at their expense the erection of latrines.

11. The people themselves are not in a position to find the means for erecting latrines, and unless the Rockefeller Sanitary Commission will do it, then the Government should give the people a loan repayable under the provisions of Sections 301 to 310 of Ordinance No. 13 of 1907.

The Honourable

SIR,

The Government Secretary.

J

I have, &c.,

J. E. GODFREY,

Surgeon-General.

River View, East Bank, Demerara, 14th November, 1913.

WITH reference to your letter of the 25th ultimo, I have the honour to submit the following scheme :--

Area and Population.

2. The Peter's Hall District to be divided into three areas, with grouping

of villages as under :—

A. Albouystown, La Penitence, Alexander Village, Meadow Bank.

B. Agricola, Eccles, Bagotstown, Peter's Hall Front, Providence

Pasture.

C. Mocha-Arcadia, Covent Garden. Golden Grove, Craig.

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