CO885-(23-24) — Page 607

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

mmmmm.C.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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Enclosure 1 in No. 23.

REPORT ON ANKYLOSTOMIASIS IN SEYCHELI.ES.

THE town of Victoria and its immediate surroundings are not infected by ankylostomiasis; this is, of course, due to the fact that people living in this place are obliged to make use of proper sanitary tubs.

In the country districts, however, the disease is met with frequently more often in men than in women. It is not possible to arrive at the percentage of the popu- lation infected, with the data at present at our disposal, the routine examination of the excreta of a large number of inhabitants not having been undertaken. I do not think, however, that this percentage would be more than one, and I doubt if this figure would be arrived at except in the island of La Digue, the soil of This island which seems to be peculiarly suitable to the development of the ova. is also more thickly populated than any other district, and here the percentage of people infected is undoubtedly very high, and it can almost be said that all the inhabitants are, or have been, infected.

The measures which have been taken with a view to the eradication of the disease have been confined to pointing out to the infected people the nature of their disease and the manner in which infection is carried. Unfortunately, the people are not inclined to pay much attention to the advice given to them, and it is very difficult to persuade them to take any sort of precaution as regards the disposal of their excreta. They prefer to go on in their old way of simply doing this at any convenient spot.

The advisability of legislation with a view of making it compulsory to have a properly constructed latrine attached to every dwelling house has been considered, but the extreme difficulty of enforcing such a measure, and, furthermore, the diffi- culty of adequate inspection of such latrines in order to see that they were kept clean and in proper condition would render such legislation inadvisable.

J. B. ADDISON,

13th May, 1914.

Enclosure 2 in No. 23.

Chief Medical Officer.

WE, the Committee appointed by Your Excellency to suggest a scheme to combat ankylostomiasis in this Colony, have the honour to report :-

1. That the island of La Digue is the place the most infected by the disease and is the only locality where the health of the inhabitants as a whole is seriously affected.

2. We recommend that the following measures be taken in the island of La

Digue:

(a) That a law be passed compelling all proprietors of houses in La Digue

to have latrines attached to each such house;

(b) That a penalty be imposed on every person found defecating or empty- ing vessels containing excreta elsewhere than in a latrine or in the sea; (c) That six public latrines be erected on suitable spots at La Digue;

That two Sanitary Inspectors, each at Rs.25 per month, and a labourer The duties of the Sanitary at Rs.15 per month be appointed. Inspectors will consist in inspecting all private and public latrines and taking contraventions for breaches of the law; the labourer will clean the public latrines;

(e) That all occupiers of premises be held responsible for nuisances

found on such premises.

3. The original outlay for the erection of public latrines in La Digue, includ- ing the acquisition of sites, when necessary, may be put down at £60, and the recurrent yearly expenditure for wages, disinfectants, and upkeep at about £60 per annum.

4. For the Islands of Mahé and Praslin we recommend that public latrines be provided in those districts where there are thickly populated plateaux. We estimate that fifteen such latrines would be required in Mahé and six in Praslin. The initial cost of each of these latrines would be £10. We suggest that the cleaning of these latrines be done by the cantonniers in charge of the district where the latrines are situated after their ordinary working hours, each cantonnier so employed to receive Rs.2 per month per

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latrine monthly, and that these latrines be inspected by the Corporal of Police in charge of the nearest station. The total cost of cleaning, includ- ing disinfectants, would be about £50 per annum.

5. That by means of posters the nature and symptoms of the disease be made known to the public, and that every facility for treatment be put in the way of such people as are infected.

16th July, 1914.

21339

W. M. VAUDIN,

Superintendent Public Works.

J. B. ADDISON,

Chief Medical Officer.

M. S. POWER,

No. 24.

TRINIDAD.

Assistant Medical Officer.

COLONIAL OFFICE to THE INTERNATIONAL HEALTH COMMISSION.

[Answered by No. 37.]

SIR,

Downing Street, 26th September, 1914. WITH reference to the letter from this Office of the 13th June last,* I am directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to state, for the information of the Inter- national Health Commission, that, in present circumstances, it is not probable that a suitable candidate for the post of second Medical Officer can be found in this country for work in connexion with the ankylostomiasis campaign in Trinidad.

The Governor has accordingly been informed that it will be within his discre- tion to make a temporary local appointment if he sees a suitable opportunity of doing so.

Mr. Harcourt trusts that the Commission will approve this arrangement as a temporary expedient.

21339

SIR,

I am, &c.,

H. J. READ,

for the Under-Secretary of State.

No. 25.

TRINIDAD.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.

(No. 334.)

Downing Street, 28th September, 1914. WITH reference to my despatch No. 205, of the 18th June last, respecting the appointment of Medical Officers in connexion with the ankylostomiasis cam- paign, I have the honour to inform you that, in present circumstances, it is improb- able that a second Medical Officer can be engaged in this country for the work in Trinidad.

2. Should you see a favourable opportunity of making a temporary local appointment for the work, you will be at liberty to do so at your discretion.

I have, &c.,

L. HARCOURT.

• No. 58 in Miscellaneous No. 304.

No. 60 in Miscellaneous No. 304.