CO885-(23-24) — Page 654

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :---

C.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

10693

104

No. 80. TRINIDAD.

THE INTERNATIONAL HEALTH COMMISSION to COLONIAL OFFICE.

SIR,

(Received 6th March, 1915.)

[Answered by Nos. 84 and 90.]

725, Southern Building, Washington, D.C.,

23rd February, 1915.

YOUR letter No. 6454/1915* to the Director for the West Indies, relativo to utilizing the services of Dr. Washburn temporarily as Medical Officer in charge of the ankylostomiasis work in Trinidad, has been received, and Dr. Washburn has been cabled to proceed to Trinidad and tender his services to the Governor and the Surgeon-General.

10694

No. 81.

MALAY STATES.

I am, &c.,

JOHN A. FERRELL.

THE INTERNATIONAL HEALTH COMMISSION to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received 6th March, 1915.)

[Answered by No. 85.]

725, Southern Building, Washington, D.C.,

23rd February, 1915.

SIR,

In reference to your letter No. 1172/1915, of 26th January† and my reply of 5th February thereto, I would advise that we are in receipt of letters of 5th and 7th January from the High Commissioner of the Malay States copies of which are enclosed expressing his approval of the Ankylostomiasis Commission working in the Federated Malay States. We assume, therefore, that all parties concerned are agreeable to the proposed plan of work, and accordingly we are advising Dr. Victor G. Heiser, Director for the East, to arrange at his earliest convenience to get the Commission organized and its work under way.

I am, &c.,

JOHN A. FERRELL

SIB,

105

High Commissioner's Office, Singapore, 5th January, 1915.

I HAVE the honour to inform you that, on the 25th November last, His Excel- lency the High Commissioner for the Malay States received from Mr. Wickliffe Rose a letter, dated the 8th October, containing suggestions for the appointment For convenience of of an Ankylostomiasis Commission in the Federated Malay States, and enclosing a The necessity copy of a project (No. 1) prepared by you upon the subject. reference a copy of Mr. Wickliffe Rose's letter is annexed hereto. for local preliminary inquiries has hitherto made it impossible for His Excellency to reply to this letter. Immigration of deck passengers from India has, moreover, been prohibited for some months past, and the proposed examination upon arrival of all coolies from India could not, therefore, have been commenced. It has now been decided to permit immigration again in a restricted form.

2. His Excellency entirely approves of the Commission working in the Feder- ated Malay States upon the lines suggested by Mr. Wickliffe Rose, and would also be glad to see it visit the unfederated States, such as Kedah and Kelantan, where the Malays of the Peninsula are still little mixed with the immigrant Tamils and Chinese who crowd the Federated Malay States. In both States there are medical departments, of which the local heads will be glad to render the Commission every assistance in their power.

3. It is understood from Mr. Wickliffe Rose's letter that you will be free to visit the Federated Malay States at an early date, and I am to suggest that the pre- liminary discussions would be expedited by a visit from you to Kuala Lumpur, where you could confer with Dr. C. L. Sansom, Principal Medical Officer, Federated Malay States. Upon the receipt of a letter or telegram from you Dr. Sansom would make arrangements, and assist you in every way during your stay in the Malay Peninsula.

4. Should you desire to confer with Dr. W. Gilmore Ellis, the Principal Civil Medical Officer, Straits Settlements, on your way through Singapore, I shall be glad to make the necessary arrangements.

I have, &c.,

W. GEORGE MAXWELL, Acting Secretary to the High Commissioner

for the Malay States.

Dr. Heiser, Director for the East,

The International Health Commission.

10651

Manila.

SIR,

Enclosure 1 in No. 81.

Government House, Singapore, 7th January, 1915.

I HAVE the honour to thank you for your letter of the 8th October, 1914, on the subject of the Ankylostomiasis Commission which it is proposed by the Inter- national Health Commission to appoint for work in the Federated Malay States and other countries.

2.

With reference to paragraph 7 of your letter, I am glad that the plan you outlined at our meeting of the 21st May last is to be proceeded with, and I annex, for your information, a copy of a letter which has been sent to Dr. Heiser by my directions.

Wickliffe Rose, Esq.,

I have, &c,

ARTHUR H. YOUNG. High Commissioner for the Malay States.

Director, International Health Commission,

725, Southern Building,

Washington, D.C., Ü.S.A.

* No. 68.

+ No. 64.

↑ No. 71.

No. 82. JAMAICA.

EXTRACT From the anNUAL REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDING MEDICAL OFFICER FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31яT MARCH, 1914. (Received in Colonial Office, 6th March, 1915.)

SYNOPBIB OF HOOKWORM REPORTS OF DISTRICT Medical OfficeRS. Stony Hill-The District Medical Officer knowe, on microscopic evidence, of at least 150 persons who have suffered from hookworm in the district. On ocular evidence he believes that not less than 60 per cent, of the agricultural population of the district of school age upwards harbour the parasite, and possibly this statement underestimates the facts. The public have no idea of the widespread extent of the infection, no idea of the loss of working power-general and occasional--that it. causes, of the steady sapping of the strength from a mild infection lasting for years, of the simple measures underlying its prevention (though personal co-opera- tion is needed), and, lastly, of the wonderful benefit following adequate treatment. Either by itself as such or by reason of its weakening effect, hookworm disease is the cause of more illness in this district than all other diseases put together.

Lower St. Andrew,—Almshouse all inmates are treated on admission for hookworm. The number now suffering from that disease are those only who have just come in.

Hagley Gap.-No hookworm disease known to the District Medical Officer. Gordon Town.-No hookworm disease reported.

* Enclosure in No. 88.

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