CO885-(23-24) — Page 655

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :--

C.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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Morant Bay-Nineteen cases of hookworm infection have been ascertained, among which four may be considered cases of hookworm disease.

Manchioneal,-No cases met with.

Golden Grove. Three coolies suffering from hookworm disease have been seen, and 126 coolies and four creoles only have the worm.

Hope Bay. Two cases of hookworm disease have been seen, both from Fruitful Vale, but this cannot be taken as indicative of its prevalence or otherwise.

Buff Bay-Two hundred and nine coolies, twenty creoles.

Port Maria. One hundred and twenty-one coolies, forty-five creoles. Gayle.-Four creoles.

Moneague. In the opinion of the District Medical Officer, judging from the appearance of many of the people, hookworm is prevalent in the district. It seems impossible to get the people to bring specimens of fæces for examination, and those we attempt to treat on clinical evidence refuse treatment when informed of the danger and inconvenience entailed. Not feeling sick in any way other than the general lassitude and weakness from anæmia, they are unwilling to go ten miles to hospital at St. Ann's Bay for indoor treatment, even when there is room there.

St. Ann's Bay. The hospital returns show 107 cases supposed to be suffering The District Medical Officer says from hookworm, and 68 were proven infected.

Poorhouse--three about 70 per cent. of the people are affected with hookworm. case of hookworm.

•

Cave Valley. Sixty-nine pereons known to be infected by hookworm, some of these were extremely anæmic. After the administration of thymol followed by iron the improvement was marked.

Brown's Town.-The Medical Officer in charge of the temporary dispensary is not aware of anyone suffering from hookworm.

Falmouth. Seventy-two persons are known to be infected. Duncans.-No case of hookworm known of.

Ulster Spring-One case of hookworm was met with.

Montego Bay-The number of persons known to be suffering from hookworm in the district cannot be given, but from examinations made of hospital patients the District Medical Officer thinks that 40 per cent. of the creoles is a very conservative estimate of those who are infected, both in town and country.

The coolies who have been in the district two years are free from infection, but among the last batch of immigrants there are still some whose fæces contain ova.

Adelphi. The insidious progress of this disease and the absence of acute painful symptoms, added to the deplorable ignorance of the matter which prevails, result in but a very small proportion of cases finding their way to the doctor. Many cases are recognized in patients consulting for other less important but more distressing conditions. The way a native will neglect a gonorrhoea, ulcer, or other condition so long as it does not produce acute suffering gives us to realize that it is useless to hope that either

(a) the people will take voluntary steps to prevent the spread of infection or (b) pay for medical treatment so long as they don't feel too bad, even when " and they are taught the causal relationship between "ground itch

bad worms." There are thousands of cases in the district, but the District Medical Officer only had the opportunity of treating 124 cases in the year under review.

At one school at which he vaccinated more than half of the children were definitely anæmic, and several presented extreme anemia. He spoke to them all about the disease, and told them and the teacher to speak to the parents about it, but, hardly necessary to note, not one case has applied for treatment.

Luced. Cannot give exact figures, but in some localities full 20 per cent. have the disease. Sixty-three persons were thymolized in hospital, as against 27 in the previous year.

Sav.-la-Mar.-The District Medical Officer is unable to give figures with respect to this disease. Poorhouse-there are four known to be infected.

Grange Hill.-The District Medical Officer cannot give numbers. He treated 16 cases privately during the year, and all coolies suspected are sent to hospital to be treated.

Little London.-No cases of hookworm met with.

Bethel Town.-None met with. The District Medical Officer has in private practice.

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Black River.-Three creoles.

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Santa Cruz-Poorhouse. Twenty cases treated.

Balaclava. The District Medical Officer shows on record only a few persons Out of seven cases infected with hookworm disease by microscopic examination, but this is because of the difficulty of getting specimens of excreta for examination. examined microscopically four were found to be infected.

It was only in one case that a second specimen of excreta for examination, after treatment with thymol, was obtained, and this showed very marked improve- ment, both with regard to his physical condition and the very much smaller number of ova detected.

Newport.-Number cannot be given.

Lionel Town. It would be difficult to estimate the number of people suffering from hookworm in the district. One hundred and ninety-seven coolies are known to be infected, but this must be a small proportion of the total number. The per- centage of indentured coolies affected has been much reduced. Fifty-six creoles gave a positive result on examination of the stools.

There is no doubt that the disease is widespread in the district. Crofts Hill.-None known of.

Spanish Town.-Poorhouse-seventy-two infected.

Old Harbour.-The District Medical Officer says hookworm does not occur to any appreciable extent, probably owing to the fact that there has never been any coolie labour imported into the district, and that the soil is unsuitable for banana cultivation.

Linstead. One hundred and nine cases are known of.

Port Royal. No cases known of.

11932

No. 83.

MALAY STATES.

THE HIGH COMMISSIONER to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 10.40 a.m.. 12th March, 1915)

TELEGRAM.

YOUR despatch 21st January, Miscellaneous.*

Proposals commission of

inquiry into ankylostomiasis generally approved. Will nominate local member.- YOUNG.

10693

No. 84.

TRINIDAD.

COLONIAL OFFICE to THE INTERNATIONAL HEALTH COMMISSION. Downing Street, 12th March, 1915.

SIR,

your

I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to acknowledge the receipt of letter of the 23rd February,† and to convey to you an expression of his thanks for the promptitude with which the services of Dr. Washburn have been placed at the disposal of the Government of Trinidad in connexion with the ankylostomiasis campaign.

* No 60.

I am, &c.,

HENRY LAMBERT, for the Under-Secretary of State.

† No. 80.