SIR RONALD ROSS TO COLONIAL OFFICE.
18, Cavendish Square, W.,
4th June, 1913.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
I. INTRODUCTION:
1. Letters of appointment
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2. Progress of the investigation
3. Interim recommendations 4. Acknowledgments
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II. THE MALARIA-DATA OF CYPRUS:
5. General data
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6. Previous studies of malaria in Cyprus ....
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7. The measurement of malaria in Cyprus, March-April, 1913...
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10. Relations between malaria and breeding-surface in Cyprus
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8. Mosquito-breeding during March-April
9. Some local observations ...
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I HAVE the honour to forward herewith my report on "The I was instructed by His Prevention of Malaria in Cyprus.' Excellency the High Commissioner to submit it directly to you.
III-THE PREVENTION OF MALARIA IN CYPRUS:
11. Methods which may be used 12. The suitability of Cyprus for a large anti-malaria campaign 24 15. Recommendations
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14. Approximate present cost of recommendations in addition to
existing allotments.
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15. Explanation of details
16. Miscellaneous suggestions
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To the Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office, S.W
I have, &c.,
RONALD ROSs.
APPENDIX I.-Meteorological Return for 1911
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APPENDIX II.-Some Cyprian Culicidæ, March April, 1913
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APPENDIX III.-List of Laws governing Medical Department APPENDIX IV.-Births and Deaths 1911
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APPENDIX V. Some Spleen-Rates
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APPENDIX VI.-General Spleen-Cei aus of Cyprus, February-April, 1913 38
(81111-2) Wt, 16666-G 306. 60. 8/13. D&S,
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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 TOPage 91
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
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ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
C.O. 885
23 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
REPORT
ON
THE PREVENTION OF MALARIA
IN
CYPRUS.
BY
SIR RONALD ROSS, K.C.B., F.R.S., D.P., F.R.C.S., M.D., D.Sc., LL.D.
I. INTRODUCTION.
1. Letters of Appointment.-In 1912, His Excellency the High Commissioner of Cyprus, Major Sir Hamilton Goold-Adamis, G.C.M.G., C.B., addressed the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Mr. Lewis Harcourt, M.P., a letter, No. 189, of the 13th October, in which he stated that he had recently had many opportunities of ascertaining the widespread prevalence of malarial fever amongst the inhabitants of the Island; that for many years steps have been taken by the Government to combat it; but that in his opinion the Island Administration might have done more than it did to eradicate the disease. He therefore suggested that the Government should obtain the temporary services of some medical expert in order to go to Cyprus and study the subject locally with a view to advising the Government as to the direction in which further efforts should be made by it and by the local authorities. The presence of such an expert, he thought, would do more to encourage vigorous measures being taken than any number of circulars or addresses by the Govern- ment Medical Department.
In consequence of this letter the Right Honourable the Secretary of State appointed me in his letter, No. 36,934, of the 27th November, 1912, to undertake the work.
2. Progress of the Investigation.-On receipt of these com- munications, I considered carefully the best method of procedure and the most appropriate date for my visit. This would be the ninth expedition of this kind undertaken by myself since I first proceeded for the same object to Sierra Leone in 1899. Since that time the subject of the prevention of malaria had become much more familiar to the world; and principles which were then not fully ascertained or not fully accepted were now admitted by all sanitarians; and the practical prevention of malaria had been undertaken with great or with partial success in many parts of the world. Moreover, the subject of malaria in Cyprus had already received very close attention from one of the most brilliant students of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine,
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namely, Dr. George A. Williamson, formerly Medical Officer of Larnaca, Cyprus, who had already written an able paper upon the subject and had also already asked my advice regarding it--- see [Cd. 2106] Selections from Colonial Medical Reports for 1901 and 1902, dated July, 1904, page 79. All this would largely facilitate my work in Cyprus-which, I gathered, was principally to advise the Government of Cyprus as to the best means for reducing malaria there and as to the best organization which At the date of the would be likely to achieve this result. Secretary of State's letter of the 27th November, 1912, the malaria season of that year was already over, and next year's malaria season would not commence until May or June, 1913. If I should delay my visit until the height of this year's malaria season in July and August, 1913, it would be too late to influence the infections until 1914. I wished, moreover, particularly to uscertain, for the purpose of practical mosquito reduction, when the anophelines of Cyprus commence to breed; and I could not ascertain this if I were to go late in the season. I therefore determined, with the sanction of the High Commissioner, to start in the spring, so that I might be in Cyprus when the breeding commences. This procedure would have the further advantage that it would enable me to suggest some preliminary measures which might be undertaken during the current year.
Consequently I arrived in Famagusta, Cyprus, on the 20th March, 1913. I was met at once by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Cleveland, with whom I was able to discuss many details on the way to the capital, Nicosia. On arrival at Nicosia I had the privilege of seeing His Excellency the High Commissioner, with whom also I considered many points of procedure. He was so good as to place funds at my disposal, not only for investigat- ing the problems in the Island, but also for commencing some necessary work; and he gave me the temporary assistance of Dr. W. H. C. Patrick, District Medical Officer of Larnaca, and of two men to act as moustiquiers."
My itinerary was as follows: On the 23rd and 24th March Dr. Cleveland and I visited the villages of Kythrea and others in the neighbourhood of Nivosia, where we found a very low spleen- rate but did not succeed in discovering any anopheline larvæ in the waters, although there was a very suitable but small marsh just outside the walls of Nicosia suggesting that the season was On the 25th March, yet too early for the breeding to commence. therefore, I proceeded to Larnaca, where I met Dr. Patrick and visited with him several villages in the neighbourhood, which showed a very much higher spleen-rate. We also examined the salt lake near Larnaca and the Mahommedan school at Larnaca. The next evening I returned to Nicosia. On the 27th March I visited the Government farm at Athalassa with Mr. Francis, the Government Analyst, and the neighbouring village; and the same evening we succeeded in finding two small anopheline larvae in the marsh just outside the walls of Nicosia already referred to. On the 28th and 29th March I visited Deftera and other villages with Mr. Francis, finding higher spleen-rates in them. On the 31st March and 1st April I visited the town of Kyrenia and the villages of Bellapais and Kazaphani in that
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