CO885-(25-26) — Page 463

7

ياسيا

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.

885/25

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

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1,000 ten-grain capsules from this lot, and he has written to me that he had only twenty-seven per cent. cures as compared with eighty-eight per cent. with thymol administered in freshly-made powders mixed with sugar. Every capsule of this new lot has to be carefully manipulated with the fingers, and rejected at once if it remains bullet-like or too hard and lumpy. Unfortunately, the two lots have been too much mixed together to allow me to make any statistical inquiry as to their relative activities. However, I have on hand a new batch of recruits, so that I ought to be able to make a comparison with the results of this and former detachments.

Educational work has been maintained by the continuance of the out-patient department and lectures to the public, and lectures particularly to school-children. I have to thank the head-master of St. Mary's College for the opportunity afforded me of lecturing to the boys of this, the only school of higher education in the Colony. These boys will in their time become the gentry of the Colony, the employers of labour. In their hands will rest the success of sanitary progress. In the primary schools there is, I think, a determined effort to assist the campaign. The managers give every help. I do not, however, think that the teachers have thoroughly grasped the situation. I would like to see more personal efforts on their part to be free of infection themselves, and to be more active in insisting that scholars attending their schools should also be free. There are too many children of school age remaining on treatment, or shirking their treatment and re examinations for paltry excuses. Teachers do not realize that infection for a shorter or longer period is associated with mental deterioration, and habits of cleanliness inculcated in early life are the mainstay of future healthy living. Still, in spite of some few shortcomings, I have received great assistance from them.

Continued progress has been made in installing pit latrines. The Field Inspec- tor is kept very busy moving from one end of the valley to the other, advising, reproaching, issuing orders for a free fly-proof box, supervising the effective main- tenance of the latrines. When an occupant has proved too dilatory, we have had on occasions the assistance of the police inspector of nuisances, and through him served a notice for early compliance with the Regulations. This has been of great help, and has nearly resulted in gaining our ends without recourse to the Court. The duties of the police are very multifarious, and I have not been able to have this assistance as often as I liked, and have in consequence applied to the Administrator and the Board of Health to have the Field Inspector appointed an inspector of nuisances for the purpose of the campaign.

On the attached map,* and in Appendix B, it will be noted that the valley out- side of the town limits has been divided into six sections, with approximately 1,199 houses. There was some difference of opinion as to the advisability of installing pit latrines in the more populated, low-lying localities just outside the town boun- daries. In such places it was agreed to place a central dumping depot with half a mile radius of service. One such depot was made in the old cemetery off the Marchand Road, Section B, and was opened for use in October. This depot consists of a pit in the ground, whose sides are supported by bamboo logs, and with a cover A pipe at the bottom of the pit conveys any effluent into a smaller of tarred wood. adjoining pit; both pits are protected by drains. Any effluent or surface water in the smaller pit is baled out by bucket into the drain, which empties into the Castries River. Except for the tarred cover, the pit is unprotected from rain. Washing water is provided in a series of barrels filled from the river. The pit is under con- stant supervision, is opened for service between the hours of night, and is limed and earthed every day. Pictures of this pit are among photographs, Appendix E. I have no details of the cost, or how many houses are actually served, but I am assured that it is cheap and efficient. Similar depots are, I understand, to be installed in Sections C, D. and E, just outside the town limits. For Section F it is proposed to place a second sewage barge near the latrine at the Conway, which will serve the greater portion of this section, as well as the adjoining part of the town itself.

In addition, latrines have already been established at the Four à Chaux, in Section A. Thus, by the end of 1917, satisfactory disposal will have been provided In the locali- throughout the valley in the immediate neighbourhood of the town.

ties where central depots, etc.. are established, I hope there will be the same con- tinued effort to insist on satisfactory and efficient outhouses, where the receptacles can be kept until their contents are disposed of. I would deprecate the continu- ance of the present system of housing the not de chambre or receptacle in the living rooms or anywhere accessible to poultry or flies.

*Not sent to the Colonial Office.

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This arrangement has more definitely defined our sphere of activity, to instal pit latrines outside of the limits of any depots; we have thus confined our attention to the houses in the various sections farthest from town and its immediate neighbourhood.

The actual number of houses in our sanitary survey and inspection is thus reduced from 1,199 to 411, and of these at the end of 1916 we are satisfied with the method of disposal adopted by 226. This number is exclusive of the pit latrines that were erected in the Marchand area now served by the central depot. Among a very few, chiefly those who resorted to burial, did I find any effort to have an efficient disposal. In all the others efficiency has been produced by our efforts.

It is well again to sound a warning note. Efficiency can only result from con- stant supervision. The peasantry, even the better-class, are too prone to neglect the cleanliness of their latrines. The buildings are allowed to fall into decay, or to be overgrown with bush. I cannot foresee successful continuation without an organized regular supervision.

I regret that there has been little progress among the wealthier classes. Suburban villas, many of them costly, show a sad disregard of toilet requirements. Only one that I know of can boast anything better than a commode, in the ante- room; even earth closets are rare. Not many occupants know what becomes of the contents, which are emptied by a servant in a hole, gully, or in clump of bush on the grounds.

In one instance I found a modified form of water-closet, which, for want of a better term, I have called the "hill-side seepage tank." The tank is a pit in the ground, its sides dry walled, the roof securely cemented; a well trapped closet is connected to the tank through an opening in the cemented roof, a ventilating shaft goes up to the roof of the house. The closet is flushed with a basin of water after using it.

The whole has been in use for ten years with great success and conveni- ence; no accommodation was provided for the servants, unfortunately. I believe a similar form of tank has been in use in certain of the Philippine Islands for years. It certainly is very inexpensive. Some such form of tank, or the Kentucky sanitary privy, could with advantage be installed in suburban villas, which are dotted along the slopes overlooking the town.

I am glad of the opportunity of thanking His Honour the Administrator for his kindly assistance and advice to me in my work. He takes a very keen interest in progressive sanitation; to him is due the birth of the newly-formed Sanitary Department of the Colony, whose future prosperity is so intimately associated with hygiene and sanitation.

His Honour

The Administrator.

TABLE 1.

I have, &c.,

STANLEY BRANCH.

Report of the work of the St. Lucia Ankylostomiasis Commission during the

Half-Year ended 31st December, 1916.

Number of people to be treated

Census

2,759

Removed before being examined

44

Died before being examined

2

Corrected census

2,713

Refused to be examined

41

1.5

Examined

2,672

98.5

Number of people found to be positive

1,257

47.02

Removed before being treated

40

Died before being treated

2

Refused treatment for medical reasons

5

1,210

Refused to accept treatment Number given first treatment Removed before being cured Died before being cured

21

1-73

1,189

98.27

25

2

Refused further treatment for medical reasons before

being cured

1

Number of people possible to treat and cure

1,161

Abandoning treatment before being cured

2

Cured

1,003

86.4

Remaining under treatment on 31st December, 1916

158

13.8

443