CO885-(7-8) — Page 444

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O.885

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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adequately dealt with by a Government grant for the purpose of making such pro- vision as is directly suitable in each case; and, owing to native custom, no universal system, such as roofing in, &c., could be easily tolerated by the owners or natives.

Much, however, might be done to generally drain, fill up, or render more free from risk, such as are accessible.

REPORT by Dr. HARAN.

I have, &c.,

ALFRED J. M. PAGET.

The prosent military station at Yonte is 'situated on a bend of the Juba River, some 22 miles by road from Kismayu. The country in its immediate vicinity on the British side is fairly open, but the opposite Italian bank is clothed with palms and undergrowth.

The European officers' quarters are built on a slight ridge running north-west and south-east, about 80 yards from the river, bearing on its north-eastern face the marks of former floods. The houses are of wood, with felt-covered roofs, broad verandahs, and are raised on iron pillars some 5 feet from the ground.

The Soudanese quarters lic to the south-east, about 300 yards from the European quarters, and are composed of rows of mahuti huts.

At a distance of between 600 and 800 yards in a south-easterly and westerly direction, is a low upland between which and the European part of the station inter- venes depressed ground which becomes a swamp during the rainy season.

The lowlands between the officers' quarters and the river were used up to the time of the recent expedition as a station plantation. They also become a swamp during the rains, and were lately covered with water during the rise of the Juba River.

When I arrived at Yonte last December the rains had practically ceased, and the houses swarmed with anopheles. Their period of activity extended between sunset and an hour or so after sunrise. Their movements after dawn were no doubt furthered by the shade afforded to the rooms in consequence of the breadth of the verandahs. During the day all dark, undisturbed corners gave them shelter-the under-surfaces of beds, tables, and chairs, the backs of sideboards, the tops of clocks, books on shelves, the folds of newspapers not in use, the backs of wardrobes, and the interiors thereof when left open, clothes hanging on pegs--in fact, all undisturbed, sheltered spots were certain to contain them."

Unless the greatest precautions were used they succeeded in gaining entrance at night within mosquito curtains.

In so doing they seemed to have obtained assistance from a minute, beetle which appeared during the rains. This insect crawls about, among other places, on the outer surfaces of mosquito curtains, and appears to derive satisfaction in eating through its meshes. By so doing a hole is made sufficiently large for the passage of the anopheles who is restlessly hovering around the curtain seeking an entrance. I have many times been" tucked in "with the greatest care, subsequently examining the inside of the curtains thoroughly with negative results, and I have as invariably awakened in the morning to find two or three anopheles, gorged with blood, clinging to the inner surface of the mosquito net. The curtains were undisturbed in any way apparently, but on close examination one discovered a mesh here and there eaten through, and could find no other explanation to account for the entrance of the mosquito.

During the dry season mosquitoes disappear, probably to "hibernate " in banana and castor-oil trees, with which latter the Italian bank of the river abounds.

The new quarters at present in course of construction are greatly to be preferred to those at present occupied. They are being built in the low upland referred to at the commencement of the Report.

The wire enclosure commences about 50 yards from the river; the intervening land is steep and not liable to be flooded. The Soudanese quarters are of galvanized iron, raised from the ground and floored with cement, and are, therefore, capable of being maintained, under supervision, in a state of absolute cleanliness.

The site would be much improved by the construction of cemented surface drains. The lowlands at present occupied by the European and Soudanese quarters should, on their evacuation, be efficiently drained and planted with eucalyptus and sugar-cane,. both of which absorb large quantities of water. Banana plantations should be at a

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distance and out of the prevailing wind-lines of the station. Refugee Wagosha settling down under the ægis of Government should be placed down-river at some hundreds of yards' distance.

It would also conduce to the health of the station if the Italian Government were approached with a view to obtaining their assent to the gradual demolition of the palms and undergrowth (including the castor-oil tree) on the opposite bank of the river. It has lately been stated, as the result of observation in the Madras Presidency, that the Ricinus communis affords a favourite pabulum to mosquitoes.

The recommendations contained in Circular No. 132 are, with the exception of No. 2, capable of being put into practice at New Yonte. Owing to military exigencies the station has been so planned that the European and Soudanese quarters are necessarily together. The protection of the European at night, however, by means of wire gauze windows and doors, will partly negative the evils resultant from proximity. An exceeding care must be exercised in the maintenance of cleanliness and order, for the chance entry of a few anopheles into the mess-room may result in the infection of a healthy from an unhealthy European or from an African attendant.

J. A. HARAN,

Medical Officer.

Kismayu, November 3, 1901.

SIR,

Dr. JOHNSON to SIR C. ELIOT.

Mombasa, August 3, 1901.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of certain publications on the sub- ject of the prevention of malaria, being reports to the Royal Society as to the best methods of securing freedom from this disease; and I now have to submit, as re- quested, the following observations, as to the appropriateness of this station, of the recommendations contained in these reports:-

(a.) The measure which all of the reports agree in as being the most important for preventing mosquitoes infected with the parasite of malaria from conveying the disease to healthy individuals is the "segregation of Europeans." It is recommended that in all cases, wherever possible, a distance of at least half-a-mile should separate the houses occupied by Europeans from native dwellings, and " that all new buildings, as far as is practicable, and with due regard to expense, be located away from native quarters, clear of jungle, at a distance from stagnant waters, and, where possible, on high ground."

These conditions may be said, to obtain over a considerable portion of the area in Mombasa which is occupied by European officials, and, having in view the importance attached to these conditions, and the comparative facility.with which such sites may be had, I should suggest that it would be advisable, in the erection of public buildings, to adhere to these requirements.

(b.) But, while a considerable number of the houses in Mombasa are thus fortunately situated, there are some occupied by both officials and non-officials which are in proximity to native huts, and where, accordingly, this segregation does not obtain, and where mosquitoes are more abundant than in the other portions of Mom- basa. I refer to the houses along Macdonald Terrace; the house on the road to Kilindini, rented by the Military Department, and possibly the quarters in the Fort should be included."

In a subsequent part of this Report I shall indicate which recommendations, in my opinion, are the most suitable for adoption in these quarters, but, in the first place, I shall deal with those methods which are generally applicable to the whole station, and which would probably be attended with beneficial results.

1. Mosquito nets: These should be of "approved material, pattern, and mesh, for use both in quarters and while travelling." Although mosquito nets are in general use, is is the custom to find them employed in a perfunctory manner, and the amount of protection to be derived from their use is rarely obtained. The nets should be suspended from within the bedstead-posts, thus allowing of their being tucked under the mattress in such a way as to allow no loophole for the entrance of a stray mosquito or two. They should, of course, be kept in good repair.

2.

On Safari: When travelling, as far as possible sleeping in native villages or near any collection of native huts should be avoided. The camp for the night to be at a distance from the village of at least half-a-mile.

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