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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TIFIC.O.885

7

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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in or near Nairobi, and endeavours are being made to prevent overcrowding and the accumulation of filth by forming small conveniently-situated camps at varying distances from the township.

SIR,

I have, &c.,

WILLIAM RADFORD,

Medical Officer.

Dr. HARAN to Dr. MACDONALD.

I HAVE the honour to inform you that—

Kismayu, November 11, 1901.

1. On the night of the 5th instant the sea breeze greatly diminished in force, and rain-clouds passed over the town in an inland direction.

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2. On the morning of the 6th the house was invaded by small mosquitoes, who had apparently terminated their period of hibernation.

3. They present an abdomen marked with yellow and brown transverse striping. The legs are grey and brown alternately. The wings present in some cases well- defined spots on their anterior margin; in others a blurring in the same situation. The third pair of legs curves backwards when the insect is at rest.

1901.

They differ from those seen at Yonte between December 1900 and March

5. They display a limited amount of activity in shaded rooms during the day- time.

6. Their physical characters are those of anopheles.

7. The mosquitoes which infested this house last year prior to my departure for Yonte were culicida.

8. With the exception of the pool referred to in K 34 of the 3rd November. 1901, I have found no anopheles' larvæ in the Kismayu water supply. The water of the said pool was very brackish.

9. I am of opinion that mosquitoes are accustomed to hibernate during the cold season, and that the arrival of the rains and warm weather revivifies them and causes them to come forth and reproduce.

REPORT by Dr. HARAN ON KISMAYU.

I have, &c.,

J. A. HARAN.

The town of Kismayu stands on a sandy plain facing the sea, and surrounded on its north-eastern, northern, and western aspects by low ranges of sand-hills of varying altitudes. Its rainfall is scanty, and the inhabitants depend for their water supply on wells sunk in the sand, whose sides are either unlined or lined with coral, wood, or galvanized iron. Though the brackish water they afford is potable, resident Europeans prefer to obtain their drinking water from the Juba River, some 9 or 10 miles distant.

The town may be considered to be divided into two portions: the one, composed of stone houses, which included within a wall, and the other, of mahuti, or grass, which commences at a distance of about 100 yards from the former, on its western and north- ern sides. The walled town is inhabited by Europeans, Goanese, Indians, Arabs, and prisoners of various tribes, while the " African Town" is occupied by Somalia, Swahilis, and the Nubian garrison.

Without the bounds, to the north-east, is the Settlement of the Swedish Mission. which includes a large stone house for the use of the European missionaries, and a few huts for retainers or catechumens.

To the east may be noticed an island, nearly 300 yards from the shore, about half- a-mile in length, and some hundreds of yards in breadth, with an extreme altitude of 150 feet. It forms one of the arms of the bay, and was recently occupied by patients suffering from variola. It is waterless, partly covered with thorn bush, and free from mosquitoes. Reference will be made to it later on.

On arriving at this station in August, 1900, one found the town infested with culicidæ. At all times were they active, nor did sunshine in the least cause them to abate their energies. The demolition by Colonel Ternan of the mahuti huts which then surrounded the stone town on all sides in close proximity afforded me the oppor- tunity of closing a well containing stagnant water situated in the yard of the houst

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which adjoined that in which I dwelt, and I now find it no longer necessary to retreat to the roof during the day, nor to partly asphyxiate myself within mosquito curtains during the night, as the insects have entirely disappeared. From recent inquiries I have ascertained that culicidæ have immensely diminished throughout the town, and in some houses have entirely disappeared.

Since my return to Kismayu last September, I have inspected the major portion, if not all, of the wells, and have found culex larvæ in some five or six. Slightly brack- ish water does not seem to be a tax to their development. I examined a specimen of the water taken from one of the wells, and found therein empty egg-cases roughly triangular in shape. A portion of the same water containing larvæ and some well- sediment I placed in a bowl covered over with a piece of mosquito curtain In duc time the greater number went through the pupal stage, and on subsequent successive mornings I found imagos, all of the culex variety. Some of the larvæ died. In the course of my inspection I discovered certain large earthenware vessels wherein natives are accustomed to store several days' supply of drinking water. These were found infested with culex larve, and appear to be more suitable for the mosquito's re- productive efforts, as they are placed within the houses and seem to be merely refilled from time to time without preliminary cleansing.

I have not yet succeeded in finding an anopheles mosquito in Kismayu. The fact, however, remains that both the adult and infantile native population suffer from malarial fever (principally of the single tertian or double tertian variety), and this may be attributed to either

1. That I have yet to find anopheles in Kismayu;

2. That the victims of the disease have contracted it in other places, e.g., the Asiatics in India, the Somalis or Arabs in their wanderings to Gobwen and other places along the Juba River where anopheles prevail in great numbers during the rainy season, and on whose banks infected people reside;

3. That the culex, perhaps, may effect direct transference of the disease by means of his proboscis stained with blood derived from infected persons.

On the morning of the 25th instant Mr. McDougall convened a meeting of the elders of the town, and, acting on my advice, informed them of the various diseases attributed to the mosquito. They were instructed to clean their wells thoroughly every week, not to store water in their houses, and to cleanse all vessels daily. Those of them who possessed wells within the houses were instructed to remove them to the court-yards, where they might be inspected when necessary. It was not thought advisable to explain to them that, as far as was at present definitely known, but one variety of mosquito (the anopheles) was held responsible for the propagation of palud- ism. Such explanation might possibly cause the African to reflect on his inability to distinguish between them, and he would accordingly pause and consider his position indefinitely. The police have taken up the matter actively, and I think that the pursuance of rigorous crusade against all dirt and slackness for the next six months will result in the banishment of the mosquito.

With regard to the Circular marked "Miscellaneous, No. 132," issued by the Colonial Office, I have the honour to remark that the advice contained in No. 1, Section B, formulates the practice usual in mosquito countries. I have noticed, how- ever, that many Europeans are content to allow the lower portions of their curtains (loaded with lead) to rest on the ground. As the under-surface of the bed, undisturbed from morn, affords a secure and shaded resting place for the mosquito (I have found anopheles so sheltered at Yonte), the inefficacy of such a proceeding is evident. The curtains should be tucked in under the mattress daily before 5 p.m.

In applying No. 1, Section A, authorities should remember that duties occasion- ally call the official to the native quarters of a town at night, and he thus runs the risk of infection. Otherwise, the advice is feasible.

Section 2 may be carried out by transferring the European quarters to the island described in the commencement of this Report. Transport of necessary water could be easily effected by the Government boats. The change would be greatly to the advan- tage in health of the Europeans.

Section 3 could be effected by the establishment of a separate hospital for fever patients, which might be erected at some distance from the town, or, preferably, on the island, where they would be under greater limitations. The difficulty of complying with this section lies in the fact that persons suffering from slight attacks do not present themselves for treatment. Notification should be made compulsory and the non- compliance therewith penal.

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