CO885-24 — Page 435

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

CO. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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The question is one that can only be decided in the light of experience of the local conditions, with which you are familiar; and Mr. Bonar Law directs me, there- fore, to ask whether you will be good enough to favour him with your observations on the matter.

33855

(No. 415.) SIR,

No. 4.

CEYLON.

H. J. READ,

I am, &c.,

for the Under-Secretary of State.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 22nd July, 1915.)

[Answered by No. 13.]

The Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon, 28th June, 1915. WITH reference to the correspondence ending with Mr. Harcourt's “Miscel· laneous" despatch of the 18th March, 1914,* I have the honour to inform you that, as a result of the visit to Ceylon in April, 1914, of Mr. Wickliffe Rose, Director of the International Health Commission, preliminary steps were taken to start a cam- paign against ankylostomiasis, but on the outbreak of the war definite action was postponed

2. The matter has lately been revived as the result of the visit to Ceylon of Dr. V. G. Heiser, representative of the International Health Commission, who inquired whether he could count upon the co-operation of this Government in a campaign against hookworm infection in the island. I enclose a copy of his letter giving the outlines of the scheme, and of the reply, in which he was informed that he could rely upon the fullest sympathy and co-operation on the part of the Government

3.

I also received a letter, of which I enclose a copy, from the Chairman of the Estate Agents' Association, warmly supporting the scheme and undertaking to select the areas to be treated first and guaranteeing such part of the cost, estimated at Rs.10,850, as may be necessary.

4. I enclose a copy of the reply sent to the Chairman in which it was suggested hat the cost of the proposed pioneer operations should be borne equally by the Estate Agents' Association and by the Government. I also enclose a copy of the Chairman's reply agreeing to this arrangement.

5. A vote of Rs. 10,000 for this service will be included in the estimates of expenditure for 1915-16, and the repayment by the Estate Agents' Association of their moiety of the cost will be credited to revenue.

SIR.

I have, &c.,

ROBERT CHALMERS,

Enclosure 1 in No. 4.

Governor.

Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, Ceylon, 26th May, 1915.

As the representative of the International Health Commission of the Rocke- feller Foundation, I have the honour to address Your Excellency with the view to ascertaining whether it would not be possible for us to co-operate with Your Excel- lency's Government and other agencies in starting a campaign against hookworm infection in Ceylon. At the present time we are co-operating with no less than eleven foreign countries, nearly all of which are British Colonies, and the work is making excellent progress in spite of the handicap caused by the war.

In accordance with the plan outlined by Mr. Wickliffe Rose, during his former visit, to start measures against this disease. in Ceylon, I have informally conferred with Sir Thomson Broom, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. T. L. Chairman Villiers, Chairman of the Estate Agents' Association, Mr. Hew Kennedy,

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of the Planters' Association, Dr. H. M. Fernando, of the Low Country Planters' Association, Dr. G. J. Rutherford, Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer, and many other persons who have practical and technical knowledge of the hookworm infection in Ceylon. It is their unanimous opinion that the disease is a serious menace to the health and working efficiency of the inhabitants of this island, and that it is most desirable to make efforts toward its eradication.

In order to develop a good working plan for Ceylon it would seem desirable to make a test demonstration on several estates where the conditions are different. The following method of procedure is respectfully submitted:-

1. The International Health Commission is to send a man to take charge of the hookworm campaign in conjunction with the Medical Department of Ceylon. The details of the best way to begin, the appointment of Commit- tee, and other matters, are to be left until the arrival of this representative and until he has had an opportunity to go over the field and study the various factors concerned. The International Health Commission will pay the salary and the travelling expenses of the man which it furnishes.

2. Ceylon Government to furnish the medicines for treating the cases, stationery, microscopes, incidentals, and six microscopists. It will also advise the officials in charge of estates with regard to the sanitary measures deemed desirable.

3. The Estate Agents' Association, in conjunction with the Planters' Association, is to make available a few suitable estates with the apothecary and hospital facilities, and where the coolies may be examined and treated and the different elements concerned may co-operate to carry the matter to a successful conclusion.

Mr. Villiers, the Chairman of the Estate Agents' Association, and Dr. Ruther- ford, the Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer, believe the foregoing preliminary plan practicable and are prepared to carry out their respective parts.

If the foregoing meets with His Excellency's approval, I am prepared to send at

once for the man we are to furnish.

In conclusion, might I ask that I be advised of His Excellency's decision by telegraph, because I have appointments in India and should like to leave Colombo with the least delay.

With assurances of highest esteem,

To His Excellency

SIR,

Sir Robert Chalmers, K.C.B.,

I have, &c.,

VICTOR G. Heiser,

Director for the East.

Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and

over the Island of Cevlon with the

Dependencies thereof, &c., &c., &c.

Enclosure 2 in No. 4.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Colombo, 31st May, 1915. I AM directed by His Excellency the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th of May, regarding a proposed campaign against hookworm infection in Ceylon.

2. This Government is fully alive to the importance of the subject, and His Excellency desires me to assure you that the International Health Commission may rely upon the fullest sympathy and co-operation on the part of the Government.

3. It is considered desirable that the test demonstrations suggested in your letter should be carried out under the auspices of the Estate Agents' Association, who will arrange with the Medical Officer sent by the International Health Commis- sion for the selection of suitable areas for the experiments. The Government will provide a Medical Officer of the Ceylon service to assist the Commission's officer, and will also provide six microscopists and the necessary instruments, drugs, etc., the cost being divided between Government and the Estate Agents' Association.

I am, &c.,

H. M. M. MOORE, for Colonial Secretary.

Dr. V. G. Heiser,

Galle Face Hotel.

* No. 29 in Miscellaneous No. 804.