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37348

(No. 261.) SIR,

No. 5.

BRITISH

GUIANA.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 14th August, 1915.)

[Answered by No. 20.]

Government House, Georgetown, Demerara, 20th July, 1915. In continuation of my despatch No. 479, of the 21st November last,* I have the honour to transmit, under separate cover, twenty copies of a preliminary reportt on the amelioration and control of ankylostomiasis in the Peter's Hall District of British Guiana, by the Supervising Medical Officer, Dr. F. E. Field, with a covering letter by the Honourable K. S. Wise, Surgeon-General.

2.

Printed copies of this report have been supplied to the International Health

Commission.

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WALTER EGERTON.

Surgeon-General's Office, Georgetown, Demerara,

26th April, 1915.

I HAVE the honour to forward the preliminary report on the amelioration and control of ankylostomiasis in the Peter's Hall District of British Guiana, by the Supervising Medical Officer, Dr. F. E. Field.

2. The report is a full one, and gives in excellent detail an exact account of the work performed. It lacks certain detailed statistical tables which will be forwarded later.

3. This work began on 12th March. 1914, on which date Dr. Howard, the special representative of the International Health Commission, arrived in British Guiana. Dr. Howard remained in charge until July, at which time Dr. Field was specially seconded from the Colonial service to supervise the work. In each case the Supervising Medical Officer has had the advantage of the advice and special experience of Dr. Ferguson, the Government Medical Officer of the Peter's Hall District.

4. The object attempted was the systematic examination of all persons in the villages of the Peter's Hall District and the expulsion of all hookworms from those infected. The result has been a great reduction in the number of persons infected, a great reduction in the intensity of the individual infection, and a marked ameliora- tion of symptoms due to hookworm infection.

5. During the progress of the campaign special attention has been directed to the accuracy of the records, since some estimate was required of the effect of the Commission's operations. and no effort was spared to make it as complete and full as possible under the circumstances.

6. To diagnose the presence or absence of hookworm infection is largely a matter of microscopical technique. and paragraphs 10-18 of this report show the care devoted thereto. On the accuracy of these microscopical examinations rests the accuracy of the estimate of the campaign's value.

7. It must be realized that the earlier microscopical examinations had not the same thoroughness as those of a later period, and it should not be forgotten that the initial census error was probably from 18-29 per cent. of those examined. At the latter end of the campaign the error was reduced to about 3 per cent.

8. This campaign was carried out in a village population of 10,380 persons, with a known infection of 5,590 persons and a probable infection of 7,119; it has brought 5,160 persons under treatment by thymol; it has rendered 4,109 apparently free from infection but really only 3,986 (owing to microscopic error). The result is that probably 3,261 (31 per cent. of the 10,380) were at the beginning free from infection, while 7,255 (70 per cent. of the 10,380) were free at the end of the cam- paign. (Vide paragraph 21 of the report).

* 48945: not printed.

Not reprinted.

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