CO885-24 — Page 443

Reference :-

C.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

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30. The Colonial Secretary presented an adjustment of the financial statement and estimate and a rearrangement of the budget were completed to the satisfaction of the Medical Director. These are herewith presented for approval, and if that is accorded the budget presented last month and approved will be withdrawn.

REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE, 1915.

31. At headquarters the general clerical and administrative work has pro- ceeded; patients have been seen and treated; advice in respect to ankylostomiasis and sanitary conditions has been given; drugs have been compounded and issued to the districts; laboratory investigations have been continued, including pathological examinations for institutions and general practitioners, as well as various soil, water, and other analyses, which will be recorded on completion.

32. Routine visiting to meet and treat patients at five locations and occasion- ally at their homes in the Mount Moritz area has been continued.

33. Lectures have been delivered and lantern demonstrations given at Mount Moritz, Happy Hill, and Constantine Schools. Stock pictures and pictures of local conditions, personal and topical, were shown, and the audiences, large and of all ages, especially appreciated the latter. The lectures in the main consist of talk built around the pictures.

34.

The statistical schedule gives the figures for work done at headquarters, at Mount Moritz, and St. David's.

35. The extent of infection amongst patients coming to headquarters during the month is 44 per cent., which does not indicate the extent of infection in the general community throughout the island from which they come. The infection in the Mount Moritz area, which at first was presumed to be high, will probably not amount to 50 per cent. of some 4,000 of population. On the other hand, the infec- tion in the St. David's area will probably reach the extent of nearly 70 per cent. of a population of about 7,000.

36. The populations and the districts so far operated on afford variety of infection and differing conditions, sufficient, when the work in these areas is com- pleted, to give evidence that should help to establish accepted beliefs and to settle matters yet in doubt.

37. In St. David's area work has continued in satisfactory manner. I have made regular visits to the area, observed the work at the field office, met the patients on several occasions, and continued my study of the local conditions throughout the

area.

38. Visits have also been paid to the different schools, and there and in the people's homes opportunity has been taken to talk on sanitary matters.

39. The most marked feature of the work in St. David's is the record of high infection and tardy cure. There is indication, as above stated, that the extent of infection will reach nearly 70 per cent. of a population of about 7,000; also, of 3,070 treatments issued during the month of June, 1,172 covered three treatments, and 1,898 covered treatments from four to eighteen. The lengthy treatment necessary to obtain negative results will postpone the completion of the work in St. David's area, although the proportion of the population not yet examined and treated is creditably

small.

40. The campaign of sanitary instruction continues both from this office and by the Government Sanitary Inspector; and improvement is still manifested by the digging of pits and erection of closet buildings where before none existed. This applies as well to districts in the island outside the areas operated as to these areas, though in less degree to the former.

41. The recommendations of the Advisory Committee on "sanitary necessi- ties," following on the special report of the Colonial Surgeon and the Medical Officer in charge. have been referred by the Governor, for consideration and report, to a Committee specially appointed; invitation to serve on this Committee I have asked His Excellency to permit me not to accept.

42. The financial scale of the operations during the quarter has been that of the estimate originally presented and adopted in the previous quarter.

43. The financial statement for the quarter is presented.

44.

The operations for the quarter commencing 1st July, 1915, are conducted under the budget specially constructed with the Director for the West Indies during

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