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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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9 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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With regard to the other Presidencies there seems to be a disinclination on the part of the medical officers to give the required instruction.

October 9, 1906.

CHARLES M. MARTIN,

Inspector of Schools.

Enclosure 2 in No. 41.

(Circular. Leeward Islands. No. 1940/05.)

SIR,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Antigua, February 13, 1906. Wrra reference to the Secretary of State's circular despatch of the 26th August last on the subject of the teaching of the rudiments of hygiene in the schools of tropical Colonies, I have the honour, by direction of the Acting Governor, to inform you that the subject has been under the consideration of the Inspector of Schools and it would appear that little can be done until the teachers themselves have been instructed and have acquired a practical knowledge of the subject.

2. His Excellency would be glad if you will invite one of the medical officers of your Presidency to assist the Government in this matter by giving a course of simple lectures on elementary hygiene and sanitation, which the teachers would be asked to attend, or to adopt such other measures to ensure the teaching of hygiene and sanitation as may suggest themselves to you.

3. The Inspector of Schools, in consultation with the Chief Government Medical Officer, Antigua, and the science master of the Antigua Grammar School, has been requested to draw up a short and simple syllabus adapted to local require- ments for the guidance of the teachers.

4. In Antigua the science master of the Antigua Grammar School has given a course of lectures to the teachers, but His Excellency understands that it has not been hitherto found possible to follow a similar course in the other Presidencies.

The Administrators and Commissioners.

I have, &c.,

E. ST. JOHN BRANCH,

Colonial Secretary.

Enclosure 3 in No. 41.

SIR,

Nevis, April 7, 1906. WITH reference to the teaching of hygiene in the elementary schools of this Colony, I have the honour to forward herewith a scheme of instruction in this subject, which has been drawn up by Dr. Norris, Mr. A. H. Kirby, and myself.

2. The scheme will be followed by Mr. Kirby in his lectures to the teachers in Antigua, and I would suggest that a copy te sent to each of the Presidencies for the guidance of the medical officers who have consented to give a course of instruction in this subject. I propose to introduce the teaching of hygiene in the schools as soon as the teachers have been sufficiently instructed.

3. There is a difficulty with regard to the attendance at the lectures proposed to be given. Many teachers live at a distance from the towns and would be put to expense in attending at the course. I have to suggest that a small grant to cover out-of-pocket expenses be made to those teachers who do not live in the vicinity of the towns in which the lectures would be delivered. The cost would not be great, and in view of the importance of introducing the teaching of hygiene in the schools, should be considered a necessary expenditure.

4. I have to express my thanks to Dr. Norris and to Mr. Kirby for the assistance they have given me in drawing up the scheme.

I have, &c.,

CHARLES M. MARTIN,

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Education Department, Leeward Islands.

SCHEME OF INSTRUCTION IN HYGIENE FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

I. The House.

i. Care of the structure with regard to keeping it in proper repair.

ii. Clearance and cultivation of land about the house.

iii. Drainage of premises and means to prevent the collection of standing

water.

iv. Disposal of excreta, rubbish, &c.

v. Proper care of small stock in regard to the house.

vi. Collection and storage of water.

vii. Ventilation, especially at night Overcrowding. viii. Cleanliness of floor, wall, roof.

ix. Contents of the house.

i. Meals, times of.

II. Food.

ii. Kinds of food and need of each kind.

iii. Proper food for adults and for children. iv. Preparation of food-cleanliness, &c.

v. Water and its treatment for use.

III. Clothing.

Cleanliness. Suitability. Necessity for frequent changing.

IV. Personal Habits.

Cleanliness of the body, especially the hands and feet. Expectoration. Tem- perance. Carriage of the body, including walking and sitting and working in school. Attending to the wants and necessities of nature.

V. Common Diseases, their Cause and Prevention.

i. (House) consumption. Yaws. (Jiggers, fleas, lice, bugs, ticks.) Yellow

and malaria fever.

Filariasis.

ii. (Foodwater) worms. Bowel diseases.-Dysentery, diarrhoea, typhoid,

dyspepsia, cholera.

iii. Rheumatism (heart disease), Bright's disease.

iv. Personal habits. Coole itch, ringworm, itch, lockjaw.

v. Infectious diseases.-Chicken-pox, measles, whooping-cough.

VI. Accidents, Treatment after.

i. Injuries. Cuts, bruises, lacerated wounds, fractures, dislocations.

ii. Poisoning from fish, meat, stale and vegetable food.

iii. Drowning.

VII. Benefits which result to the community from the observance of hygienic rules.

SIR,

Enclosure 4 in No. 41.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Antigua, April 17, 1906.

(Leeward Islands. No. 718.)

I AM directed by the Governor to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, and for the scheme enclosed with reference to the teaching of hygiene in the elementary schools of this Colony.

2. Copies of your letter will be referred to the Administrators and Commis- sioners of the other Presidencies for the consideration of their Governments, and

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the question of the introduction in Antigua of your scheme, and of provision being made for a grant to teachers, will be considered by His Excellency in Executive Council

C. M. Martin, Esquire,

I am, &c.,

E. ST. JOHN BRANCH,

Colonial Secretary.

Inspector of Schools.

Enclosure 5 in No. 41.

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into instruction of teachers in tropical hygiene. I recommend the formation of a class or classes at suitable places for the purpose; it would be sufficient as a begin- ning to give a short course of six to eight lectures. The subjects to be treated would be the simple and essential laws of health without undue scientific details; special attention to be paid to explaining and elaborating upon communicable diseases, and generally to keep within a fixed syllabus. I have been favoured with a copy of the syllabus referred to in the Colonial Secretary's circular, and think it well adapted for the purpose, though, in my opinion, the last section Accidents " be, with advantage, omitted as more suitable to a course of lectures on “First Aid.”

I am willing to take my share in these lectures, as far as lies within my power, and make the attempt to interest teachers in hygienic functions which should rightly belong to them; I would suggest that Dr. Rat be asked to undertake the course in Nevis.

W. H. FRETZ.

may

SIR,

(Circular. Leeward Islands. No. 718.)

His Honour

of the 13th

•

The Administrator,

April 18, 1906.

Government House, Antigua, April 17, 1906. Colonial Secretary's Office, Antigua, April 17, 1906. WITH reference to (1) the Colonial Secretary's letter, No.

(2) my February last, on the subject of the teaching of the rudiments of hygiene in the schools of tropical Colonies, I (1) have the honour

to enquire what (2) am directed by the Governor action has been taken thereon and to enclose, for your consideration, copy of a letter* and enclosures which have been received from the Inspector of Schools on this subject.

I have, &c.,

(1) BICKHAM SWEET-ESCOTT,

(2) E. ST. JOHN BRANCH,

Governor.

Colonial Secretary.

(St. Kitts-Nevis. No. 37.)

Enclosure 7 in No. 41.

Government House, Antigua, April 27, 1906.

SIR,

I BEG to acknowledge the receipt of Your Honour's despatch, No. 28, of the 20th instant, and to inform you that I approve the arrangements which you propose with the view of securing instruction in the schools of your Presidency in rural hygiene.

2. I appreciate Dr. Fretz's co-operation in this matter.

(1) The Administrators,

(2) The Commissioners,

Dominica and St. Kitts-Nevis.

Montserrat and the Virgin Islands.

Enclosure 6 in No. 41.

His Honour

The Administrator,

St. Kitts-Nevis.

I have, &c.,

BICKHAM SWEET-ESCOTT,

Governor.

SIR,

(St. Christopher, Nevis. No. 28.)

Government House, St. Kitts, West Indies, April 20, 1906.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's despatch, No. 20, of the 17th instant, on the subject of teaching rural hygiene in the schools of this Presidency, and in reply to Your Excellency's request for information as to what action has been taken in regard to this question, I enclose, for Your Excel- lency's information, copy of a minute that I have received from Dr. Fretz in reply to one from me asking for his views. If Your Excellency approves, I propose to arrange classes as suggested by Dr. Fretz; the instruction given being on the lines suggested in the scheme of instruction drawn up by the Inspector of Schools, and transmitted with Your Excellency's despatch under reply.

His Excellency the Governor,

Leeward Islands,

Antigua.

I have, &c.,

ROBERT BROMLEY,

Administrator.

MINUTE from Dr. FRETZ to ADMINISTRATOR.

There seems to be no doubt that instruction of teachers is an essential

pre- liminary to the instruction of scholars, any other means of teaching the children would be unduly expensive and not nearly so efficient; it, therefore, resolves iself

•

Enclosure 8 in No. 41.

(Virgin Islands. No. 38.)

SIR,

Tortola, May 4, 1906.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letters, No. 1940/05/153, of the 13th of February last, and No. 718, of the 17th ultimo, on the subject of the teaching of the rudiments of hygiene in schools.

2. I regret it has not been possible at present to take any steps to teach the rudiments of hygiene to the teachers in the schools of the Virgin Islands.

3. If I could find the time I should be willing to instruct the schoolmasters myself, but, unfortunately, the schools are so scattered that it would be impossible for any of the schoolmasters to attend, except the two stationed in Road Town.

4. I think it is important; however, that something should be done as the ignorance on such matters in remote parts of the Colony is almost incredible. Perhaps it would be possible for the Inspector of Schools to inform the Managers of the schools in the Virgin Islands that after a fixed date any newly appointed schoolmaster would have to produce a certificate of attendance on lectures of the proposed course before he could be recognised by the Department, and a suitable manual of hygiene given to the present schoolmasters.

The Honourable

E. St. John Branch,

&c., &c., &c.

I have, &c.,

ROBERT S. EARL.

• Enclosure 3.