year.
Q 7
REPORT OF THE RAILWAY MEDICAL OFFICER.
Mr. Naidu has been stationed at North Face Camp (No. 2 Tunnel) throughout the year.
Mr. Chan Tsan Kun was appointed as an extra Assistant Medical Officer on August 13th and has been stationed at Taipo Kau.
Mr. Kelly, Sanitary Inspector, has been stationed at North Face Camp (No. 2 Tunnel) and has ably carried out the sanitary work at various camps.
The general health of the Railway Staff shows a distinct improvement during the year, more especially in the camps at Beacon Hill Tunnel where there has been a reduction of approximately 50 per cent. of cases of Malarial fever.
A similar reduction has taken place in entries for Dysentery and Beri-beri.
The Railway work has proceeded without hindrance on account of sickness throughout the year.
The camps at No. 5 Tunnel, Taipo Kau, have been very unhealthy since work began there, but are now showing great improvement.
The Europeans especially suffered badly from Malarial Fever in the summer in spite of the administration of prophylactic doses of quinine.
The ground is very wet and soft and with repeated land slides which occurred on opening-up the South end of the tunnel, pool-formation could not be prevented.
The workmen, moreover, in consequence of the extremely wet nature of the ground, have had to work under most trying conditions, almost always being knee-deep in water or soft mud and this no doubt has been a responsible factor in the incidence of sickness.
Now that the work is well in hand, drainage and scavenging are being carried out as thoroughly as possible, coolie houses are frequently cleansed with disinfecting fluids, and the result has been a remarkable improvement.
Oil is used freely all over the line as a means of destroying mosquito larva in pools impossible to drain.
Case books have been kept at the two main camps at Beacon Hill Tunnel and since the appointment of a resident Assistant Medical Officer at Taipo Kau, at that place also.
It is impossible to record every case of sickness occurring amongst the coolies living in outlying matsheds but, speaking generally, there has been a great decrease in all cases occurring in places not attached to main camps as well as in the main camps themselves.
Quinine has been dealt out freely, though perhaps not so freely as formerly as I found that a considerable amount was wasted by being thrown away into the nullahs or bartered at the small stores for food, etc., the natives, especially when new to the territory, not taking kindly to the drug, and it has often to be given under compulsion. As soon as the practice was discovered, steps were taken to stop it.
Serious accidents have, fortunately, been rare during the year.
One of the most troublesome ailments at present is the effect of the dynamite fumes in the big tunnel.
The heading is about 3,000 feet from the entrance at each face. Ventilation will, however, be much improved when the headings meet in the course of a few months, allowing a free current of air through the whole length of the tunnel.
Most of the workers, especially at South Face, suffer constantly from severe irritation of throat and lungs as a result of breathing the air heavily charged with dynamite fumes.
Occasionally coolies have to be carried out from the workings, being overcome by the fumes after blasting operations. A few minutes in the fresh air, however, always revives them and there have been no serious results.
The total number of cases treated at North and South Face Camps, No. 2 Tunnel, during the year is:-
1907 1908 of these the following are the principal diseases: Malaria 3,667 Dysentery 556 1,168 Beri-beri 53 124 Injuries 58 81 354 371 2,064year.
Q 7
REPORT OF THE RAILWAY MEDICAL OFFICER.
Mr. Naidu has been stationed at North Face Camp (No. 2 Tunnel) throughout the
Mr. Chan Tsan Kun was apppointed as an extra Assistant Medical Officer on August 13th and has been stationed at Taipo Kau.
Mr. Kelly, Sanitary Inspector, has been stationed at North Face Camp (No. 2 Tunnel) and has ably carried out the sanitary work at various camps.
The general health of the Railway Staff shows a distinct improvement during the year, more especially in the camps at Beacon Hill Tunnel where there has been a reduction of approximately 50 per cent. of cases of Malarial fever.
A similar reduction has taken place in entries for Dysentery and Beri-beri.
The Railway work has proceeded without hindrance on account of sickness throughout
the year.
The camps at No. 5 Tunnel, Taipo Kau, have been very unhealthy since work began there, but are now showing great improvement.
The Europeans especially suffered badly from Malarial Fever in the summer in spite of the administration of prophylactic doses of quinine.
The ground is very wet and soft and with repeated land slides which occurred on opening-up the South end of the tunnel, pool-formation could not be prevented.
The workmen moreover, in consequence of the extremely wet nature of the ground, bave had to work under most trying conditions, almost always being knee-deep in water or soft mud and this no doubt has been a responsible factor in the incidence of sickness.
Now that the work is well in hand drainage and scavenging are being carried out as thoroughly as possible, coolie houses are frequently cleansed with disinfecting fluids, and the result has been a remarkable improvement.
Oil is used freely all over the line as a means of destroying mosquito larva in pools impossible to drain,
Case books have been kept at the two main camps at Beacon Hill Tunnel aud since the appointment of a resident Assistant Medical Officer at Taipo Kau, at that place also.
It is impossible to record every case of sickness occurring amongst the coolies living in outlying matsheds but speaking generally, there has been a great decrease in all cases occurring in places not attached to main camps as well as in the main camps themselves.
Quinine has been dealt out freely, though perhaps not so freely as formerly as I found that a considerable amount was wasted by being thrown away into the nullahs or bartered at the small stores for food, etc., the natives, especially when new to the territory not taking kindly to the drug, and it has often to be given under compulsion. As soon as the practice was discovered steps were taken to stop it.
Serious accidents have, fortunately, been rare during the year.
One of the most troublesome ailments at present is the effect of the dynamite fumes in the big tunnel.
The heading is about 3.000 feet from the entrance at each face. Ventilation will however be much improved when the headings meet in the course of a few months allowing a free current of air through the whole length of the tunnel.
Most of the workers, especially at South Face, suffer constantly from severe irritation of throat and lungs as a result of breathing the air heavily charged with dynamite fumes.
Occasionally coolies have to be carried out from the workings being overcone by the funes after blasting operations. A few minutes in the fresh air however, always revives them and there have been no serious results.
The total number of cases treated at North and South Face Camps, No. 2 Tunnel, during the year is:-
1907
of these the following are the principal diseases:
Malaria Dysentery Beri-beri Injuries
.....2,064
3,667
1908.
1907.
556
1,168
53
124
58
81
354
371
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