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6. We examined under the microscope the blood of ten children from the village nearest to the Police Station. At first we had some difficulty in obtaining the necessary specimens, but having finally persuaded a chair-coolie to bring his own son we presented the child with a five-cent piece, and let it be known that we were willing to pay for blood at the rate of five cents per drop, where- upon more children turned up than our time permitted us to deal with. Results were as follows:-
Sex.
m.
9
Type of Parasite found. Benign Tertian Gamete. Benign Tertian Rosette.
Nil.
Nil.
Aestivo-Autumnal Gamete.
Age. 3
f.
8
in.
14
ከ.
In.
m.
15
f.
5
Young Aestivo-Autumnal.
10.
14
Young Aestivo-Autumnal.
m.
Nil. Nil.
m.
Nil.
8
Thus in 50 per cent. of the cases examined we found the parasites of Malaria; and when it is borne in mind that the amount of blood examined in any case did not exceed the size of a pin's head, and that in no case did time allow us to take a second specimen, it will be apparent that the actual prevalence of Malaria among the village children is probably greater than the percentage above named. Two cases were of benign type and three malignant, and while all five children were infec- tive to the mosquito, rendering any anopheles feeding upon them capable of a few days later transmitting the discase to other persons, in two cases the form of the parasite that actually came under our observation was the gamete, ie., the form which ween ingested by the mosquito is capable of undergoing metamorphosis in the body of that insect.
7. In the abundance of mosquitoes of the Anopheles genus above described, with their breeding- grounds almost close up to the Government buildings, and in the near proximity of an extensively infected native population, by which many of these mosquitoes are being continuously rendered in- fective to healthy persons who may be bitten by them, we have the factors that account sufficiently and conclusively for the fevers that have prevailed among the Government officers at Táipó.
We are of opinion that the seasonal increase of fever cases that has been observed at the time of ploughing, and at the period of harvesting the two rice-crops, is due to the disturbance at these times of mosquitoes usually resting among the grass or growing paddy, and feeding on Chinese coming within their reach, such disturbance resulting in their flying further afield and finding their way in larger numbers to the houses on the hills.
8. Having given our most careful consideration to the facts above stated, in all their bearings, we have come to the conclusion that all temporary measures for the improvement of the health of the station at Táipó should be superseded with as little delay as possible by a definite scheme for the complete eradication of the breeding-places of the Anopheles mosquito over a wide area surrounding the Police Station.
The district involved is too large to be efficiently dealt with by any culicicide; the cutting and clearing of long gruss and shrubs from the billside is only a subsidiary measure, though undoubtedly a useful one; the mosquito curtain, especially if put down an hour before dusk and kept down as long after sunrise, is a valuable preventive of the approach of mosquitoes at night, but with definite limits to its usefulness; and drugging with large quantities of quinine is manifestly undesirable as a permanent method of dealing with the matter.
We consider that we have no alternative but to recommend, as the one means of rendering the Police Station and its neighbourhood more healthy as regards Malaria, the acquirement and reclamation or efficient drainage of all the paddy-fields within a radius of 250 yards from the foot of the hills on which the houses stand, including to the north-west the whole of the marshy water-bed to which we have already referred as a large permanent breeding-place of the Malaria-bearing mosquito.
9. Finally, we recommend that the matsheds in use for the accommodation of the Civil Staff, affording as they do ready cover for adult mosquitoes, and also rendering the inmates liable to chills at night, should be replaced by permanent buildings; and we venture to suggest for the .considera- tion of His Excellency that a more suitable and healthier site than those that have been proposed is available for the purpose. Observing that no permanent foundations for these buillings have yet been laid, and that au Island, 900 yards due east of the Police Station, and well removed from any considerable native population, is being connected with the mainland by a solid road and bridge, in order that a pier may be constructed from it to reach deep water, we made a careful examination of this island. We found no larvæ of mosquitoes, and should any breeding-places come to light after the thick undergrowth is cleared away, they could be readily eradicated. The location would probably be found convenient for executive purposes on account of the proximity of the proposed pier, and its isolation would reuder it much less malarious than either of the proposed sites even after the improvements we have suggested for the existing police station have been carried into effect,
It would be further conducive to the health of the Civil Staff, if the building were erected in two storeys, the ground floor to be used for office purposes, and residential quarters provided entirely on the upper floor.
We have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servants,
Dr. JOHN BELL,
Acting Principal Civil Medical Offeur,
&c.,
So..
&c.
T. M. YouNG,
M.B., F.R.C.s. Ed.
Jour C. THOMSON,
M.D., M.A.
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