Sessional_Paper_1903 — Page 457

Sessional Papers 議政定例兩局文件 All

370

during many months, of the condition under which the European lives, and they advocate segregation as strongly as we do ourselves.

Further, Logan Taylor, himself engaged in destructive measures against mosquitoes, says* "When suitable ground can be had I think it better for the European to live away from the native town. In Accra the Government officials have good bungalows away from the native town, forming a proper European quarter (Victoriaborg), and this arrangement is found to work well, and Accra is the healthiest town on the Gold Goast."+

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF SEGREGATION TO VARIOUS CONDITIONS OF LIFE IN TROPICAL

AFRICA.

Since we feel very strongly that the segregation of Europeans is the first step in the prophylaxis of malaria in Africa and other tropical regions, we think it desirable to show how in practically every condition of life this principle can be applied.

So far prophylaxis (destructive measures) has been directed entirely against the malaria of large towns. If even, however, we could make the large towns of West Africa. healthy we should still have an enormous fever and death rate among Europeans on the Coast, quite half of whom live in out-stations, and the great majority of whoin make very frequent tours. Moreover, it is in out-stations that Europeans are chiefly in need of protection. Whereas we found that residents in towns enjoyed, on the whole, fair health, it was in out-stations that we chiefly found men in the fever-stricken and miserable condition so characteristic of tropical Africa. We would point out then that something more than anti-malarial measures in large towns is needed if much improvement in the health of Europeans is to result.

It is here that "segregation" holds out such prospects of success. Not only is the formation of a European quarter in large towns a fundamental law of health, but, as we shall show, in out-stations, railway camps, mission stations, in bungalows, in tea or coffee gardens, in expeditions, military or otherwise, in ordinary travelling, segregation is equally applicable..

Before malaria is made to decrease among Europeans in Africa it must be generally recognised that malaria is an infectious disease, and that it is present in practically every vative hut. When this is the case men will refuse to allow in their, compounds squalid grass and palm leaf huts; they will cease to build their bungalows among or on the outskirts of villages; they will be extremely careful where they sleep when travelling, and it will be the duty of the medical officers of mining camps, railways, and military expeditions to absolutely forbid the forming of any camp near Native Huts, or to allow these to spring up in he more permanent camps.

1. Segregation in large towns.

We have two noteworthy instances where in large towns segregation has been carried out most effectively, with the result that the two segregated communities, Accra (Victoria- borg), and Old Calabar, are notoriously the most healthy on the coast.

Moreover, in any large town where such complete segregation on a large scale is not immediately applicable the principle should be borne in mind, and as opportunity offers, huts should be removed and European houses built in the open. Thus, at Lagos, a well-designed quarter could, we feel sure. be gradually formed, and would place Lagos in the same category as Acera. At Freetown, we believe arrangements are now being made to remove the official quarters to a segregated site on the hills, and at Cape Coast Castle also a site for officials has been chosen, well removed from the

* NOTE.-Second Progress Report of the Campaign against Mosquitoes in Sierra Leone. Liverpool University Press.

+ NOTE. That segregation is a practical measure there is increasing evidence to shew. Thus at Akassa (Nigeria) “a hotbed of fever and discase," segregation bas been effected (together with drainage and the regular administration of quinine to Europeans), and Akassa is now one of the healthiest stations in West Africa. (Brit. Med. Jour., April 18, 1903, p. 924.) Further segregation schemes have been carried out at Secondec and Cape Coast Castle.

NOTE.--Proposed site for European residences in the Sierra Leone hills. Stephens and Christophers. 5th Report to Malaria Committee, Royal Society.

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.