A.—4A

which have adequate bathing facilities, show few eye-diseases. As soon as one leaves the beach, or where there are few bathing facilities, eye-diseases become much more prevalent. Venereal Diseases. —Syphilis, which has been reported from time to time amongst the Samoans, is probably very rare, if it exists at all; the cases that have been reported having turned out to be a yaws condition. The Chinese coolies have a small percentage of syphilitic cases, but there appears to be no evidence of their having passed the infection on to the Samoans. Gonorrhoea of a very mild type seems to be fairly common, but gives rise to few disabilities, as it does not cause retention of urine in the male or stricture, while no cases of salpingitis of diplococcal origin have been seen in the female. The gram-negative diplococcus, which causes the urethritis, may be the same organism that causes the Samoan conjunctivitis, but Dr. F. W. O'Connor, when working in Apia, found that it was the exception to find any organism in the urethra in the cases of conjunctivitis which would lead one to expect that the conjunctivitis is spread directly from one person to the next, or carried by numerous flies, which are very persistent in their endeavours to alight on the eyelids. 7. Laboratories. In the beginning of 1920 Dr. F. W. O'Connor, of the London School of Tropical Medicine, came to Western Samoa, and spent two years in this and other islands of the Pacific on research on filaria and other tropical conditions. His work was published as Memoir No. 4of the London School of Tropical Medicine in 1923. During his stay in Samoa Dr. O'Connor designed the present modern laboratory attached to the hospital in Apia. At this point it may be suitable to mention that in January of this year another expedition from the London School of Tropical Medicine, under Dr. P. N. Buxton, arrived in Samoa to continue the research of Dr. O'Connor. This expedition intends to remain two years in the islands. Under arrangement with the New Zealand Government, Dr. Buxton's services are available to the Samoan Administration, which pays all expenses of the expedition except salaries. 8. Sanitary Engineering and Construction. Building and construction in Samoa is under the supervision of the Public Works Department, which is responsible that the conditions laid down in the regulations regarding buildings are complied with. Plumbing and sanitary fittings are directly under the control of the Department of Health, which has an officer qualified in plumbing and sanitary engineering. 9. Water-supply. a reticulated water-supply drawn from a conserved area of 5,000 acres back in the hills, four miles from Apia. In several Native districts the Natives have been induced, with the co-operation of the Administration, to install piped supplies of pure water from springs or streams up in the hills. The Natives in these cases pay one-third of the cost of imported materials and furnish the labour, and the Administration furnishes the remainder of the money. Where no such supply is available, 12,000-gallon tanks are being installed, which receive water from the roofs of churches. 10. Millc-supply. The milk-supply of Apia, where most of the European population of Samoa lives, is derived from a modern dairy about two miles outside the town, and is delivered twice daily. The Natives use little milk, and that is obtained from tins. 11. Food-inspection. The New Zealand Sale of Food and Drugs Act and its amendments, with all regulations made thereunder, is in force in Western Samoa. The principal questions that have had to be considered by the Department of Health have been the supplies of imported and fresh meat, rice, and milk. Rice soon becomes weevily, and in former years there were many cases of beriberi among the Chinese labourers. By obtaining fresh monthly supplies of rice, partially milled to a standard, for issue as rations to the Chinese coolies on the Crown Estates plantations, these conditions have been controlled. All rice for Samoa, milled to standard, is admitted free. 12. Sewage-disposal. For a small scattered community like Apia, a water-carriage-sewer system is at present out of the question, because of the large capital cost. The difficulty is being overcome by the installation of septic tanks, thirty-five of which have been installed in the past two years, including two large installations in the hospital and in the Government schools. If a private individual wishes a septic tank the Government furnishes plans and all assistance, except the provision of materials and labour. Except for these mentioned above, all latrines are fly-proof pit privies. It was the desire of the Department of Health to install a panstead system, but consideration of the difficulties entailed by the proper working of this system has led to the matter being held over for the present. Among the villages the matter of sanitation is being pushed forward as rapidly as possible. Most of the population live on the sea-coast, and here and there are being installed over the water privies of a satisfactory type.

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