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Infectious Diseases. The return given does not include all cases of infectious diseases occurring in the Territory, but only those which have been reported by European Medical Officers. Enteric fever .. 28 Leprosy . 5 Tuberculosis —pulmonary .. 42 Puerperal fever .. .. 2 Pneumonia —lobar .. 37 Chicken-pox .. 5 Pneumonia—broncho .. 2.9 Mumps .. .. 4 Measles .. .. 2 Tetanus .. 3 Dysentery .. .. 8 Gonorrhoea .. 8 Influenza .. 16 Erysipelas .. .. 1 Note. —Of the twenty-eight cases reported as enteric fever, in only eight was the diagnosis confirmed by bacteriological or serological investigation. Of the forty-two cases of pulmonary tuberculosis reported, the vast majority are cases diagnosed clinically. Ankylostomiasis.—During 1923, as reported in last annual report, slightly over eighteen thousand Natives were treated for hookworm. Treatment was then discontinued, as the pressure on the Department for treatment of yaws made it impossible to carry out both campaigns with the staff available. During 1924 fresh supplies of drugs were purchased from the International Health Board (Rockefeller Foundation), and treatment was recommenced in November. During the remaining five months of the year 16,205 Natives were treated. Yaws (Frambcesia tropica). —In April, 1923, as a result of the Natives agreeing to a medical tax of £1 per adult male, free medical treatment was instituted, and steps were immediately taken to organize a systematic campaign against this disease. Although a considerable amount of work had been done before that date, systematic work was impossible, as most of the Natives were not prepared to pay the charges made for treatment. This preliminary work was of value in disseminating amongst the population a knowledge of the —to them — miraculous results obtained from injections of novarsenobillon. It was found impossible to cover the whole Territory in the year, but in those districts attended to 32,366 injections were given. This year the whole area was covered and 21,222 injections given. The figures are more instructive when given in a different way. The " first round " —that is, the treatment of the whole Territory for the first time—resulted in 36,304 injections being given, covering a period of fifteen months. The figure for the " second round " was 17,284. During the first round numbers of small children with primary and commencing secondary lesions were not offered for treatment, but during the year under review such children were offered much more freely. Such an impression was made on the Natives by the results of treatment that the Fono of Faipules, or Native advisory body, agreed to the introduction of stringent regulations for the control of this disease, and these regulations have now been passed by Order in Council in New Zealand, and will be enforced during the coming year. Filariasis. —The Research Expedition of |the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, under Dr. P. A. Buxton, continued its work during the year. Leprosy. —During the year seven lepers were transferred from Samoa to the Leper Asylum on the Island of Makogai, in Fiji. These consisted of four Samoans, one half-caste French-Samoan, and two Chinese labourers, all males. Two lepers, both male Samoans, died at Makogai during the year. The number of lepers from Samoa under treatment at Makogai at the end of the year under review was —Samoans, five males, one female ; half-castes, two males, one female ; Chinese, five males ; Rarotongans, one male : total, thirteen males, two females. In addition to the above, five lepers (one male and two female Samoans and two male Melanesians) are isolated in Western Samoa pending transfer to Fiji after the hurricane season has passed. Whilst awaiting transfer these lepers are under treament. Quarantine. During the year eighty-nine visits of inspection were made to vessels arriving from overseas, and in one instance, owing to the prevalence of infantile paralysis in New Zealand, and to the fact that the steamer was only eight days out from that country, quarantine was imposed. This is only the third occasion on which it has been found necessary to refuse pratique since January, 1921. Food and Drugs. The New Zealand Food and Drugs Act, with the regulations made thereunder, is in force in the Territory. During the year the following foodstuffs were condemned : Meat in kegs, 4,440 lb. ; canned meats, 2,629 lb.; canned fish, 4,480 lb.; canned fruits, 80 lb.; bacon and ham, 427 lb. ; potatoes, 1,980 lb.; butter, 56 lb.; biscuits, 120 lb. Native Sanitation. Work on native sanitation has been continued during the year, and there are now numbers of latrines in most of the villages. At present the pit privy is the chief type of latrine installed, but in the coast villages many drop latrines have been built out over the sea. These are at present rather unsightly structures, but are evidence of a distinct advance on the part of the Natives. Gradually these will be replaced by more permanent, less unsightly buildings. Where water-supplies are beinginstalled in Native villages it is hoped in time to introduce water-carriage systems. Native regulations will shortly be published bearing on buildings, latrines, rubbish-collection, water-supplies, keeping of animals, and gatherings in villages.

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