19

A.—3

" Dental Hygiene. " .Dental disease on the Island continues to make demands On the time of the Medical Officer: He has been able, during the past twelve months, to survey the dental field and to estimate the extent of dental caries. This is considerable, and is not diminishing. Caries is especially prevalent in the coastal A large number of adults are rapidly becoming edentulous. The situation cialls for effective action, and recommendations are being made to meet the position. " Gonorrhoea and Sterility. " There Were sixty-nine cases of gonorrhoea for the year. There is little doubt that there is still a number of chronic cases on the island. On the whole, acute cases present themselves or are sent by the police with some degree of promptitude. We are slowly convincing the Natives that the earlier they present themselves for treatment the quicker and more certain the result desired. During the year a prophylactic hut was established in one village as an experiment. The Natives volunteered to supply labour and materials free. On the whole, it has been a success. Later on, a hut for females will also be built. In the same village the Natives have co-operated with the Administration in building two compounds—one for males and one for females. .After the village had been inspected, the infected persons were segregated and treated. A married couple was chosen to undergo a certain amount of training at the Hospital and then was placed in charge of the compounds. Good work has been accomplished. It is the intention of the Medical Department to make use of these compounds as Hospital wards during any severe epidemic of an infectious disease that may arise. " Gonorrohoea is intimately bound up with the question of sterility on Niue. If the birth-rate is to be improved then this very prevalent disease will have to be actively combated. There are numerous married couples with no children at all, and, invariably, on questioning, a history of gonorrhoea is obtained. There are two ways of tackling the gonorrhoea question 011 Niue, and recommendations have been made for dealing with the matter. " With these conditions fulfilled the disease could be kept in check, the sterility lessened, and the birth-rate and the health of many of the men and women wonderfully improved. " Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Chronic Diseases of Lungs. " During the year an estimate of the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis has been made. The disease has been found to be very prevalent and the death-rate is high. There is need for the disease to be tackled resolutely. The Hospital has not the accommodation nor is it suitable for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. A small sanatorium of Native huts is required for the isolation and treatment of these cases. The Medical Officer has attempted to treat- these cases in leaf huts in their own kainas, but the experiment is largely unsuccessful due to the lack of control by the parents and relations. The cases need to be under white supervision to achievc any results at all. Recommendations are also being made in this connection. " Yaws. " The incidence of this disease has considerably lessened of recent years. Fresh cases do occur, usually among children. Cases of planter dermatitis and cases of tertiary yaws present themselves with moderate frequency. The Natives readily apply for treatment. The following are the statistics : — " I. Tonas .. . . . . .. .. .. 20 " 2. Planter dermatitis.. .. .. .. .. 12 " 3. Old scars .. . . .. .. .. 8 " 4. Gummata .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 "5. Painful joints and bones .. .. .. . . 4 " Total 54 " Filariasis. " The task of compiling statistics of this parasitic disease has been started during the year. This, however, is a work of some magnitude, and it will be at least a year before the full figures can be obtained. What has been done indicates strongly that the disease is more prevalent than has been anticipated. A considerable portion of the chronic disease on Niue is due to filariasis. On Niue the mosquito responsible is the aedes variegatus —a day-biting mosquito. " Myocotic Disease. " The sulphur-boxes continue to do good work. On the back of the island where the disease was most prevalent it is now rare to see a case of tinea imbricata. There are other myocotic diseases of the skin that do not respond very well to sulphur. Here slower and more laborious methods are advised, but the Native, one finds, is disinclined to persevere with treatments that do not give quick results. " Leprosy. "'No further cases have been reported. Contacts of leprosy cases that have been sent away are examined periodically.