A.—4

Infectious Diseases reported

The main diseases now are — (1) Filaria and its complications : (2) Parasitic : (3) Typhoid fever : (4) Pneumonia : (5) Septic sores : (6) Pulmonary tuberculosis. Meningitis was very prevalent during 1943, but declined towards the end of the year. Cases responded very well to M. and B. 693. The position of the malignant type of jaundice has improved, but, thbugh reduced in numbers of cases, has been persistent. The Apia Hospital is being completely re-equipped with up-to-date surgical equipment, including requirements for gastric, gall bladder, genito-urinary, lung and brain, spinal, bone, and orthopredic surgery. The Territory continues to benefit from its participation in health services centred in Fiji—notably the Central Medical School for the training of Native medical practitioners and the Makogai Leper Hospital. An accentuation of these benefits is anticipated from an extension of this happy co-operation by the addition of an Inspectorate General of South Pacific Health Services. Dental Clinic The staff consists of 1 European dental officer, 4 Native dental officers, and 3 Native dental cadets, 2 of whom are from Niue Island. The European dental officer is concerned with the teaching and training of the cadets and the general supervision and direction of the Native dental officers. He undertakes operative and surgical work of all types, having the right of private practice among the European community, but the Native community receive free treatment. Besides undertaking preventive treatment, the Native dental officers undertake extractions and scalings and surgical for Samoan children and adults, and for all Native in-patients at the hospital. The Native dental officers also undertook visits round Upolu and Savai'i, and reports received indicate the good work done and the credit due to them.

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— 1941. 1942. 1943. 1944. Meningitis, meningococcal .. .. .. 11 273 105 Meningitis, pneumonoccal .. .. .. .. 12 7 1 Tuberculosis .. .. • • ■ • 142 94 91 98 Typhoid fever 178 134 178 57 Paratyphoid fever .. .. .. . ■ • • ■ ■ 6 3 Malignant jaundice .. .. .. •• 45 38 30 39 Catarrhal jaundice .. .. .. .. 18 19 30 51 Lobar pneumonia .. .. .. . ■ 1 • • • • Pneumonia.. 210 624 1,472 425 Broncho-pneumonia .. .. .. .. 13 Chicken-pox- .. .. •• •• 37 10 18 4 Gonorrhoea .. .. . ■ • • • • 4 23 41 17 Dengue fever .. .. • • • • • • 2 1 120 Tetanus .. .. .. • • ■■ 4 7 5 2 Puerperal fever .. .. • • ■ • 18 17 33 19 Puerperal sepsis .. .. . • • • 2 Gas gangrene .. .. • • • • • • 1 • • 1 Leprosy .. •• •• •• •• 2 8 6 5 Tubercular disease of bone .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Tubercular glands .. .. . . .. • ■ ■ • 1 Measles .. .. .. • • • • • • • • 3 Dysentery (Flexner Y) .. .. .. .. 2 10 Whooping-cough .. .. .. .. .. 6 42 Conjunctivitis .. .. .. • • • • • • 1 Erysipelas .. .. .. • • • • • • 4 Septicaemia .. .. .. . ■ • • • • 1 Rubella .. .. .. .. .. • • 40 Gastro-enteritis . . .. .. .. . • 2 Enteric fever .. .. • • • • 5 3 Morbilli .. • • • • ■ • • • • • 1 Infantile paralysis .. .. .. .. .. 1 Influenza .. .. .. . • •• 72 Bronchitis .. .. .. • • • • 3 Tonsilitis .. .. .. • • • • 1 Pleurisy .. .. • • • • ■ • 2