Annual report of the Superintending Medical Officer / Jamaica.

  • Jamaica. Medical Department
Date:
[1916]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: Annual report of the Superintending Medical Officer / Jamaica. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    89/96 (page 17)
    LEPERS’ HOME. Report for the year ended 31st March, 1916. Sir, I have the honour to submit ended 31st March, 1916. Jamaica Leper Asylum, 15th May, 1916. my Annual Report on the Leper Asylum, for the financial year 1. The Staff.—The duties were discharged in a very satisfactory manner. Mr. Levy (the Superintendent, Dispenser, Clerk and Purveyor) has been of great assistance to me in carrying out the treatment. Dr. W. D. Neish left the Colony on the 7th November, 1915, for Military Service in the present “ World War” and His Excellency the Governor was pleased to appoint me to act. 2. Discipline.—It gives me much pleasure to report that the conduct of the inmates is good and when the distressing nature of the disease is considered it is natural to expect some refractoriness in such an Asylum, but on the whole I consider the behaviour good. 3. Occupation.—The washing of all the Institution clothing is done by the female inmates, also the mending of the linen. The male inmates do useful work in keeping the grounds clean and tidy. Lime washing is constantly done by them on the subsidiary buildings. Such of them (males and females) who are willing and able do “ extra nursing.” The farm worked by some of the male inmates produced, for use in the Asylum, potatoes 8,650 lbs., vegetables 2,284 lbs., peas 589 lbs. and herbs for tea 312 lbs. These inmates were paid for the crop in accordance with Rule 80. 4. Gifts.—1 have to thank the numerous friends of the Institution for the interest they have taken in assisting me to gladden the hearts of these unfortunates; Fruits was received from His Honour the Custos, Messrs. A. E Wigan, C. McKella, A. E. M. Stewart, C. G. Hudson, F. C. Billingslea and H. C. Bennett. Periodicals and Magazines were sent by the Custos. Hon. A. A. Fleming, Dr. and Mrs. W. D. Neish, Dr. and Mrs. J. Huntley Peck, Mrs. R. Berry, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Powell, Mr. and Mrs. S. A. James, Miss Mockler, Miss Irene DeLeon, Mr. and Mrs. C. .Anderson, The Educational Supply Co., The Jamaica Times Ltd. Miss Muriel Andrews, through Mr. E. Percy Fletcher, presented the inmates with a fine set of scrap books. Lieut. C. D. Arnold, of Port Royal contributed a supply of toilet soap which the inmates greatly appreciated. Money contributions were sent for the Xmas Festivities and I have to thank the Custos, Messrs. A. L. Keeling, J. V. Leach, F. X. Knecht Altamont Dolphy, Dr. C. Redwood White and others. The Jamaica Tobacco Co. a supply of cigarettes, Messrs. B. and J. B. Machado for cigars and Mr. Edwin Charley for a very generous gift of native wines. The Boy Scout Band visited the Asylum under the leadership of Scoutmaster F. S. Messias and entertained the inmates. 5. Building and grounds.—-The buildings are under the management of the P.W.D. and I have no doubt, considering the present financial condition of the Island, the Asylum will get its share of repairs and new works that may be so urgently needed. The grounds are clean and the farm in good condition. If the P. W. D. would supply cement, lime, tar, etc., a good deal of the minor repairs can be undertaken by the inmates. 6. Religious Ministrations.—The Revd. Canon Hendrick is the appointed Chaplain and along with Miss Macglashan, assisted by the Lay Readers, do useful work. Mr. John David the Erst Indian Catechist continues his faithful work in attending to the spiritual needs of his class. The Revd. Father Grewen. S.J., and Miss Leon give their attention to the Roman Catholic inmates. 7. Statistics.—There were 30 admissions, 6 being re-admissions. Greatest number at any time 133, November 1915. Least number at any time 116, May I9I5- The death rate, 10.8 per cent, is normal. Daily average—Coolies 5 ] Chinese 2 ) 126 others 119 J 8. Maintenance.—£9 6s. lid. per inmate per annum. The daily average cost was 6.l25d. per inmate. The financial burden of isolating, maintaining, and treating lepers, having regard to the comforts, etc., which must be afforded, cannot be considered heavy. 9. Treatment.—I am pleased to report that the drug “ Antileprol” (purified chaulmoogra oil) has been used throughout the year under review and continues to realize the very hopeful and excellent results mentioned by Dr. Neish in reports dated 5fh May, 1913 26th May, 1915- It is given in capsules (M 7i) by which method in my opinion, gastric trouble is reduced to a large extent, and, by starting treatment in early cases, my own observations lead me to the conclusion that this drug has a very marked power in absorbing Tubercles and restoring vigour to the wasted tissues. No other form of administration appears to me to give such uniformly excellent results, due possibly to the fact that the patients tolerate for a longer period this method as against the mixture or subcutaneous injections. Several patients were discharged under Law 15 of 1896 and one under Sec. 8, their conditions were greatly due to the marked beneficial effects of the careful and continuous administration of the drug. The treatment as adopted by Victor G. Heiser, Surgeon U.S.A., Director of Health for the Phillipine Islands will receive attention during the ensuing year.