Blackwater fever in the tropical African dependencies : reports for 1912.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons.
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Blackwater fever in the tropical African dependencies : reports for 1912. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    AFRICAN DEPENDENCIES. REPORTS FOR 1912. Early in 1911 the following despatch was sent by the Secretary of State to the Governors of all the British dependencies in East and West Africa, with the exception of Somaliland :— Sir, Downing Street, 24 January, 1911. It has been sujjgested by the Advisory Medical and Sanitary Committee for Tropical Africa—and I entirely concur in the suggestion—that, owing to the prevalence of blackwater fever in the Dependencies of Tropical Africa, it is desirable to collect all information bearing on this disease in order to throw as much light as possible on its nature and causation. 2. The opinions of medical authorities are divided as to whether the disease is directly related to malaria or whether it is a separate disease which is iJroduced by a specific organism, not yet recognised, and which is possibly contracted in particular localities or buildings under certain conditions. 3. At present the conditions favouring the incidence of blackwater fever are not thoroughly understood ; and it is possible that, by the collation and careful study of all cases which occur, some light may be thrown on this important subject and means suggested to prevent or diminish its occurrence. 4. With this object, therefore, I have to request that a special report may be forwarded annually by the Principal Medical Officer on all cases of blackwater fever occurring within the year in the Colony, attention being particularly paid in the report to the following points :— I. Locality : (a) Physical features (e.g., swamps, bush, forest, &c.). {!)) Occurrence of a series of cases in any one place, particularly in any one building, specifying dates and relation to native dwellings and intercourse. (c) Insect fauna ; particularly biting or sucking insects, such as mosquitos and biting flies, ticks, bugs, lice, fleas, &c. Specimens should be detained and identified where possible. II. Seasonal Variation : {a) Marked or unusual climatic conditions. III. Personal History : («) Medical history of patient (e.g., previous diseases, attacks of malaria, habits regarding quinine taking, <tc.). (i) Previous movements of patient and ])ersonal conditions to which he has been subject. (c) Microscopic examination of the blood (noting relation of examination to stage of illness). 5. It would be a great advantage if a map could be supplied with the report, showing the occurrence of cases in the various localities. I have, &c., L. HARCOURT. > The replies were published [Cd. 6514] and presented to both Houses of Parlia- ment. The report from Southern Nigeria was not included in the above Command paper, but was published separately. The present paj^er contains the reports on blackwater fever for the year 1912, except that in the case of Nyasaland the report is for the year 1911-1912, to the end of March of the latter year. It has been necessary to collate the several reports in order to secure as great a degree of uniformity as possible. (31837—2. ) Wt ?i673—776. 1250. 1,14. D & S.