Annual medical and sanitary report / Nigeria.

  • Nigeria. Medical Department
Date:
[1917]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual medical and sanitary report / Nigeria. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    135/162 (page 139)
    130 indigenous Natives during the Harmattan—cold weather. This rash does not appear to be attended by rise of temperature; it appears chiefly on the face—over the Zygomata, and the lower maxillae; in considering it, wleasles, Secondary Syphilis, and Chilblains have to be excluded; there is no sensation associated with it; and it seems to run a course of from a fortnight to two months. The sufferers from it almost invariably state that it has recurred with them every few years, since childhood, at the cold season; they do not complain; and they only advert to it when an European, having observed it, questions them. A brisk purge appears to be the only treatment which does any good ; but it is quite possible that the evidence in favour of the purge may be born of confounding the post with the propter. The evidence is strongly against it’s being a “filth” disease. Of course, it is only fair to add that he is a very brave—or very rash—observer who will exclude syphilis absolutely in any non-pagan Native. Rheumatism, acute and sub-acute, is widely prevalent and valvular disease of the Heart is very common: so also is chronic Rheumatism. In many cases of sub-acute Rheumatism, it is difficult to exclude Gonorrhoea: in most cases of the chronic variety, it cannot be excluded. Rabies appears to be pretty common among dogs, although of all the dogs alleged to be rabid, which have been submitted to the present reporter, none has been so.. The Natives talk without reserve about Rabies, both in human beings and in dogs: and they seem to know it well and to be fairly familiar with it’s recognised symptoms. Europeans, alleged to have been bitten by rabid dogs, are sent for Pasteur treatment; but, when a dog is said to be rabid, be is much too apt to be destroyed before the pronouncement has been verified. Tetanus must be much more fatal than is Rabies; for, as mentioned in the last report, the Natives are terrified to name it: in fact, it is only very recently that Europeans, speaking the language well, have become aware of the Hausa name for the disease. In light of this, it is not surprising that Europeans rarely see a case: but constant reason for inferring its existence keeps cropping up; and the average European loses no time in applying Iodine to his own wounds and abrasions. Small-Pox was widely prevalent and, in many places, exceedingly virulent. An unfortunate concomitant of this state of affairs was that, in consequence of the action of the enemy at sea, consignments of Lymph were often irregular in their arrival; it frequently happened that consignments failed to arrive when they could have been used to the greatest advantage; and sometimes there was acute shortage of supply. In association with this, it must not be forgotten that the communities, amid’ which arm to arm vaccinations may be performed safely, are strictly limited. Vaccination. Total number vaccinated Total number successful 1916. 1917. 9,314 9,147 o,757 4,365 These figures are fallacious; for, although, on paper, 1917 seems to suffer by comparison with 1916, it was really a better year, so far as the number of vaccinations performed went. The Senior Sanitary Officer received, on very reliable authority, reports of vaccinations