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.

    20/162 (page 24)
    general terms of Diarrhoea and Dysentery, it would be advisable in the interests of public health that on the occurrence of a number of cases of Enteric or any other contagious or infectious disease that private Medical Practitioners should be notified by the Sanitary Authority as to their prevalence so as to put them on the alert with a view to diagnosing any dubious cases that come under their care. The disease is a water-borne disease and every effort was made to trace the source of infection to the various sources of water supply in Lagos; 50 samples of water taken from the following sources were examined :— Native wells in the town ... ... ... 6 House Tanks ... ... ... ... ... 2 Stand Pipes and taps of the Public,service 40 House hold filter ... ... ... ... 1 Soda water from the Railway factory ... 1 50 Bacteriological examination for Typhoid Bacilli was made in each case but with negative results. Such negative results in the search for Typhoid Bacilli, as recorded by well known authorities on the subject, are not unusual even though infection has been conveyed by any particular source under examination. In view of this fact every possible steps should be taken to ensure the safety of all water supplies, dealing effectively with all doubtful sources. As will be seen later under general measures such steps have been taken so far as it is possible. (3).—Helminthic Diseciess. 43. In Europeans the number of cases treated for intestinal entozoa is very small: 2 cases of Trematode; 4 cases of Cestode find 3 of Ascaris. In natives the incidence of the various intestinal entozoa from the cases treated is shewn by the following percentage figures :— Tapeworms of all kinds 6*5% Ascaris ... ... 68*5 °/0 Ankylostome ... 23*4 °/0 Oxyuris ... ... 1*2 jo Others ... ... *4% \ The total cases treated for intestinal entozoa amount to 3,593 of which Oestodes form 237 Nematodes 3,356 of the latter Ascaris comprise no less than 2,463. The foregoing percentage figures do not vary very much from those obtained in 1916. Ankylostome infection is wide spread and the cause of much sickness and incapacity for work especially amongst prisoners. 44. Trematode Infection.—4 cases of Fluke infection are reported. 45. Guinea-Worm.—719 cases of Guinea-worm were treated. Half the cases recorded occurred in the Western Districts. III.—General Measures. 46. Sewage Disposal.—There is nothing new to add on this subject, the routine disposal of sewage into soil or water continues in practice. In one station the Medical Officer was adopting incineration with some considerable degree of success but the process entails care in obtaining the necessary primary separation of the solids. 47. Latrines.—The present difficulty in obtaining latrine pails and drums together with the increase in cost favours the use of “Saigas” or deep midden latrines wherever the soil and subsoil are favourable. Efforts were being made to improve the structural