Annual report of the Department of Public Health / Union of South Africa.

  • South Africa. Department of Health.
Date:
[1930]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Department of Public Health / Union of South Africa. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    23/80 (page 21)
    iT' t!akylostorniasis (Hoohworn Diease).—The recommendations contained in the Report of the Special Committee appointed by the Minister of Mines ^ndustries, published in last Annual Report, have since been put into effect by the affected mines, with encouraging- results, at any rate as far as European miners aie concerned. During the year under review only 168 European miners were found infected and applied for compensation, the number during the previous year being 224. The decrease is even greater than the foreg-oing figures indicate, because as a result of Committee’s report, special search was made in mines m which the disease had not been previously suspected, and a good many old- standing cases discovered. On the other hand, in several larg-e mines in which the soil had previously been heavily infested, but where the measures recommended are now being fully carried out, it is now impossible to find infested soil, so that new infections are no longer taking place. It may be confidently expected that the rapid decrease in incidence of infection will continue, but much will depend on the vigilance and care of the mine managements in maintaining anti-hookworm measures and especially the lavish use of common salt on mine floors. It must be remembered that between 50,000 and 100,000 infected East Coast natives arrive on the mines annually. Mass treatment with carbon tetrachloride was found too dangerous when originally tried two years ago. This drug is dangerous in that toxic impurities may occur in it. This danger is obviated in Egypt, where the drug is very extensively used, by first testing every consignment on dogs. Controlled in this way the drug is found to be entirely safe. 3. Bilharziasis (Schistosomiasis).—As foreshadowed in last year’s report, “camps” were held during the school vacations under the aegis of the Transvaal Bilharzia Committee at Nelspruit and White River, Ohrigstad, Groot Marico, and Piet Retief. These were most successful—a very high percentage of the children being discharged cured. The local public in each case expressed their appreciation of the services rendered. Stress was laid by the medical officer in charge of each camp on the necessity for local provision of bilharzia-free swimming places for the children in order to prevent reinfection. At most of the centres the Department’s bilharzia film was shown during the “ camp ” to drive home the lesson of prevention. An unsuccessful attempt was made to organize a “camp” in the Northern Transvaal for native children suffering from the disease. Another attempt will be made during the coming year. The Natal Education Department is conferring with this Department with a view to the establishment of a similar organization in that Province. At the suggestion of the Department, the new drug “ Fouadin ” was tried in the treatment of this disease, but the results have not been uniformly satisfactory. A further test, with closer adherence to the instructions issued by manufacturers, will be arranged. Antimony tartrate still remains the most effective as well as the cheapest drug for treating the disease, but the introduction of a cheap and effective remedy which would be more easily administered and never give rise to any ill-effects would be a notable advance. 4. Diphtheria.—Notifications of diphtheria for the present year totalled 1.434, being about the same number as last year. About one-half of this number (710) occurred in Cape Province. In Capetown, cases occurred throughout the year, and a total of 232 (162 European and 70 non-European) were dealt with, with a mortality of 30. Further Schick tests were carried out during the year at Capetown, a total of 2,202 persons being so tested, practically one-half of whom (1,092) were found to give a positive reaction (i.e. as being susceptible to diphtheria). Of the positives, 614 were given three protective injections each in most cases (1,736 injections in all); 114 of these have since been re-tested, showing 17 to 15 per cent, still susceptible, but about 85 per cent, immune. As such artificial immunity has been found to last for 7 to 10 years, and probably for life, the benefit of such immunization is very great. A few unfortunate fatalities have occurred in other countries following protective inoculation. Investigation has shown these to have been due either to the presence of free toxin or the absence of anti-septic from the toxin-antitoxin mixture and contamination of the mixture with septic organisms. Nothing of this nature has so far occurred in South Africa, where only anatoxin (Ramon) or toxoid mixtures are in use. These tests show that approximately half the children tested were sus¬ ceptible to diphtheria and would be liable to contract the disease if exposed to infection; also that by this method of protective inoculation the greai majority of susceptible children can be immunized against this dangerous disease.