Annual report of the Medical and Sanitary Department / Sierra Leone.

  • Sierra Leone. Medical and Sanitary Department.
Date:
[1934]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Medical and Sanitary Department / Sierra Leone. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    23/90 (page 11)
    In Africans.—The figures for 19-14 show a welcome decrease over those of the previous year. In 1933 there were 6,4G2 cases with 6 deaths, and in 1934 6,095 and 2 deaths. The incidence of blackwater fever also shows a welcome decrease. In 1933 there were 6 cases with 1 death, and in 1934 2 cases and no deaths. This decrease can be attributed to the canalization of the steams of Freetown, which is having a marked effect on mosquito breeding. There is again a small increase in the numbers of quartan malaria, but a very marked decrease as regards tertian jnalaria. The following table gives the figures for the past three years. Diseases. 1932, 1933. 1934. Malaria—tertian 66 513 26 Malaria—quartan 34 106 119 Aestivo-autumnal 1,036 1,563 852 Unclassified 3,680 4,321 5,185 Cachexia 41 37 13 Blackwater 2 8 2 Total cases of malaria (all types) 4,859 6,548 6,197 Typhoid.—There were 6 cases of typhoid fever, 2 of which occurred in Europeans. Of the 4 cases occurring amongst Africans there was 1 death. This is a slight increase over the previous year. Blackwater.—There have been 2 cases and no deaths in 1934, 1 case being in an European and 1 in an African. Trypanosomiasis.— Four cases have been reported during the year from various parts of the Protectorate. Smallpox.—The epidemic of smallpox which commenced in 1932 now shows signs of abating owing to the effects of vaccination. Full details wTill be found in Section IV, Sub-section B. Dysentery.—There has been a slight decrease in the incidence of dysentery during the year. 5 cases with no deaths occurred amongst Europeans and 418 with 6 deaths occurred amongst the African population. Tuberculosis.—One European case has been reported and amongst the African there were 259 cases with 26 deaths, and these figures approximate closely with those of previous years, but they must be taken with considerable reserve. Leprosy.—-There is a slight increase in the number of cases reported, namely, 212 as against 206 in the previous year. A leprosy survey has been commenced and reliable figures should be available early in 1935. Until those figures are available it would be unwise to make any further statements as to the incidence of the disease, but it is known to be spreading in the Colony and the Protectorate. Guinea. Worm.—No cases of guinea worm have been reported during the year, a fact which bears out the statement which was made in the report for 1933. Yates.—There has been a decrease of nearly 300 cases, but the number of patients who present themselves for further treatment has increased considerably. Venereal Diseases.—There has been a slight but welcome decrease in these diseases for the year under review, the greater decrease being amongst the syphilitic group. Diseases. 1930. 1931. 1932. 1 1933. 1934. Gonorrhoea Syphilis 2,581 605 2,366 592 2,114 388 2,236 616 2,234 476 Total 3,186 2,958 2,502 2,852 2,710 Beriberi.—No cases of this disease have been reported during the year. Avitaminosis.—There is again an increase in the number of cases ol this disease which is due, in most cases, to a badly proportioned diet. Many cases have been brought to light at the Ophthalmic Clinic which has been inaugurated during the year,