The Straits Settlements medical report.

  • Straits Settlements. Medical Department.
Date:
[1911]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Straits Settlements medical report. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    8/158 (page 6)
    A crusade against this disease is being undertaken, but some years must elapse before any marked results are likely to be seen. Works carried out in this connexion are given in detail under paragraph 20. The Municipal Ordinance is being revised in toto and sections are to be added dealing with the breeding of mosquitos, prevention of Malaria, etc. In the middle of the year a Malaria Committee was formed in Singapore and a preliminary sum of $20,000 was granted for expenditure upon Malaria prevention. A Pathologist is being procured from England to relieve Dr. Finlayson, the Government Pathologist, so that the latter officer may be seconded for special duty in this connexion and he will begin work almost immediately with the view of formulating some considered scheme for the stamping out of all anopheline breeding places within Singapore Municipal limits. A start has already been made with one of the worse districts in Singapore, later other portions of the Settlements are to be taken in hand. Throughout the year minor works have been undertaken by the Health Department of all Municipalities as well as the clearing of drains and oiling of pools. In Singapore and Malacca all the Sanitary Inspectors had petty anti-mosquito works included in their daily rounds. In Penang 68 men (daily average) were specially employed on such work. Four thousand nine hundred grains of quinine were distributed gratis in Singapore by the Municipality. Five hundred grains were distributed in the schools, an uncertain quantity to coolies and others in Penang and about 4^ lbs. were distributed in Malacca. There is no doubt that one of the causes for this large increase in the incidence of Malaria is the opening up and clearing of new estates in all parts of the Peninsula with the consequent large influx of coolies whose tendency when ill or unfit for work is to flock into the towns for treatment bringing the means of disseminating the disease with them. Dr. WATSON from Klang visited Singapore during the year and put forward some valuable suggestions as to Anti-malaria measures to be undertaken. In Penang the Municipality voted $15,000 for anti-malarial works. 20. Sanitation.—The following works were carried out :■— Singapore.— Reclamation at Mount Zion was continued from last year, 184,547 tons of dredgings from Singapore river were deposited at a cost of $38,637. Low-lying ground at Penang Lane was raised, an area of 29,458 square feet at a cost of $989. Low-lying ground at New Bridge Road opposite General Hospital was filled up. Area 157,904 square feet at a cost of $9,450. Improvements to Government House grounds $2,249. Grounds and roads round Central Police Station raised and improved at a cost of $520. $ Penang.—New drains at Tanjong Tokong Village ... 4,474 New drains at Balik Pulau Village ... ... 2,498 New drains at Nibong Tebal Village ... ... 3,080 Extensions and repairs to drainage in Province Wellesley $3,000. In Labuan an inspector was appointed by the Sanitary Board and improvement in the general condition of the town is already reported. The Estate Labourers (Protection of Health) Ordinance was passed during the year and a special Medical Officer was asked for as a preliminary step. I am of opinion, however, that one Medical man will not be able to properly supervise the large number of estates in the three Settlements and additional men will no doubt be needed later. This special staff with a few subordinate officers will form the nucleus of a Health Department so that eventually an efficient body should exist to deal not only with estates but with village sanitation and all infectious cases occurring outside Municipal limits. A considerable amount of work has been done by the Municipalities. In Singapore the building of a new Infectious Disease Hospital was started and should be completed in 1912. A new sewage scheme was adopted for Singapore and will be taken in hand shortly. An up-to-date incinerator at Alexandra Road has been completed. The Kallang Reser¬ voir water supply was made available and is an addition of 2\ to 3J million gallons per day to the town supply. There was further progress with the “ back-lanes ” and “ improvement schemes’' and lands are being acquired in several quarters of the town. The Kampong Kapur Scheme was dealt with, low-lying land being filled up and streets and back-lanes laid out. Sultan Ali’S Estate was also dealt with by improving