The medical report for the State of Perak.

  • Perak.
Date:
[1909]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The medical report for the State of Perak. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    16/22 (page 4)
    VACCINATION. 14. Tlie total number of vaccination during the rear was 11,367, being an increase of 660 over 1908. Out of these ,80.93 per cent were perfect, a result above the average. VETERINARY BRANCH. 15. («) Einderpest— An outbreak of this disease occurred at Port Weld towards the end of February. In the Quarantine Station at the time there were 146 animals, and of this number no less than 116 died. Twenyt-one animals died before the anti-rinderpest serum was brought into use, and out of the 105 animals inoculated 95 died—a result such as this can only have been due to bad serum. Another outbreak happened at Telok Anson in November, 335 animals being in the Quarantine Station at the time, of this number 149 contracted the complaint, out of which 78 died, 66 were shot, one recovered, four remained under treatment on the 31st December. The serum was inoculated in 65 cases, and of this number 34 subsequently developed the disease. Mr. Short suggests that serum should be prepared in the Federated Malay States. It seems that some such measure is necessary, for on no less than two occasions lately, the Indian Civil Veterinary Department have been unable to execute our indents. (b) Foot-and-Mouth Disease of a mild type occurred in Larut and Matang, but no deaths were recorded. (c) Swine Fever broke out at Ayer Kilning in June, causing the death of nine pigs, the disease, however, did not spread. At Matang also in November, six pigs died from this complaint, and at Pasir Itam a whole litter of pigs, imported from Bukit Mertajam, died, not, however, before they had in¬ fected eight other pigs in the same sty, (77) Surra.—In Brian seven ponies were affected with this complaint, out of which number two died and five wTere shot. (e) Babies.—Two cases were discovered in Taiping. Fifteen dogs known either to have been bitten or to have been in contact with these were destroyed. (/) Fowl Cholera occurred in Taiping in August. Bacteriologically it was identified with the European type. (g) Mr. Moir did some most interesting work on the differentiation of buffaloes and cow’s milk, by means of anti-sera produced in rabbits. As he points out the differentiation is most important, seeing that no less than 50 per cent, of water can be added to buffaloes milk, without the fat percentage falling below the standard for cow’s milk. REMARKS ON PARTICULAR DISEASES. 16. Malaria.—The total number of in-patients treated numbered 7,404, being slightly in excess of the previous year; the deaths, however, have fallen considerably as shown below: Treated. Deaths. Percentage. 1908 1909 1908 1909 1908 1909 Malarial fevers ... 7,310 7,404 ... 474 426 ... 6.48 5.75 For some reason the number of cases have increased at Ipoli and Karnpar, whereas at several other stations the opposite has been the case. Prophylaxis op Malaria.—It would serve no useful purpose to serve up a rechauffe of Boss’s valuable work on the subject, but it is perhaps as well to consider which of his methods is best suited to Perak. For the larger towns there can be little doubt that anopheline reduction, by means of general sanitation and good surface drainage, has in the past, and is still justifying the financial outlay. For rural districts such methods are out of the question and we must look to other means. Much has been written on the pouring of kerosene on the surface of all collections of water in the neighbourhood of kampongs, etc., the expense of this is, however, great, and most unfortunately lends itself to methods of peculation ; one can imagine that much of the kerosene given out would go elsewhere than on the surface of the waters. In passing one# may notice the method of protecting the individual against the bites of mosquitoes by nets, etc. In the case of Malay children this is not practical, and may be put out of court.