Medical and sanitary report / Government of the Gold Coast.

  • Gold Coast. Medical Department.
Date:
[1903]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical and sanitary report / Government of the Gold Coast. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    28/30 (page 28)
    28 From the above list of diseases it is readily seen that all, with the exception of the last two, may fairly he ascribed as due to tropical or climatic origin, while there is no doubt that the last two were greatly exaggerated by tropical life. The Medical Officer who died is returned as unclassified fever, as were two cases which occurred before another Medical Officer could arrive at the station. The following table shows the comparative health of each station during the year. It will be seen that Salaga easily heads the list as being the most unhealthy ; Ixintamj^o comes next; while Gfambaga has by far the most healthy record, taking into consideration the large number of European Officers stationed there. The latter half of the year was the most unhealthy period:— Gambaga. Wa. Kintampo. Salaga. Totals. No. on No. on No. on No. on No. on Strength. sick Strength. sick Strength. sick Strength. sick Strength. sick list. list. list. list. list. January ... 7 2 2 0 8 4 4 2 21 8 February ... 6 1 3 0 5 •2 2 1 16 4 March 8 0 3 0 4 1 2 0 17 1 April 7 1 3 0 4 0 3 0 17 1 May 6 1 3 1 4 0 3 0 16 2 J une 7 0 3 0 4 1 3 3 17 4 July . 7 1 3 1 4 0 4 2 18 4 August 7 2 3 0 5 2 3 2 18 6 September 7 0 3 0 4 1 4 3 . 18 4 October ... 8 0 3 2 4 *0 3 3 18 5 November 7 0 6 1 4 1 3 2 20 4 December... 12 4 7 0 4 1 4 2 27 7 The health of the Europeans for the year was good, and is in that respect a marked contrast to the health of the preceding year, which was the worst on record. The improvement in the health is mainly due to the decrease of sickness in Glambaga, as the following figures show. In .1902, when there were 85 entries on the sick fist, Gfambaga was responsible for 54—a percentage of 63‘53. In 1903, with total entries on the sick list of 50, Gambaga had only 12—a percentage of 24. This marked improvement in Gambaga is, I think, due, in a great measure, to the following:— 1. The greater amount of regular exercise taken by Europeans ; polo was played at least twice a week during the greater portion of the year, and, when from any cause an officer was unable to play, he certainly did not remain as fit as when he was playing. 2. The garden kept the officers supplied with an excellent quantity of vegetables for about eight months of the year. Native Officials. The health of the native officials for the year was good, as the following table shows Average strength. Died. Invalided. Entries on Sick List. Remarks. 16 0 2 21 Of the two who were invalided, one has returned, and enjoys good health at present. Salaga again heads the list in being the most unhealthy station, having more entries than Wa and Kintampo together, although the strength at Salaga is only a third of the other two. With the exception of those invalided, their illnesses were not severe.