Notes on malaria in connection with meteorological conditions at Sierra Leone. Third year / by E.M. Wilson.

  • Wilson, Edmund Monkhouse, 1855-1921.
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Notes on malaria in connection with meteorological conditions at Sierra Leone. Third year / by E.M. Wilson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    NOTES ON MALARIA IN CONNECTION WITH METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AT SIERRA LEONE. These tables were first undertaken with a view to ascertaining what effect, if any, was produced by the various meteorological conditions on the Malarial Fevers, endemic in this command. It was curious how much uncertainty prevailed on this subject, even among people who had the best opportunities for knowing; many “old coasters” declaring that they preferred the rainy season, and felt better in it. But, as the figures began to take shape it appeared that many other inferences might be drawn from them, perhaps not quite so obvious as the connection between the rain- fall and malarial fever, and requiring a more extended series of observations, before they can be classed as facts; but still marked with considerable clearness and of sufficient importance to deserve mention. Granting at the outset that a period of seven years (eight years in the case of meteorological observations) is not sufficient to guarantee absolute certainty, the following points appear to be worthy of notice, and the inferences seem to be justified, at any rate for the present. I. Each Battalion of the West India Regiment suffers excep- tionally from fever the first year of its service on this coast; the number of admissions and deaths falling in a marked degree in the second, and still more in the third year. II. The white troops suffer much more in proportion than the black. III. The largest number of cases occur in the middle of the rainy season, in the period of the greatest rainfall and of highest relative humidity, and lowest temperature In the shade, i.e., July and August. IV. The smallest number of cases occur, broadly, in the period of least rainfall, least relative humidity, and greatest heat. V. The most important factor in influencing the disease appears to be, not the rainfall itself, but the relative humidity of the atmo- sphere. VI. The black troops are more affected by changes in the meteorological conditions than the white. VII. The case mortality, or percentage of deaths to attacks, is small at all periods. I. The first proposition will probably be contested by no one. It appears in Table I. with great clearness. In January, 1892, the 2nd W. I. R. completed their tour of service, and began to return