Medical report / British Honduras.

  • British Honduras. Medical Department.
Date:
[1937]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: Medical report / British Honduras. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    (1) GENERAL DISEASES. Relapsing Fever—One case. Deficiency Diseases are more apparent than previously, perhaps owing to the increas¬ ed interest in this subject. Beri-beri 2 cases. Scurvy 4 cases. Pellagra 4 cases. Various other forms of avitamosis appear from time to time. Nephritis—sporadic outbreaks occurred amongst the children. Anterior Poliomyelitis—one case; several cases have been reported by local practi¬ tioners. Tetanus—Four cases were treated in the hospitals with good results. Cancer—Fifty-four cases. Diabetes—Fourteen cases. Government Officials. Figures showing invaliding, and death rates of European and Native Officials are not available as these Officials are attended by Private Medical Practitioners. Government officials do not receive attention from the Government Medical Of¬ ficers. Medical and Sanitary Reports from Districts. These are appended. (2) COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. (a) Mosquito or Insect-borne. Malaria—The deaths from this disease during the past five years are as follows: — 1933— 42 deaths or 9.3% of total certified deaths. 1934— 43 deaths or 10.8% of total certified deaths. 1935— 41 deaths or 6.9% of total certified deaths. 1936— 91 deaths or 0.1 % of living population. 1937— 60 deaths or 0.1 % of living population. The number of cases of Malaria treated in the public hospitals of the colony during the past five years are as follows: — 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 Belize 296 150 193 289 245 Corozal 76 75 68 138 94 Stann Creek 115 137 111 165 167 Orange Walk 39 42 49 88 57 Cayo 113 70 74 59 41 Toledo 38 102 94 108 154 Total for Colony 587 576 589 547 758 Percentage of Total Hospital cases 25.42 22.41 20.3 21.5 23.7 The type of parasite most commonly encountered is the sub-tertian, or aestivo- autumnal. The vector or vectors of malaria, their habitat and habits are unknown in British Honduras but Anopheles Albimanus is from its geographical distributions thought to be the principal vector. Black-water Fever. 9 cases were treated in the hospitals, 2 in Corozal, 1 in El Cayo and 6 with 1 death in Stann Creek. Yellow Fever_The last recorded case was in 1921. The increase in the index of domestic mosquitos in Belize since 1921 when the Rockefeller Sanitary Officials cleared the town, is to say the least of it alarming, and indicates the lack of interest in vital sani¬ tary matters among the people of Belize. (b) Epidemic and Infectious. Enteric Fever—Nil.