272 



SANITARY NOTES 



Clay pools 

 more i>ften 

 affettc<l by 

 anophelines 

 than suikI 

 )x>ols 



Zeers to be 

 fitted with a 

 special cover 



This is no doubt duo to the fact that the former are more permanent and the water in them 

 clearer. Probably also they yield a more abundant food-supply for the larvae. A practical 

 point also is the knowledge that well-oiled rags wrapped round the legs of tables bearing 

 foodstuffs will keep off ants, thereby forming excellent substitutes for the water-containing 

 vessels mentioned in the list of breeding-places. 



While there are, I am glad to say, many persons in Khartoum public spirited enough 

 to aid the sanitary service, and in this connection I would specially mention Mr. F. S. Sillitoe, 

 who has charge of all Government gardens, there is also, amongst officials and others, 

 a great deal of lethargy and carelessness. Like Gallio, they care for none of these things. 

 Fortunately they can be fined and are fined, but it is a painful fact that some would rather 

 be fined, or let their servants be fined, than take the trouble to inspect their own zeers and 

 other water collections on their premises. It is fortunate for themselves that such individuals 

 do not live in New Orleans or Panama where they have a short and effective way of dealing 

 with those who endanger the public health or comfort. 



Perhaps if these individuals reflected that several hundreds of imported cases of 

 malaria must yearly reach Khartoum, the majority of which are able to serve as 

 distributing centres of the disease, that infected anophelines are brought now and then 

 into the town by boats and steamers and are attracted by likely breeding-places, that 

 Steyomyia calopiis can very probably convey the virus of horse-sickness and of dengue 

 and that Culex fatigans is almost certainly another carrier of dengue fever, they might be 

 more willing to devote a small portion of their time to aiding the mosquito brigade. 



Proof of their carelessness has recently been forthcoming, for the substitution of 

 clear deep-well water for muddy river water has done away with the necessity, from 

 the household standpoint, of frequently cleaning out zeers. As a result, the servants have 

 neglected this work and the masters have too often acquiesced in this neglect. As a result, 

 Stegomijia has been finding breeding-places in the town. As one despairs of ever getting 

 certain of these defaulters into line for, as Solomon says, one may bray a fool in a mortar 

 without benefit resulting, it has now, with the consent of the Governor, been resolved 

 to issue an order to the effect that all zeers must be supplied with a cover of a special 

 type (Fig. 92). 



The weighing material is sand, suggested by Dr. Beam, and it is both cheap and 

 effective. A tape can also be used, passed through the edge of the cover, and pulled tight 

 and fastened as required. 



Here is the type of notice circulated, a point of practical interest: — 



" Owing to the fact that clear well water is now being supplied instead of the river 

 water previously in use, it is not, from the point of view of mere convenience, so necessary 

 to clean zeers frequently. Servants are now, therefore, neglecting to carry out this duty 

 and, as in the majority of cases, their masters, despite many appeals and warnings from the 

 Sanitary Service, will not exercise the necessary personal supervision, it has become 

 imperative to take more stringent measures. Every zeer, barrel and similar receptacle 

 containing water in Khartoum should be kept covered by a suitable cover for the purpose 

 of preventing mosquitoes gaining access to such water collections. Covers of an approved 

 pattern as recommended for use can be seen at the office of the Chief Sanitary Inspector 

 at the Mudiria. Anyone found harbouring mosquito-larvsB, of any size or age, in water 

 receptacles which can be fitted with the above-mentioned covers will be prosecuted." 



Figs. 91 and 93 show how all zeers and burmas in native villages and localities must 

 be above ground level and not sunk in the soil as heretofore. It is now but rarely that we 

 find this order contravened. 



