13 



sweepers. They are found sparsely distributed during the colder 

 months, but increase in numbers with the onset of the monsoon from 

 the end of May, when the temperature averages 95° F. and the humi- 

 dity of the atmosphere is greater than during the colder months. 



Although the conditions might be considered favourable, the author 

 has not been able to discover the breeding places of the flies. 



King (A.). Report of the Medical Officer of the Second Division 

 for the Year 1912-13. — Ann. Rept. on the Hospitals and Dispen- 

 saries, St. Lucia, Castries, July 1913. 



Malaria and pellagra are mentioned among the diseases prevailing 

 in the district during the past year. Malaria seems to have been more 

 prevalent and severe than during the previous year, although pre- 

 ventive measures were still carried out in a small way by distributing 

 " MilHons " fish in pools, cleaning edges of streams where vegetation 

 might harbour Anopheles larvae, distributing quinine in schools, etc. 

 The conditions during most of the year were not favourable for the 

 " Millions," as there were many spells of dry weather, during which 

 they all died except in large collections of water, and the smaller pools 

 required constant re-stocking. 



Pellagra seems to be gaining a firm foothold in the Colony, and has 

 advanced beyond the limits of the vagrant and aged pauper classes, 

 to which it has hitherto seemed to be entirely confined. Its incidence 

 is very erratic and difficult to fit in with any of the theories so far 

 propounded as to its causation. 



Regarding the sanitary conditions, the district has improved in 

 several respects. Stegomyia fasciata was not very prevalent, except in 

 the neighbourhood of the stacks of logwood on the wharves, but unless 

 inspection was kept up, people grew lax in the disposal of water. 

 During the months December to March, 34 cases of infringement of 

 the Board of Health anti-mosquito bye-laws were dealt with by the 

 police in Castries, resulting in 28 convictions, 1 dismissal, and 5 with- 

 drawals. 



In view of the possible disease-carrying powers of rat fleas, measures 

 were taken for the reduction of the numbers of rats in the town and 

 neighbourhood. The laboratory work in this connection consisted 

 in dissection and examination for gross lesions, microscopical 

 examination of smears, and the making of cultures when thought 

 necessary. Notes were made of species, sex, size, place caught, 

 number of fleas, etc. Fleas vary with the habitat of the rat, 

 the season and the rainfall. Rats caught in stores and houses have 

 numerous fleas, country rats few. In cooler months the flea population 

 decreases. On rats caught in wet weather, hardly any are found. 

 With very few exceptions one single species of flea has been noted 

 {Xenopsylla cheopis.) 



Da Costa (B. F. B.). Sieeping Sickness in the Island of Principe. 



— 90 pp., 8vo., 3 pis., 4 tables. (London, BailUere, Tindall & Cox, 

 Price, 2s, %d. net.) 



Sleeping sickness has been known for more than a century on the 

 West Coast of Africa, but it seems to have occurred in the island of 



