SoREL (F.). L'Hygiene a Bassam en 1912. [Hygiene in Bassam in 

 1912.]— Bull. Soc. Path. Exot., Paris, vi, no. 9, r2th Nov. 1913, 

 pp. 645-653, 3 sketch maps. 



The author mentions amongst matters dealt with by the laboratory 

 at Bassam, Ivory Coast, in the course of the year 1912, that with regard 

 to yellow fever and malaria all the well-known prophylactic measures 

 were adopted. Throughout the year five mosquito-catchers were con- 

 tinuously employed. In addition to oiling pools, and other water not 

 intended for drinking purposes, the author reports that he used cresyl 

 with great success, laboratory experiments having shown that pure 

 cresyl is a poison to the larvae of Stegomyia and Anopheles in five 

 minutes when diluted in the proportion of three drops to 500 c.c. of 

 water, and in 8-10 minutes when diluted to two drops per 500 c.c. 

 The pupae resist longer but are killed by three drops in 500 c.c. after 

 about one-half to three-quarters of an hour's exposure. The work of 

 the mosquito-catchers has been greatly diminished in consequence of 

 the spread of knowledge amongst the inhabitants, and most of the heads 

 of factories now employ a man for this special purpose. The free use 

 of pumps for emptying gutters and other water receptacles has greatly 

 diminished the number of breeding places of the larvae. The reser- 

 voirs of rain water received special attention, and the author devised 

 the following arrangement for preventing the entry of insects or larvae. 

 The rain-water pipes were made to empty themselves into a funnel 

 fitted at the top with a galvanized iron grid, and below with a piece of 

 fine wire gauze, the lower part of the pipe being so arranged that in 

 case of storms the first portion of the water could be directed away 

 from the reservoir, and thus avoid the carriage into it of dust and dirt 

 from the roofs. In spite of the suggestion of this de\nce and the promise 

 that it would be put in operation, the author complains that in practice 

 he found it much more useful to send one of his employees to warn the 

 occupants of the house or factory and to see that the necessary pre- 

 cautions were taken. Marshy places and pools round the village were 

 filled up, and the general result of the operations has been the practical 

 disappearance of Anopheles and Stegomyia. He remarks, however, 

 that at certain seasons northerly winds carry into the town mosquitos 

 which are bred in the marshes situated on the other side of the lagoon. 

 These mosquitos are generally either Culex or species of the genus 

 Mansonioides. The drainage of these marshes will, he says, require 

 the intervention of the engineer, but he hopes that the dredging of the 

 port and deepening of the navigable channel will greatly assist in 

 carrying off the water ; meanwhile it is intended next year to plant 

 a larger number of Eucalyptus and Taxodium distichum (Black Cypress). 

 The author further gives certain regulations with regard to natives, 

 which were found desirable in order to secure the segregation of the 

 possible virus carriers, and three maps of the town are given showing 

 the progress of the work from 1910 to 1912. 



Quinine is now regularly distributed to the children in the schools, 

 and the malarial index had fallen from 40% in 1910 to 12% in 

 November 1912. In this way the adult natives have become educated 

 to the desirability of taking quinine as a prophylactic. 



