133 



hand, it has been shown beyond question that vigorous, intelligent 

 and persistent anti-malarial measures carried out by a manager who 

 has a full knowledge of their value and belief for their necessity will 

 bring about so great a change on a highly malarious estate that not 

 only is it practicable to re-employ Indian labour but the sick rate and 

 mortality from malaria can be brought to very modei^te dimensions. 



The accompanying table sets out the death-rate among Indian 

 labourers in the Federated Malay States during the past six years — 

 Average noinber of 



If we consider the figui-es for labourers of all nationalities, 

 Indians, Chinese, Javanese and Malays the reduction in mortality is 

 even more marked but the figures are not so reliable. The Indian 

 figures though they do not include the deaths of infants or dependants 

 are very encoui-aging. To bring about still further progress there 

 are three prominent measures to which special effort should in future 

 be directed. These are, an extension of anti-malarial works, a more 

 prompt removal of the sick to hospital and an increase in the 

 qualified medical staffs of estate hospitals. The marked reduction 

 in Indian mortality upon estates during the past six years is a great 

 tribute to the successful and earnest endeavours of managers, 

 assistants and their medical advisers, it will doubtless also serve as 

 a stimulus for further effort. 



Discussion. 

 Dr. Ltjcy concluded his paper by inviting questions and specially 

 asked two members whom he knew had experimented with oil to 

 state their experience. 



Mr. Harrison said that he had tried oil on Midlands Estate 

 with very satisfactory results. 



During 1911 the death-rate was 25 per mille, but during the 

 past few years it had been greatly reduced by this means and now 

 amounted only to 1.5 (Hear, hear). That was not due entirely to 

 oiling, but mainly to it, as other methods of subsoil drainage, etc., 

 had also been tried. It was Dr. Watson, who had visited Panama, 

 who suggested oiling. They fii'st tried crude kerosene. They now 

 had their place oiled once a week, costing from 3500 to 8700 

 a month for about half a mile around. While they had had a 

 hospital admission rate of 50 per cent, previously it was now reduced 

 to 2 per cent. 



