BRITISH GUIANA 85 



reduce malaria throughout the group. For it is a fact 

 that mahu'ia is still the cause of a \'ery large proportion 

 of sickness in the islands. In those islands in which 

 there is a well-equipped official medical organisation 

 much has been done. The medical officers are as alive 

 as any one to the importance of destroying the breeding 

 grounds of the anophelines, and it has been in this 

 connection that the entomologists have rendered great 

 service by indicating the breeding places. The use of 

 the mosquito net is very general ; a few houses are wire- 

 netted, and in British Guiana quinine is on sale at 

 the post offices. The Surgeon- General of that Colony 

 writes me as follows concerning the sale of quinine : 



" As one result of the JMortality Commission, ar- 

 rangements have been made for the sale of quinine 

 at the district post offices, so as to place it within reach 

 of the poorer classes. The drug is retailed at the rate 

 of two cents for thirty grains, and meets with a ready 

 sale. It is only intended for the benefit of the people ; 

 and in order to prevent, as far as possible, its purchase 

 and subsequent resale at a profit, the quantity which 

 can be sold to any one person at a time has been hmited 

 to 180 grains. Later on, as a further precaution, the 

 supplies for this purpose were ordered in tablets coloured 

 pink and stamped with the letters B.G."^ 



Regulations have also been passed making it com- 

 pulsory on district boards to properly drain the roads 

 in their respective districts. 



Regulations have been passed making it compulsory 

 to screen all water- vats. Lectures are given and health 



' For Regulations see Appendix. 



