May 1 8, 1905] 



NA TURE 



67 



SANITATION IN THE TROPICS.' 

 pROF. BOYCE and Messrs. Evans nnd Clarke, of the 

 Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, recentlv re- 

 turned from a journey to the west coast of Africa, the 



;ipal B.iulev 



Conakry, showing factories and De 

 the foolpath on the left. 



condition 

 Bathurst, 



object of which was to study the present sanita 

 of, and anti-malarial measures practised at 

 Conakrv, and Freetown, to investi- 

 gate how far the teaching of Ross 

 has there been accepted and acted 

 upon, and if, as a consequence, the 

 health of these communities has im- 

 proved during the last four years. 

 This report embodies the results of 

 their observations, together with 

 suggestions for the further develop- 

 ment of tropical hygiene in the 

 future. 



At Bathurst sanitation is clearly 

 of no low' order, the town is well 

 laid out, the streets are drained, 

 and earth closets are the rule in 

 the European quarters ; but in the 

 native compounds there are many 

 cess-pits which tend to foul surface- 

 wells, of w-hich there are a number 

 still in use, though there is a good 

 public supply from deep wells. 

 Anti-mosquito measures have been 

 in force since 1902, consisting of the 

 removal of old tins and rubbish, 

 levelling and clearing of roads, ex- 

 amination of wells and water re- 

 ceptacles for larvae, &c., and the 

 more regular use of the mosquito 

 net by Europeans. These precau- 

 tions have made people think and 

 be inore careful, and the Europeans, 

 it is stated, have been more free yic. 2.—.\ stieet in 



from malaria than formerly, but 

 Culex mosquitoes still abound. 



Conakrv, in French Guinea, is a comparatively new 

 town, well planned and laid out. There are no cess-pits 

 1 ■• Report on the Sanilation and Anti-malarial Measures in Practice Jn 

 Bathurst, Conakry, and Freetown. ■' By Prof. Rubert T.ovce, M.B., F R 

 Arthur Evans. M.K.C;., T,.R.C.P., and H. Her 

 (Cantal. ), Liverpool School of Tropical Med 

 pool : Univer-ity Press. London : Willi 



NO. 1855. VOL 72] 



of any kind, the pail system being in use, and a pure 

 water supply is brought from watercourses 41 kilometres 

 distant. In consequence, the private wells have fallen into 

 disuse, but they have not been closed or filled up, and 

 therefore serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Anti- 

 inalarial measures do not 

 seem to be carried out, mos- 

 L|uito nets are not made use 

 of to any extent, and malaria 

 is still very rife. The authors 

 remark that (p. 20) " With 

 model water supply under the 

 control of the authorities, no 

 streams, a good porous soil, 

 and perfect sanitation mosqui- 

 toes should be got under con- 

 trol, and the freedom of the 

 Europeans and of the natives 

 from malaria guaranteed." 



Freetown, in Sierra Leone, 

 Is not well laid out, and cess- 

 pits are the rule. Of these 

 there were 2650 in 1897, and 

 their number has since in- 

 creased, while more than 2000 

 of the inhabitants have no 

 sanitary accommodation of 

 anv kind. The street drain- 

 .ige is still imperfect, and 

 numerous opportunities exist 

 for .A.nopheles mosquitoes to 

 breed ; but this condition of 

 I liings is undergoing gradual 

 improvement, and inosquito 

 nets are in general use. The 

 authors think that the health 

 of the Europeans has in con- 

 . . sequence improved, but evi- 



aiU, The main dr.iin is under dentlv no striking result has 



yet been achieved. On the 

 whole, we are disappointed that more definite results can- 

 not be chronicled as the outcome of the health propaga 



M.A.. B.C. 

 ,irxiv. (Liver- 

 and Norgaie, 1905.) 



Freetown consisting of rock surface, in which ih.,. are innumerable pools 

 breeding Anopheles (Rainy season) 



so ably preached bv the Liverpool School and its energetic 

 staff, but obviousiv such success as has been attained 

 should prove a stiniulus for further effort, and not lead to 

 anv relaxation of present measures. The authors formulate 

 a number of suggestions for the improvement of the health 

 of the districts visited, of which the principal are :--(i) the 



