142 Timehri. > ' 
keeping the malaria in check, so that the coolies can carry on their work, three 
years’ administration of the drug (quinine) had entirely failed to eradicate the 
disease.” This in spite of the fact that the drug was given in 10-grain doses on 
six days out of seven, or in 20-grain doses when a coolie had fever, or was in such 
bad health that he did not feel inclined to work. He goes on to say that “ If, 
as has been shown, the immunity from malaria produced by quinine leaves the 
patient infective while he is acquiring the immunity, then it will be impossible 
in the presence of many Anophelines, and in the presence of many new arrivals 
(such as newly-born children), ever to eradicate malaria by quinine.” “It 
follows too, that if drainage be an alternative, even though much more expensive, 
drainage must be the method which should be adopted.” 
Prof. Ross goes on to say: “* The author carefully compares the conditions in 
Italy with those in his country. The reason for the freedom of the hills in Italy 
from malaria is that the principal carrier there is s pool breeder and not a stream 
breeder. The attitude of the Italians to quinine is due to local conditions, 
drainage being difficult in many malarious localities there, especially along the 
coast. But as regards the tropics, the author adds: “ To me it seems only the 
vision of a dreamer that any organisation will ever induce a whole tropical popu- 
lation to take quinine in the doses required by the Italians. And when it is 
further considered that the population even when taking this quinine, would still 
be infectious, the policy of spending money on quinine for an indigenous popu- 
lation, where drainage is possible, appears to me indefensible either on medical 
or financial grounds.” I need hardly add that I am in thorough accord with 
Dr. Malcolm Watson’s conclusions so far as British Guiana is concerned. It 
seems to me that everybody out here has come to the conclusion, quite prema- 
ture I believe, that quinine administration is the only method to be adopted, with 
perhaps, a little playing about with such additional means as drainage and the 
clearing of bush. Soon after Sir Rubert Boyce’s visit to the colony, a fair 
amount of clearing of bush and trees was accomplished about Georgetown and 
a few other places, so that the doing of this came to be known by the name of 
“ Boycing.”” Nowadays, however, to mention a suggestion of “ Boyeing ~ to 
many individuals, is like holding out a red rag to a bull. And some of these 
individuals include those who ought to know better, [ have even seen it stated 
that Sir Rubert Boyce, when advocating the cutting down of bush, was only 
referring to the bush about Georgetown, and not to that about the dwellings 
of people in the country ! ! The want of money is by no means the only difficulty in 
the way of our carrying out anti-malarial measures in British Guiana : almost if 
not quite as great a drawback is the opposition one meets with from people in the 
most influential quarters. 
What therefore can be done on estates with regard to anti-malarial measures 
other than the free use of quinine ? Obviously drainage comes first in importance. 
Most estates are or should be well-drained. But good drainage is not always an 
adjunct of the yards where the labourers dwell. Now there can be no possible 
reason for not having all the yards on estates kept in thorough order so far as 
drainage is concerned. And yet I have found it extremely difficult to get this 
done at times. Certain people seem to think that as soon as a few drains have 
been dug, nothing further is required. All drains should be kept thoroughly 
