286 DUNBAR. 



stricted to the barracks or station, there were but very few cases, and these 

 were probably unreported infections continuing from past months. On 

 the chart accompanying this paper, the admissions have not been reduced 

 to percentages as the strength of the command was found to have been 

 so nearly constant as .to make its calculation unnecessary. 



At this time, abandonment of the range upon which there had 

 already been considerable expenditure of money and labor, was seriously 

 considered. 



The Maquinaya range is located on a narrow sand spit between the sea beach 

 and an impassable morass, into which flows a stream of considerable size which 

 overflows much of the range during the rainy season. While considerable clearing 

 of the range had already been done, there were both high grass and mangrove 

 trees close to the camp, and anopheles mosquitoes were present in considerable 

 numbers, especially in the evening when the breeze failed. The men were quar- 

 tered in tents and slept on the regulation folding camp cot under nets. The 

 protection from mosquito bites afforded by these narrow nets is more in theory 

 than in practice, for a slight movement of the body or limbs during sleep results 

 in contact with the net, permitting the mosquito to feed to its satisfaction without 

 fear of molestation. 



A board appointed for the purpose recommended (1) filling in of the 

 swampy land on the range and further clearing of the ground so that 

 there should be no shelter for the mosquito within at least 200 yards of 

 the range; (2) the erection of thoroughly screened quarters for officers 

 and men. These recommendations were carried out and the quarters 

 completed by the date of the opening of the target season. The buildings 

 are of light construction, elevated about 4 feet from the ground, well 

 ventilated and completely screened. 



BESULTS. 



During the first quarter of last year there were 105 admissions to the 

 hospital ship, giving 2,214 sick days, and the station sick quarters were 

 constantly kept filled, and this has been the yearly experience since the 

 range was established. During the elapsed part, over one-half, of the 

 first quarter of this year, there had been 8 admissions to the hospital 

 ship for malaria, giving 120 sick days, and there have been only 53 cases 

 treated at the sick quarters. 



Before concluding, a few words may be added regarding treatment. 

 To you, accustomed to a tropical medical practice, this is not pertinent, 

 but to the newcomer, acquainted with the mild infections of the Temperate 

 Zone, yielding readily to quinine in 1 to 2 gram doses, the administration 

 of 4 to 8 grams daily seems heroic, but thus has been found necessary here. 

 The treatment is, as a rule, continued for three weeks, but not necessarily 

 or usually in the larger doses. The worst cases we have had, being in a 

 state of collapse requiring saline intravenously, were those who had 

 repeated returns under the smaller doses. 



