( 9o ) 



In mv opinion the most important point in dealing with the | 

 health of estates and large works is the instant separation of the sick [ 

 from the healthy. No sick coolie should remain one minute in contact 

 with his sound fellows, certainly not one hour, and to leave him ok 

 day is criminal ! 



With the able assistance of Mr. Wilkinson — both of us I may ; 

 mention working under difficulties— I introduced ontheKrian Irrigation 

 Works a system of prompt segregation of the sick, with a view to 

 stamping out the infectious dysentery which played havoc amongst the 

 coolies for a time. The method adopted was : At each lines 1 

 established a small isolation shed of from four to ten beds, if any coolie 

 complained of dysentrv, or diarrhoea he was immediately sent to the 

 shed, the furniture consisted of beds, chamber-pots, blankets, tinned 

 milk, and cups, an attendant had charge, and all motions were kef. 

 for inspection by a dresser or the medical officer. 



The system which was directed against dysentry would w«* 

 equally well in other cases, and malingerers, diarrhoea, and typhoid 

 cases could be "spotted" with some approach to accuracy. IHk| 

 system be carried a step farther it becomes applicable to all forms o! j 

 disease, all that is necessary being a shed with partitions for those 

 who complain of different diseases. 



Please do not mistake me when I speak of these diagnosis she*, 

 they are not intended to be expensive hospitals, but rather filters I* 

 the hospital, and merely resting places as substitutes for the lines R 

 the case of any coolie becoming sick of any disease which is pie«g 

 or dangerous to his fellows, they are very Valuable in cases of «*» 

 gering also. 



There are no doubt many points which I have missed in this gl 

 put as I am not yet sufficiently educated in planting to see twP | 

 manager's point of view, I shall deem it a great i 



from 

 planters 



iportant items 



e direct to Kuala Lump.: 



shall be most happy to discuss any matter w hich concerns the *ei 

 of the coolie m Malaya. 



My earnest thanks are due to Mr. W. A. Wilkinson, whose Ml 

 :U>K S :issl ^ance in converting my plans from an amateur chaos, 

 workmanlike drawings I cannot over-estimate, that they 

 trult° e m eStabllshin S a sanitary uniformity in Malaya I sinc» i 

 To Mr. Ridley and to Mr. Carruthers I am indebted j*^ 

 special edition of this journal without which I could not have go* 

 Fhl U nl " eed fi ha ^ dl y Sa Y that I am very deeply obliged to them, D ^ 

 ^^1^,^ of useful instruction in tbiSj*«ftg 

 planters thanks w-ill be a more fitting reward for my benefactor, 

 anything I could wnte here. 



P. N. GERRA** 



