June 1907. J 



409 



Miscellaneous, 



about half an inch diameter, which eventually coalesce to form plates of red. 

 Peeling occurs, and may last for some time (2 to 3 weeks). Isolation of the first 

 cases is advisable, but the disease spreads so rapidly that it were advisable not to 

 expect too much of isolation as a preventive measure in this disease. 



Influenza.— As the vast majority of us have had personal experience of this 

 disease, I shall merely draw attention to the leading symptoms once more to remind 

 those who have suffered of their miserable time, and to claim kindness, or at least 

 consideration, for coolies who became affected by it ; sneezing, cold in the head with 

 fever, pain in the back, rheumatic pain all over, general miserableness. Quinine and 

 salicylate of soda are useful drugs in the disease, but it must not be trifled with 

 nor neglected. 



Measles.— The rash comes out on the fourth day of fever, it is well defined 

 and the " running at the eyes " usually helps to diagnosis, exposure must be avoided, 

 as pneumonia is a rather frequent complication. Measles, influenza, and dengue are 

 easily confused, but if the planter will look about him he will frequently find 

 assistance from the fact of certain diseases existing in the vicinity. 



Phthisis.— Consumption is an infectious disease. Consumption is terribly 

 common in this country. The disease is insidious, and occurs in many forms' 

 affections of the lungs being perhaps the most common, but the disease when it 

 attacks the intestines is very fatal. The internal organs are susceptible, and I have 

 ample post-mortem proofs of its frequent occurrence here in this situation. Care- 

 ful examination of coolies suffering from chronic cough is most advisable, and the 

 examination should be carried out microscopically in order that no mistake can 

 arise. In the future Government will, I have no doubt, erect consumption sanitaria, 

 but for the preseut I consider that when a coolie is found to be suffering from this 

 dread disease, that he should be immediately repatriated, as the cheapest and best 

 method of preserving the health of those who must associate with him in his work 

 and on the lines while in this country. 



Hydrophobia.— A word or two about this shocking disease may not come 

 amiss here. The disease is caused by the contact of the saliva of a rabid animal 

 with a wound on another animal (man included). It usually occurs as the result of 

 the bite of any animal suffering from rabies. The first symptoms of the disease in 

 the dog (which is the commonest domestic animal affected) are : 1 A change in tem- 

 perament ; 2. Restlessness. 



The stages of the disease have been divided as follows :— 1. The premonitory 

 or melancholic. 2. The irritative or maniacal. 3. The paralytic. 



In the first, as I have stated, the dog's general behaviour alters, if a lively 

 individual usually, he becomes morose, inclined to snap, and to hide himself, as this 

 stage progresses he is often observed to chew sticks, to eat pieces of stones, etc. 

 He then becomes " mad," symptoms of choking, spasms, or fits take place, 

 planting, difficulty of breathing, vomiting, and cough occur, he may run away 

 from home, and sometimes they travel great distances ; at this stage the diagnosis 

 is generally easily made. The last stage is paralysis, his jaw drops, he can 

 no longer swallow, his back becomes paralysed, and the unfortunate animal dies, 

 either in a convulsion or quite suddenly. The measures to be taken if one be bitten, 

 or a wound of the skin come in contact with the saliva of such an animal, are : 

 1, Apply a tight ligature above the seat of the bite if possible ; 2, Burn the bite itself 

 with a hot iron ; 3, Apply carbolic acid. The ligation should be retained in position 

 for about three hours. The incubation period from the bite or contact, to the 

 development of hydrophobia is variable, but may be set down at from four 

 weeks to sixteen. 



