288 



FILARIASIS 



the General Hospital, and found that no less than 

 23 of them were infected. If it were not for Ctdex, 

 and for men's indifference and apathy, filariasis 

 could be kept down all over the island : — 



" There is a perfect water supply, and people 

 can get their water fresh from the standpipes at 

 their doors. Old wells ought to be filled up ; no 

 water-barrels or tubs should be allowed, or, if kept, 

 they should be emptied every week or so. Tanks 

 and collections of water in gardens should all be 

 periodically treated with kerosene, or be furnished 

 with closely-fitting covers to prevent mosquitoes 

 getting in. These methods are simple and inex- 

 pensive, and each householder should see that they 

 are applied in his garden and grounds. The diffi- 

 culty begins when one has to take into account 

 the inability of the negro to grasp anything of a 

 hygienic nature. The only way to get over this, 

 would be a system of sanitary inspection by a 

 few competent men. For individual prophylaxis, 

 mosquito-nets ought always to be used ; but many, 

 even educated people, still persist in sleeping with- 

 out them ; of course, nothing in this line can be 

 expected of the native population. 



" If such means were adopted for Barbadoes, the 

 presence of filarial disease, which at present is 

 quite alarming, could easily, with little trouble and 

 expense, be greatly diminished, and thus save much 

 suffering, as well as loss of time, hideous deformity, 

 and doubtless in not a few instances loss of life." 



