260 
THOMPSON YATES LABORATORIES REPORT 
In concluding these recommendations for the prevention of malarial fever, it 
has been considered necessary to more particularly point out in what way they 
can be adopted in individual cases. Presuming, beforehand, that attention be 
paid in every case to precautions exercisable by every individual — namely, the careful 
use of mosquito curtains and of suitable clothing to prevent the bites of mosquitoes, 
as well as the use of mosquito-proof houses in certain circumstances, and the 
intelligent and regular administration of quinine, a certain amount of care might be 
exercised by some individuals who meet unusual circumstances. 
We have stated that, for a community of Europeans, segregation and drainage 
are to be relied upon, while the use of mosquito-proof houses, mosquito curtains, 
quinine, and other measures are subservient to these, and more applicable by 
individuals ; also that, in a segregated community, the servants must also be properly 
placed. 
For military officers in permanent camp, it is advised that particular care be 
bestowed on the disposition of the huts of the native soldiers — which should be 
placed at a distance of half-a-mile from officers' quarters, and those of soldiers with 
their families at a still greater distance, if possible. In temporary camp, choice of 
a site on ' segregation ' principles is advised, that is, away from the native huts. 
Commissioners and other government officials, as well as travellers and 
explorers, should avoid sleeping in native huts. It is advisable to pitch tents for 
themselves and their servants and followers for sleeping purposes away from native 
towns and villages. 
Agents and assistants at trading factories will be careful in the choice of sites 
for new stations, and will as far as possible re-arrange their compounds so as to place 
their servants and labourers at as great a distance as the extent of their areas permit 
and, moreover, to ensure that no collection of surface water on the area can exist. 
Similar advice might be given to those Europeans engaged at mission stations. 
With those engaged on surveying parties or on the construction of railways, 
the exercise of the principle of segregation is very easy. It is again the custom at 
each little station to find Europeans surrounded by natives of all sorts and ages. It 
is evident that at such places where absolute control over the disposition of all houses, 
tents, and huts is easy, to so place all such native followers and labourers as 
not to constitute a danger, presents no difficulty whatever. The construction 
of railways in West Africa has always been associated with many cases of 
malarial fever, which were formerly attributed to ' the turning over of the soil.' 
Now they are easily explained by the formation of numerous breeding-places for 
Anopheles created by turning over the soil in the construction of the railway — thus 
supplying the carrier of the disease ; and the practise of permitting labourers and 
servants with their families to live close to European quarters — thus supplying the 
