( 9° ) 
In my opinion the moat 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 one 
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 we 
established a small isolation shed of from four to ten beds, if any coolie 
complained of dysentry, 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 kept 
for inspection by a dresser or the medical officer. 
The system which was directed against dysentry would work 
equally well in other cases, and malingerers, diarrhoea, and typhoid 
cases could be “ spotted ” with some approach to accuracy. If the 
system be carried a step farther it becomes applicable to all forms of 
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 sheds, 
they are not intended to be expensive hospitals, but rather filters for 
the hospital, and merely resting places as substitutes for the lines in 
the case of any coolie becoming sick of any disease which is prevalent 
or dangerous to his fellows, they are very valuable in cases of malin- 
gering also. 
There are no doubt many points which I have missed in this essay, 
but as I am not yet sufficiently educated in planting to see things 
from a manager’s point of view, I shall deem it a great favour if any 
planters who observe the omission of important items from their 
point of view, will communicate with me direct to Kuala Lumpor, I 
shall be most happy to discuss any matter which concerns the welfare 
of the coolie in Malaya. 
My earnest thanks are due to Mr. W. A. Wilkinson, whose valu- 
able assistance in converting my plans from an amateur chaos, into 
workmanlike drawings I cannot over-estimate, that they will be of 
service in establishing a sanitary uniformity in Malaya I sincerely 
trust. 
To Mr. Ridley and to Mr. Carruthers I am indebted for this 
special edition of this journal without which I could not have gone to 
print. I need hardly say that I am very deeply obliged to them, but if 
the planters find anything of useful instruction in this essay, the 
planters thanks will be a more fitting reward for my benefactors than 
anything I could write here. 
P. N. GERRARD. 
