a  record  of  all  absences  from  work  on  account  of  malaria  as  already 
suggested.  It  is  useless  relying  on  native  Indian  overseers,  at  first 
at  any  rate,  until  they  begin  to  appreciate  the  benefits,  but  I  am 
sure  it  is  not  impossible  to  find  in  Jamaica  keen,  enthusiastic  and 
energetic  ‘  bushas,’  who  will  see  that  this  method  is  given  a  fair  and 
thorough  trial. 
(c)  School  Children 
I  have  already  shown  that  children  are  the  principal  carriers 
of  the  malarial  parasite,  and  that  the  prevalence  of  malarial 
infection  can  be  arrived  at  by  ascertaining  the  percentage 
of  enlarged  spleens.  It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  if  we  can  diminish 
the  number  of  infected  children  we  largely  diminish  the  possibilities 
of  the  general  infection. 
And  in  the  schools  of  the  Colony  we  can  get  at  the  children.  In 
discussing  the  matter  with  the  Superintending  Inspector  of 
Education,  he  was  inclined  to  believe  that  the  cost  of  cinchonising  ■ 
the  whole  school  population  would  be  prohibitive.  But  here,  again, 
we  can  limit  the  application.  A  considerable  number  of  schools  are 
situated  in  non-malarious  districts,  and  can  be  excluded,  only  actual 
cases  of  malarial  fever  in  such  districts  when  introduced,  being 
thoroughly  treated. 
And  even  in  the  malarious  districts  I  would,  in  the  first  instance 
at  any  rate,  suggest  the  limitation  of  the  quinine  administration  to 
children  with  enlarged  spleens.  Now,  this  will  involve  the  periodic 
examination  of  the  school  children,  and  this  is  one  of  the 
recommendations  which  I  have  already  urged  upon  the  Government. 
It  will  then  be  possible  to  determine  from  time  to  time  the  number 
of  infected  children  and  the  effect  of  the  quinine  administration. 
The  school-master  would  be  supplied  with  this  register,  and  it 
would  be  his  duty  to  administer  a  daily  dose  of  quinine  to  all 
infected  children,  noting  the  amount  in  his  register,  absences  from 
school,  and  any  reasons  for  non-administration.  No  infected  child 
should  be  exempted,  except  on  a  medical  certificate. 
The  cost  will  be  further  diminished  in  the  cases  of  children  by 
the  fact  that  a  smaller  dose  of  quinine  is  required.  The  daily  dose 
may  be  approximately  as  follows: — Up  to  three  years,  i  grain; 
three  to  six,  2  grains ;  six  to  eight,  3  grains  ;  eight  to  twelve,  4 
