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Power and scope of the Commission 
The Commission had considerable power and a comparatively 
free hand. They were directed to conduct investigations, to summon 
witnesses if necessary, employ inspectors and experts to assist and 
advise them. They were, furthermore, empowered to carry out 
remedial and preventive works for the abatement of malaria indepen¬ 
dent of local sanitary bodies, and to conduct medical and biological 
investigations and to report from time to time. They were authorised 
to spend for scientific and preventive measures a sum in the first 
instance not exceeding £500 without obtaining further authority. 
They were also asked to report upon, and to devise measures to 
prevent other diseases which they might come across in the course of 
their investigations. 
First steps of the Commission 
f his consisted in ascertaining the prevalence and distribution of 
malaria in the Island. In the first place the Commission paid a just 
tribute to the Report upon Malaria in Jamaica drawn up by Dr. 
Prout,* in which both the causes of malaria and the principles 
necessary for its control were fully discussed. 
In the second place they asked for returns of all the cases of 
malaria in the island, and Dr. Grabham, one of the members of the 
Commission, took a splenic census of the West end district of 
Kingston. The Secretary, Mr. Isaacs, proceeded to Annotto Bay to 
make a survey of the town and district in order to ascertain the anti- 
malarial measures which could with advantage be introduced. 
Similarly the Black River, Yallahs, Morant Bay and Bath districts 
were visited and inspected for breeding places of Anophelines, in 
order to devise methods for their reduction. 
h rom these preliminary investigations the Commissioners were 
able to report in February, 1910, that one-half the Island was practi¬ 
cally’ free from malaria-carrying mosquitos. This area comprised 
those parts of the Island above 1,000 feet. Below 1,000 feet the 
Anophelines were found in varying numbers, and were greatest in 
the low-lying plains near the sea coast, where natural drainage was 
most difficult. Breeding places existed in the East and West 
end districts of Kingston and the West End constituted a badly 
Loc. cil. 
