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European Sanitation. The following table shows the advance in European sanitation since 1922. The number of septic tanks in use prior to that year was 31. Number. Septic tanks installed since Ist January, 1922 .. .. .. 40 Houses in which drainage and other sanitary improvements have been installed .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 92 Feet of drainage laid .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,347 Water-closets connected with the forty septic tanks mentioned above .. 109 Sinks .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 90 Baths .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 Shower-baths (chiefly in Native villages in the vicinity of Apia) .. 331 Handbasins .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 31 Wash-tubs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 Plumbing and drainage permits issued for the twelve months ending 31st March, 1925 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 72 Water-supplies. See Report of the Public Works Department. Child Welfare. The returns given under " Vital Statistics " show clearly where the chief wastage of life occurs in "Samoa. This year's returns are the most satisfactory for many years, and yet the infant-mortality rate stands at 155 per thousand births. Although no definite statistical figures are available, it has been estimated that the infant-mortality rate for past years has been in the vicinity of 200 per thousand births. That child-welfare work was a necessary branch of medical activity in Western Samoa has been recognized since the Territory came under mandate, but systematic work of this nature -had to wait until other work had been accomplished. The two greatest causes of ill health in Samoa were hookworm and frambcesia. Practically every Samoan harboured hookworms, and every child, with very few exceptions, contracted frambcesia in the first two years of life. Mothers suffering from hookworm were in many cases unable to give their infants proper sustenance, and the best child-welfare work that could be carried out for young children was to treat them for frambo3sia. Work on these two diseases has been carried out during the last two years, and now that they are not such factors in producing ill health, the work of child welfare is being undertaken on systematic lines. Workcarried out voluntarily during the last six months by Dr. Roberts, the wife of the Yice-Consul for the United States of America, in a small district in the vicinity of Apia, has shown that much can be accomplished in the saving of child-life, but that the work will necessarily be slow. Even in more advanced communities such is the case. Vital Statistics (Samoan). The year under review has been an exceptionally satisfactory one. The number of live births (1,900) constitutes a record for Western Samoa, and the number of deaths (766), although not a record, is well below the average. The marked absence of serious sickness and even minor epidemics, the provision of dispensaries in outyling districts, and the campaigns against hookworm and yaws, are all factors in helping to bring about the present position. The reduction in the number of adults, due to the influenza epidemic of 1918, and the increase in the percentage of children in the community, tends to an increase in the death-rate, but it is hoped that the child-welfare campaign to be commenced during the coming year will gradually produce the opposite effect. Population. The Native population of Western Samoa at the census of the 17th April, 1921, was 32,601. By the 31st December, 1923, the population had increased to 33,800. During 1924 the natural increase amounted to 1,134, but, as there was a loss of 117 by excess of emigration over immigration, the net increase was 1,017. The population at the 31st December, 1924, was therefore estimated to be 34,817. The average population has been calculated as 34,309. All estimates of population in this report, and rates collected from these estimates, are based on the census taken in 1921. Arrangements are now being made to ensure that the census to be taken during the coming year will be a reliable one, experience having shown where errors are likely to occur in the filling-up of the census forms in the villages. Native Population, Western Samoa. Males. Females. Total. Estimated population on 31st December, 1923 17,157 16,643 33,800 Live births during 1924 .. .. .. 964 936 1,900 Deaths .. .. .. .. 412 354 766 Excess of departures over arrivals .. .. 56 61 117 Estimated population on 31st December, 1924 17,653 17,164 34,817 Net increase .. .. .. .. 496 521 1,017

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