A.—3.

A heavy infant mortality, tropical diseases, and diseases introduced by Europeans and foreigners took a heavy toll of life. . . , Not only have the ravages of these afflictions been arrested, but modern medical science improved arw&'Acl nf pdn ration the provision of a hospital and of efficient mecLcal and hygienic conditions a t a 't the present time population is now increasing at a rate Sff» ; K SKL the position Of the Coot G»,p («eluding SJ .™ 12&.\ v mS. i, a gun of 60 per oent. ta New Zealand toot over toe Adnnm.trat.on of the Islands. Two thousand of this gam has been m the last ten years. Under the provisions of the Cook Islands Act, 1915, it is the duty of the Administration to provide in the Cook Islands such medical and surgical aid and attendance as may be reasonably required a is reasonably practicable, and gratuitous to the Native population. The more important work carried out in the past ten years has been (a) The removal of lepers to the central leper asylum at Makogai Fiji, for segregation and curative treatment. (One hundred and twenty-two lepers have been transferred to "Fiii and of these over thirty have been cured and returned to their homes.) 'The cost of the erection of hospital accommodation, transportation, maintenance, and treatment are necessarily high, which partly explains the increase m the Cook 11b) The lS maMng ie o?a al tropical diseases and hookworm survey by Dr. S. M. Lambert of the Rockefeller Foundation in 1925. His valuable and interesting report is printed as an Appendix to the Cook Islands Annual Report of 1926. _ Following this survey mass treatment for hookworm was given m all inhabited islands of the Group in the years 1926 to 1928, and systematic treatment has since to) The t tarryhig-out of a soil sanitation scheme in the years 1932 to 1934 the expense of wKwas borne by the New Zealand Government and the Cook Islands Treasury and subsidized by the Rockefeller Foundation. _ _ . Practically every house or place of habitation in Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Mangaia, Atiu Mauke, and Mitiaro has been provided with a fly-proof pit-privy. _ _ The scheme to date has involved the building of over two thousand pnvies. In addition, all schools, maraes, and public places have been provided with sanitary gpread of disease from ground-borne infection has m Th^clrrving ti out e by'Eh!.' Lambert of the Rockefeller Foundation of a tuberculosis survey. S The training of Native students at the Suva Medical School to enable them to qualify as Native medical practitioners. _ _ (Three have already qualified, and are assisting m the medical work oi the Group, and three more are in training.) n rl T1 , (f) The extension of water-supplies m Rarotonga and the Croup Islands. (o The provision of a school dental clinic at Rarotonga. This was opened in 1926. (h) The importation of pedigree Saanem goats as the nucleus of herds m Rarotonga and Lower Group Islands, with the object of increasing and improving the milk-supply. (i) Extensions to the Hospital at Rarotonga, and the provision of an up-to-date outpatients department, including dressing-room, dispensary, laboratory, consulting-room, and dental^ q{ hogpital to prov id e for an additional twelve beds is now under construction.) . , , ~ A new nurses' home, rendered necessary by the recent hurricane, has been built. (j) The provision at the hospital of an X-ray plant. . .. ■ x, ■ (k) The establishment of " au vaine " or women's committees, to assist m improving hygienic conditions, and also child welfare committees, who are given lectures and are coached in the work they carry out. rm.--.. (I) The introduction of gambusia, a small fish that devours the larvffi of the mosquito These were introduced into Rarotonga over eighteen months ago, and have been liberated in many places in Rarotonga and also m the Lower Group Islands. They have multiplied rapidly, and are assisting in bringing the mosquito pest under control. Owing to the financial position it has been impossible for some years to adequately staff the medical services. . . . , An assistant medical officer is to be attached to the administration for a period during the coming yeaī For the whole territory, comprising a land and sea area of some 850,000 square miles, and a population of 12,000, the present staff consists of— One matao^and^ne 1 European nurse at the hospital at Rarotonga—the European nurse also doing district nursing ; Four Native probationers at the hospital ; Three Native medical practitioners who do duty at Rarotonga and throughout the Group , One European nurse at Aitutaki; One European nurse at Mangaia.

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