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immunity in the population ; in fact, it would indicate that the time is opportune to construct a tuberculosis sanatorium. Acute Rheumatism. This is common, and many cases are with cardiac complications, arising from habits of exposure and constant wettings. Filariasis.—This is common also. Many of the people have the microfilaria in their systems. Mosquito Pest— The gambusia, or mosquito-eating fish, is multiplying rapidly throughout the ower Group and is effective in reducing the mosquito pest, and will assist in preventing the spread of filariasis. or During this year gambusia were sent to Manihiki, Rakahanga, and Palmerston in the Northern Islands, and reports to date are very satisfactory. Microfilarial Count .-—Total examined, 100; total infected, 62 per cent.; microfilaria nocturna, ' microfilaria diurna, 19 per cent. ; microfilaria diurna and nocturna (mixed), 12 per cent. Skin-disease. Scabies is common. Ringworm and seborrhoea are also present. Chicken-pox again broke out this year. The only district which escaped was Takitumu, attributable perhaps to the fact that this is the only district which partakes widely of green food. Yaws. Gases are seldom seen in Rarotonga. A few in the tertiary stage appear. X-ray Plant.—The outfit is proving a boon to the Islands. Schools.—'The dental officer has made steady improvement in the condition of the teeth of children throughout the schools of the Island. The District Nurse has regularly and systematically visited all schools and completed the hygienic treatment of all children—i.e., heads, skin. Medical surveys have been made and all weakcfiested and anaamic children noted. Cod-liver oil and a mixture of iron is provided to the teachers and dispensed to those children whose names are provided. Already the results are noticeable, even by laymen As tuberculosis is the present scourge of the Island it is hoped by carefully attending to all up to school-leaving age to have a strong, healthy, and virile generation of future fathers and mothers Au-Vaine (or Women's Committee's).—This organization of leading women regularly inspect their respective villages and see that the general hygiene, is good. Their influence is exerted towards the upliit and general welfare of the community and in their encouragement and care of foodcrops. The Cup tor the best kept village was won by Ngatangiia. Bakeries.—These are regularly inspected. Child-welfare. Praiseworthy voluntary work continues to be done by the several committees. Ihe District Nurse gives them help, supervises their work, and lectures them. A sewing guild organized trom amongst themselves provided garments to the needy infants and small children during the colder months. Ihe child-welfare organization watch over the welfare of all children up to five years of age, and they personally attend to the smaller ailments. Innumerable lives have been saved by their earlv reporting of serious cases. The second baby show was held in December, during which the Cup this year was awarded to Nikao. lne infantile death-rate was 62T1 per 1,000. Pratique. Thirty-five overseas vessels were granted pratique, and the local schooners were inspected on their departure for the Outer and Northern Groups and on their arrival from the latter m ail nineteen times. During February only those having certificates from Medical Officers of Health (JNew Zealand) were allowed to land on account of infantile paralysis. . Dr. Muir, Assistant Medical Officer, arrived on the 16th May, and returned to New Zealand m December. He paid a short visit to the Islands of the Outer Group, with the exception of Mangaia and also assisted m Rarotonga. The Assistant Nursing Sister has been attending to outside cases in the districts and endeavours to examine all schools once a quarter and make house-to-house visits once in the same period. She superintends the child-welfare work of the several committees and delivers lectures irom time to time. Once m a fortnight she acts as sister in charge of the hospital. The Matron and her nursing staff deserve praise for their untiring zeal in the work. Scientific Investigations. A worm count was recently completed throughout the schools, with the loilowmg results :— Total examined .. .. .. ' , _ 870 Percentage infected .. .. .. .. " 57 per cent. Nature of infection— Ascaris .. .. .. .. .. _ 55 p er cent _ Trichuris .. .. .. 20 per cent. Hookworm 13 oenk yuns •. .. .. .. .. 3 p er cent. i m P rov ed ground sanitation has thus greatly reduced the hookworm infection. In 1926 it was 90 per cent. (Dr. Lambert, Rockefeller). Hospital— In-patients for the year .. . , .. _ _ 229 Major operations performed .. .. .. _ _ 24 Confinements (one instrumental delivery) .. .. .. _ [ Minor operations performed .. . . ~ _ _ " 4:2 Local anaesthetics .. .. ~ , _ 32 General anaesthetics .. .. .. .. 24 N.A.B. injections .. .... .. .. _ 32 Antitetanic serum injections .. .. > _ 29 Colloidal calcium injections .. .. .. _ 98 Sodium evipan anaesthesia .. .. .. .. _ j Widal reaction tests .. .. .. ~ _ _ 14 Tubercular cases (seven died) .. .. .. _ _ 29 X-rays .. .. .. .. .. .. " ..14

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