A.—3,

Miss Butler, Matron, who had been in indifferent health during several months of the year, left on furlough on 7th January, 1939. Recent reports indicate that her present condition, following a major operation, is such that she will be unable to resume duties. Sister McPhail during the early months of the year attended district work, including schools and child welfare. Her general district work was dislocated during the measles epidemic, when, however, she was able to give invaluable assistance in the campaign and in the control of the temporary hospitals. From Ist January she relieved Miss Butler in the hospital. Native Medical Practitioners.—There are four Native Medical Practitioners attached to the Administration, and three students are in training in the Suva Central Medical School. Public Health.—Bakeries have been inspected periodically. Village Inspection : A thorough house-to-house inspection was made throughout in November and December by medical officers. Child Welfare : This is the most important health, movement on the Island, judging from the results thereof. The infantile death-rate per 1,000 live births was 60 foj" the year. The school roll is rapidly increasing, due to the increment from those becoming of school age. The child-welfare movement is extending to the Outer and the Northern Groups. School Inspection : All schools were inspected during October and November. Where anaemic, debilitated children were noted, cod-liver oil and an iron tonic were provided. The card system as used in New Zealand is adopted, and tropical diseases are noted. • X-rays : There were eighty-five exposures during the year, and the X-ray proved an invaluable adjunct to diagnosis. Leprosy. —In September last the Chief Medical Officer proceeded to the Northern Group to superintend the transportion of lepers to Makogai, Fiji, by the chartered schooner " Tui Cakau." In all, forty-three lepers from the Cook Island; were admitted to Makogai, as follows— Manihiki: Two women, one man, one girl, four boys : Total, 8. Rakahanga : One boy. Penrhyn : Five women, ten men, nine boys, ten girls : Total, 34. The high figure for Penrhyn is due to the fact that lepers from the Group had been concentrated there pending transfer to Makogai. Hospital— In-patients .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 307 Out-patients .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9,465 Treatment: — (a) Injections— (1) Antitetanic serum .. .. .. .. .. 51 (2) Bicreol . . .. . . .. . ■ . • 8 (3) Colloidal calcium .. .. .. .. .. 179 (4) Gonococcol vaccine .. .. .. .. .. 67 (5) Novaisenobinzol .. .. .. .. .. 393 (6) Antityphoid bacillus . . .. .. .. .. 40 (7) Staphylococcol vaccine .. .. .. .. . . 12 (8) Solganol .. .. .. .. . ■ • • 8 (9) Sodium uorrhuate .. .. .. .. .. 8 (b) Anaesthetics— (1) General .. .. .. .. .. . ■ 49 (2) Local .. .. .. .. .. .. . • 402 (c) Operations — (1) Major .. .. .. .. . ■ ■ • 46 (2) Minor . . .. .. .. .. . .676 (d) Confinements .. .. .. .. .. .. 57 (e) Artificial pneumothorax .. .. .. .. . ■ 22 (/) X ray .. .. .. .. ■■ •• • ■ 85 (g) Visits .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,463

Vital Statistics.

3

Arrivals and Depart--r,. - - f„r ures Year ending MarBirths for Deaths for Mirrh •*-, . riactes Estimated Population, Year ending Year ending ' ' Estimated Population, ff ®, 31st March, 1938. 31st March, 31st March, : 31st March, 1939. Y " — 1939. 1930. Arr . vals Depart- ending mes - 31st March, 1939. M. F. Total. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. Total. Rarotonga .. 2,798 2,475 5,273 116 101 63 42 83 94 66 65 2,868 2,563 5,431 36 Aitutaki .. .. 958 886 1,844 45 44 17 16 986 914 1,900 23 Mangaia .. .. 812 740 1,552 25 35 12 19 825 756 1,581 8 Atiu .. .. 591 529 1,120 29 16 16 11 604 534 1,138 5 Mauke .. .. 374 317 691 16 21 10 7 380 331 711 9 Mitiaro .. .. 152 127 279 11 7 .. 1 163 133 296 1 Penrhyn .. .. 255 239 494 6 12 4 7 257 244 501 2 Manihiki .. 261 277 538 7 9 2 4 266 282 548 2 Rakahanga .. 153 154 307 9 6 4 6 158 154 312 2 Pukapuka .. 351 328 679 . 10 11 7 4 354 335 689 6 Total .. 6,705 6,072 12,777 274 262 135 117 83 94 66 65 6,861 6,246 13,107 94