'Ar-^S

own. villages after discharge without danger to themselves or to their families. In September, 1946, the Director, Division of Tuberculosis, New Zealand Department of Health, visited Rarotonga and gave valuable advice both on preventive measures and on the treatment of this scourge. A beginning has been made in Rarotonga to estimate the gross incidence of tuberculosis by means of the Mantoux test, and search is being made for early cases among the contacts of the known cases. Filariasis is prevalent in Rarotonga, Aitutaki, and Pukapuka. In September, 1946, Mr. D. W. Amos, of the Fiji Health Department, arrived in Rarotonga accompanied by a Fijian Native Inspector, and stayed three months" to make a mosquito survey and to train six local men in anti-mosquito measures. Each of these trainees is now in charge of a district in Rarotonga, and it is hoped that later it will be possible for some of them to visit the outer islands and inaugurate mosquito-control measures there. A Native youth has been brought to Rarotonga from Pukapuka for training as a dresser and in mosquito-control work. On the completion of his training he will return to Pukapuka 'to take charge of health work there until a resident Native medical practitioner can be spared for that island. The Medical Department periodically inspects all villages and water-supplies and intakes. Regular inspections of the schools by a Native medical practitioner and the District Nurse are carried out. The District Nurse is in charge of child-welfare work, and changes have been made in the form of village control with a view to increasing the local interest in this work. All islands of the Group have been visited by a European Medical Officer during the year. All school-children in Rarotonga have received regular dental treatment,. but, owing to i the time-lapse between the departure of one Dental Officer and the arrival of his successor, it has not yet been possible to continue the work in the outer islands. One Cook Islands student graduated from the Central Medical School, Suva, at the end of 1946 ; this addition to the staff will enable a Native medical practitioner to be located at Mauke. Dr. Farquhar Matheson arrived in Rarotonga in July, 1946, on appoiutment as Chief Medical Officer. The distribution of medical and nursing staff throughout the Group is as follows : Rarotonga— Two European medical officers. Three Native medical practitioners (one to go.to Mauke later in the year). One Matron. One Sister in Charge (sanatorium). Two European Sisters. Twenty Native Nurses (Hospital and Sanatorium). Aitutaki — One Native medical practitioner. One Native nurse. One Native assistant nurse. Atiu — One Native nurse. One Native trainee. ' Mauke— One Native nurse. .' ' Mangaia— One Native medical practitioner. One Native nurse. Penrhyn— One Native medical practitioner. Manihiki —- One Native medical practitioner.

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