Annual report of the Medical and Sanitary Department / Sierra Leone.

  • Sierra Leone. Medical and Sanitary Department.
Date:
[1925]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Medical and Sanitary Department / Sierra Leone. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    14/86 (page 6)
    A total increase of 7,552 in the number of new cases treated. This increase was all on the out-patients’ side, as there was a reduction of 211 in the total of in-patients admitted—174 Africans and thirty-seven Europeans. 5. Sierra Leone was free from any epidemics throughout the year. Communicable Diseases. G. Dysentery.—A total number of 199 cases of dysentery, showing decrease of 282 as compared with 1924 when 481 cases were reported. 7. Tuberculosis.—The precautions taken, as mentioned in last year’s report, still continue, viz. the compulsory notification by the Registrar of Births and Deaths of every case which comes under bis observation to the Medical Officer of Health with subsequent inspection, disinfection and advice ns to overcrowding, etc. The returns reveal a total of seventy-three in-patients and 121 (new) out-patients—making a total of' 194 cases. This shows an increase of sixty-three over last year. In August a ward in the Connaught Hospital was set apart for the treatment of early cases of tuberculosis, but the result has been disappointing as only twenty cases agreed to be admitted. As a result of this experiment the Government was advised that the time is not yet ripe to expend large sums on a special tuberculosis sanatorium. 8. Venereal Diseases.—Both gonorrhoea and syphilis continue to show an increase m the number of cases presenting themselves for treatment. In June, 1925, a special venereal diseases clinic was opened in connexion with the out-patients department of the Connaught Hospital. 1G0 new cases were seen with 245 subsequent attendances. 9. Table of Incidence : Disease. 1921, 1092. 1923. 1924. 1925. Tuberculosis lit; 91 138 131 194 Dysentery 185 252 306 481 199 Gonorrhoea 1,087 969 1,248 1,248 1,523 Syphilis ... 687 647 919 919 ’ 1,005 10. Malaria.—There was an increase of 258 in the total number of cases treated. 3,750 against 3,492 in 1924. Deaths from malaria were seven or a case mortality of 18 per cent. 11. Blackwciter Fever.—Three cases only were reported during the year with two deaths. One case occurred at Moyamba and the other two at Bontlie. 12. Leprosy.—A total of fifty-eight cases was reported from all stations. 13. Trypanosomiasis,—No cases were reported. 14. Ankylostomiasis. The following table gives the numbers examined with the percentage of infection: — Place. ‘Number- Examined. Number Infected with Ankvlostomes. Pei Cent. Remarks. Freetown 805 204 25-34 Connaught Hospital laboratory Freetown 170 62 26-47 Freetown Prison Bontlie 191 143 74-86 In and out-patients and prisoners Kissy 26 23 88-46 Patients—Male and Female Infirmaries Bo ... 7 7 . .. Court messengers with their wives and children Port Lolcko ... 78 38 48-72 Moyamba j 200 149 74-50 Mostly prisoners 106 71 68-93 Boys of Agricultural Training College Makeni 41 15 36-59 Court messengers and soldiers Daru 200 117 58'50 Soldiers and civilians