IN INSULAR POSSESSIONS. GUAM. Agana-Communicable Diseases. The following statement was received from Surg. C. P. Kindelberger, United States Navy, health officer: During the nine weeks ended March 15, 1913, communicable diseases were reported at Agana as follows: Cerebrospinal meningitis, 1 case with 1 death; erysipelas, 2 cases with 1 death; hookworm disease, 102 cases; tuberculosis, 13 cases with 12 deaths. The total number of deaths from all causes was 47. The population of Agana is 6,000. HAWAII. Examination of Rodents. During the week ended April 19, 1913, rats and mongoose were examined as follows: Hilo, 1,129; Honokaa, 1,863. No plagueinfected rodent was found. PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. Quarantine Circular-Rat Guards on Vessels. MANILA, P. I., April 3, 1913. To the masters, owners, and agents of vessels, and others concerned: SIRS: In order to prevent the spread of plague by water routes it is hereby directed that all vessels plying between Philippine ports, or from foreign ports, tying up at wharfs, quays, or piers in the Philippine Islands shall have all lines of the vessel to wharf or lighter provided with rat guards of an approved pattern, so placed as to prevent the rats on vessel from escaping therefrom and rats from shore or lighter from gaining access to the vessel. This procedure shall be in effect at every port in the Philippine Islands where there is a wharf or quay, and shall apply to every vessel coming alongside said wharf or quay. Samples of approved rat guards may be seen at this office or at the quarantine office at any of the various ports of entry. Masters of vessels should immediately provide themselves with sufficient guards so that no line at any time need be in position without the necessary rat guard. Respectfully, [SEAL.] VICTOR G. HEISER, Director of Health and Chief Quarantine Officer. PORTO RICO. Rodents Collected and Examined. Passed Asst. Surg. Creel reports that during the week ended May 3, 1913, there were examined 1,753 rodents, collected from various points in Porto Rico, and that of these 654 were collected from various parts of San Juan municipality. None was found plague infected. FOREIGN REPORTS. BELGIUM. Liege Control of Hookworm Disease (Ancylostomiasis). In 1903 a hospital was opened at Liege for the special treatment of coal miners in the Liege district suffering from hookworm infection. During the 10 years from that date to the present year 186,040 specimens of dejecta have been analyzed, and 8,898 sufferers from hookworm have been treated at the hospital. A considerable decrease in the percentage of infection has been noted in the district; from 23 per cent in 1902 it fell to 2 per cent in 1912. While formerly one workman in four was infected, at the present time only one in fifty is reported to be suffering from the disease. The large coal mines at Ans and Montegnee, which were the most seriously affected at one time, 50 per cent of the personnel being affected, are at present practically free from the disease. CHINA. Amoy-Plague Smallpox-Measles. Acting Asst. Surg. Bonthius reported April 3 the presence in Amoy of plague, smallpox, and measles. On April 11 he further reported the occurrence of plague in Swatow and localities in the vicinity of Amoy and epidemic measles present in Amoy and in the international settlement on the island of Kulangsu. Hongkong-Plague Plague-Infected Rats. Surg. Brown reports: During the week ended April 5, 1913, 4 cases of plague with 4 deaths were notified at Hongkong. During the same period 2,209 rats were examined for plague infection. Eight plague-infected rats were found. ITALY. Leghorn-Communicable Diseases in 1912. Consul Deedmeyer reports: During the year 1912 there were reported in Leghorn 1,028 cases of communicable diseases with 268 deaths, including diphtheria 39 cases with 5 deaths, measles 32 cases, scarlet fever 66 cases, smallpox 315 cases with 19 deaths, typhus fever 83 cases with 45 deaths. The total number of deaths reported was 1,766, or 16.09 per 1,000 inhabitants as against 21 per 1,000 for all Italy. The population of Leghorn is 103,891. JAPAN. Yokohama-Relapsing Fever. Acting Asst. Surg. Worden reports April 21: A case of relapsing fever, the origin of which has not been determined, is reported in the city of Yokohama. An epidemic of relapsing fever occurred in Yokohama in 1896, the first case being notified June 16 and the last August 6, 1896. The total number of cases reported in this epidemic was 41 with 1 death. CHOLERA, YELLOW FEVER, PLAGUE, AND SMALLPOX. |