6
accuracy of the method adopted. Thus it was found that whilst the average
fever mortality for the months of April—July 1913, was 4, the fever mortality
for October 1912, when no epidemic occurred, was also exactly the same
figure.
In view of the absence in other areas of epidemic figures exceeding 5
it will not on this occasion be necessary to prepare a map to demonstrate its
distribution and intensity.
Finally, it may be said that the absence of epidemic malaria for some
years has afforded a favourable opportunity for studying the conditions present
during the inter-epidemic period and to contrast them with those found by
Major Christophers as the result of his researches at the close of the 1908
epidemic.
V.—Report on the work of the Punjab Malaria Bureau.
Owing to the exigencies of the service the appointment of Chief Malaria
Medical Officer changed hands three times during the year. From January
1st to April 4th Major E. L. Perry, I.M.S., held charge, from which date until
October 6th Captain H. G. Stiles Webb, I.M.S., acted as Chief Malaria Medical
Officer, whilst Captain C. A. Gill, I.M.S., held the appointment from October
6th to the end of the year.
Observations were made in regard to the prevalence of malaria in a large
number of towns and villages. In the district of Gurgaon a large area was
roughly surveyed in the tahsils of Palwal and Nuh.
Major Perry continued his observations in the Gujrat thana of Gujrat
District which have yielded information of considerable value owing to the
systematic manner in which they have been conducted during the past five
years. Before his departure on leave Major Perry drew up a plan for future-
work for the department which was submitted to Government in the form
of a note attached to his monthly diary for January.
Major Perry was also called upon to advise in regard to the extensive
schemes which have been inaugurated at Amritsar in order to mitigate the
incidence of malaria in that city, but no detailed survey appears to have been
carried out before the inception of these measures with the exception of Major
Christophers' observations in 1909. A malaria survey of the city is, however,
now being undertaken, but it cannot be completed until the local conditions
have been studied during the rainy season.
Captain Stiles Webb prepared malaria surveys of the towns of Palwal,
Hansi and Kaithal, and his reports and recommendations were submitted to
Government in due course. He also conducted some observations in regard
to the value of larvacidal fish.
The local conditions in regard to malaria in the towns of Montgomery
and Lyallpur were also examined, and towards the close of the year malaria
surveys of Amritsar, Gujrat and Batala were commenced.
Numerous observations in- regard to the habits and local prevalence
of the different species of anophelines in Lahore, Amritsar and many other
places were made and some thousands of these insects were dissected in order
to discover the local " carriers " of malaria.
An Assistant Surgeon was deputed to carry out certain experiments in
the Lahore jails in regard to the relative value of different methods of adminis-
tering quinine sulphate to prisoners. He was also required in conjunction
with this experiment, to report on the value of two native drugs—Harmine
and Harmaline—in the treatment of malaria.
The latter experiment was stopped at the end of October, and it is not
considered expedient to express any opinion in regard to this subject, more
especially as Captain Husband, I.M.S., who was chiefly responsible for the. ex-
periment, will, it is understood, submit a report in due course. In regard to the