KING INSTITUTE, GUINDY, FOR 1927-28.
because of their proximity to houses. The tanks breed towards their shallow edges
and not in the deeper portions. From the extent of surface involved they too are
probably very important. The irrigation channels were katcha without any atten-
tion paid to their banks so that here and there they spread into pools that were
ideal breeding places for culicifacies. It is unfortunate that the mountain streams
could not be investigated on the western and southern sides of the main village
that were covered with jungle continuous with that on the hill. This was because
of the presence here of a man-eating tiger that had recently killed several people
even taking one away from the village itself. Dr. Krishnan says that both in
Mopad and near Udayagiri dacoits had sometimes to be guarded against by
getting police escorts. So these furnish illustrations of some of the difficulties of
a malarial survey. To return to breeding places, it must be remembered that
they were inspected at the height of an epidemic when all sources were doing
their best to provide mosquitoes. What is wanted is the knowledge of what are
the sources mainly responsible for the regular rise in malaria in October, for
before legislating for unusual conditions it is wiser to first face the usual ones.
If possible, Udayagiri will be visited again at that time of the year and the
conditions ascertained, meanwhile we can say that wells, tanks and streams
appear to he the chief offenders.
Recommendations.— Subject to a resurvey in September, the following steps
appear to be necessary :—
(1) The filling in of disused wells of which there are several and the
deepening and making pukka of the wells that are to be used.
(2) The elimination of shallow edges to tanks by deepening and by
making the sides steep but still retaining a slight slope on the floor of the tank.
(3) Attention to the banks of streams and irrigation channels so as to
avoid the formation of pools.
( 4 ) M i n o r w o r k s s u c h a s t h e f i l l i n g u p o f p i t s .
What appears to be most necessary of all is the education of the people
themselves, so that they co-operate in the above field measures and in the equally
important measures of the use of mosquito nets (a remedy for too much neglected)
and of thorough quininization after an attack. As regards the last, what usually
happens is that only a few doses of quinine are taken, so that the parasites remain
in the blood with the result that each patient becomes a source of infection and a
danger to his neighbours.
Now although it is possible to make Udayagiri in its present site absolutely
free from malaria, there is very little doubt that the whole problem would be
simplified were Udayagiri to be rebuilt two or three miles further east, away from
the base of the mountain with its occasional heavy local rainfall and with its
mountain fed streams and tanks so suitable for anophelines. We suggest that
such a new site be chosen and that building be encouraged there and discouraged
at the present site.
SECOND REPORT ON MALARIA AT UDAYAGIRI
BY CIVIL ASSISTANT SURGEON M. K. RAMASWAMI AYYAR.
1. Introduction.— After the completion of the survey at Mopad, I visited
Udayagiri in December 1926 as per your orders, with a view to see the seasonal
variations, if any, in mosquitoes and breeding places from those found during
April 1926 and already described in the first report.
2. Monoon conditions.— Here, as in Mopad, the north east monsoon com-
pletely failed, so much so that many people apprehend there will be a scarcity of'
water during the hot summer months, unless it rains in the meantime.
3. Malarial conditions during December 1926.—People in the village stated
that malaria this autumn had been much less than during the previous year.
A statement showing the hospital attendance for malaria since the last mouth is
attached. This is not surprising when we consider the paucity in the number of
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