101
the power of the local residents to greatly improve their condition, and the
distribution of quinine amongst them, co-incidently with the adoption of anti-
mosquito measures, would probably effect some mitigation of the disease.
Quinine distribution was therefore pressed with vigour in the Frere Road,
Paltan Road and parts of Mandvi and Chakla and by the middle of August
about 4,000 people were under treatment.
Section S.
278. AD INTERIM REPORT OF 1910.—During 1909 considerable
progress was made in the investigation of malaria in the south of Bombay
Island, and as it appeared wise to publish as soon as possible a brief summary
of the information obtained so that it might serve as a guide to the work of
malaria prevention that was already in progress and give some indication of
the line of future action, a short ad interim report was issued early in 1910.
279. In that report the necessity for obtaining necessary legal powers was
emphasized and a scheme of prevention was outlined. A short summary of the
scheme recommended is given below :—
" Measures for the control of Malaria recommended in ad interim
" report.—(a) The measures required in Bombay for the control of
" malaria by the reduction of the mosquito host are best discussed
" under two heads—
(1) General.
(2) Special.
" (b) As has already been pointed out permanent breeding places of
" Neocellia stephensi appear to have a special importance, as they enable
" the mosquito to continue breeding uninterruptedly all the year round
" and form the centres from which temporary breeding places become
" infected. This being so, the first step in obtaining control of malaria
" must be directed towards abolishing all permanent breeding places or
" protecting them in such a manner that the malaria-carrying mosquito
" cannot make use of them for breeding.
" (c) In the survey of mosquito-breeding places it has been shewn
"that the commonest permanent breeding places of malaria-carrying
" mosquitoes are :—
" (1) Open wells.
" (2) Open and improperly closed house and latrine cisterns.
" (3) Garden and other tanks, fountains and garden tubs, etc.
" (4) In certain localities special permanent breeding places exist
"in the form of tanks, filter-beds, reservoirs and foreshore pools.
" (d) General Measures.—The first step towards attaining control of
" breeding places of a permanent character must be a strict limitation of
" their number—no increase of potential breeding places of this nature
" must be allowed. At the present time, wells are dug, open or improperly
" closed cisterns are erected, fountains and tanks are constructed and
" garden and other tubs multiplied without let or hindrance. The danger
" of this increase of potential breeding places is very great and it is
" essential that the community should be protected from further risk by
" stringent regulations, briefly :—
" (1) The construction of new open wells must be strictly
" prohibited. Owners of property wishing to obtain a well water-
" supply must either construct a well with a permanent concrete cover
" or make use of an Abyssinian Tube Pump.*
" (2) The erection of open or improperly closed cisterns must also
" be strictly prohibited and all cisterns, whether required for latrine,
" house, or business purposes, must be made to conform to a given
" standard of safety as regards protection from mosquitoes.
" The cost of an Abyssinian tube and pump is about Us. 25 only.