18
Steps have been taken to see that this dees not occur again. The Central Jail,
Lahore, has been asked to keep a good supply of both quinine tablets and
registers ready for next season, and the local authorities will be reminded
sufficiently early to enable them to make their arrangements.
When it became very evident that there would be a large increase in
the incidence of malaria, steps were taken to—
(1) warn local authorities.;
(2) draw their attention to the necessity there was for obtaining
a sufficient supply of quinine in advance ;
(3) depute fourteen Sub-Assistant Surgeons on malaria duty, one—
unless otherwise noted—in each of the following districts of the
'Punjab :—
Hissar, Gurgaon, Karnal, Ambala, Jullundur, Ludhiana, Lahore, Am-
ritsar, Gurdaspur, Gujrat, Gujranwala (two), and Muzaffargarh
(two).
In the Dera Ghazi Khan District local arrangements were made to utilise
the services of Vaccinators.
Observations on the possibility of clucks
as agents in redaction of the . number of
anopheles larvae.
Observations have been made to test the presence of ducks in
the reduction of anopheles larvae (vide Journal
of the American Medical Association, 1914,
Volume II, page 1203, Article by S. G. Dixon).
Two ponds were chosen in the Lawrence Gar-
dens, Lahore ; the one used by the ducks in the Zoo, and the other, not so used,
near the old kiln. Anopheles larvae were found to breed in large numbers
mainly in the duck pond, and all of them, with a very few exceptions, depend-
ing on the season, developed into M. Culicifaeies and N. Fuliginosus, both
carriers of malaria. When the nearness of these ponds to the centre of the
Civil Station is remembered, and that the vicinity is much frequented by
children, the result of these observations is one requiring attention. It should
be noted that the conditions in these ponds are dissimilar, one, the duck
pond is shallow, with grassy edges, but the other is deep, surrounded by rank
vegetation, with the leaves of overhanging trees decomposing in the water,
making it unsuitable as a breeding place for anopheles larvae. It is intended
to go further into this in the present year, and if possible make suggestions
for a remedy.
Note on members of staff.
Assistant Surgeon Bawa Harnam Singh Bhalla has been in charge of
the laboratory, and has carried out the necessary
work in connection with surveys and local in-
quiries throughout the year the has been of the utmost assistance to me, and
I have formed a high opinion of his professional ability in all departments
of the work pertaining to his special appointment.
Assistant Surgeon Raghu Nath has worked consistently in the Labor-
atory throughout the year.
Assistant Surgeon Kanhya Lal Bhatia served for the whole year. The
bureau, when he left for .military service, lost in him an efficient and capable
officer.
Sub-Assistant Surgeon Abdul Ghaffar continued to carry out his duties
to my entire satisfaction.
Sub-Assistant Surgeon Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din also worked well and for
his good work he was promoted to the third grade without examination.
The Laboratory Assistants Daulat Ram and Abdul Razaq have been
useful both in field work and in the laboratory. The work of the clerical
establishment has been satisfactory.
H. HENDLEY, M.D., COLONEL, I.M.S.,
Chief Malaria Medical Officer, Punjab.
5 IGCH-406 -7 6.17—SGPP Lahore.