, 1892-04-13

8th July 1891. has only now been printed.
1t contains information which must have cost
some time and trouble to collate and among
other things seems to At least suggest a remedy
for one Of the causes which lead to the evil we
refer to in this article. If such reports are
furnished it must be for some purpose, aud that
purpose can, never be served by stowinr them
Hway-perhaps unread even by the officer to
whom til Y are addressed. They should rs
soon as possible b. made public for the intor-
nation Of every body in order that they may
be endorsed. or criticised by the public or By
those most concerned aud competent to deal
with the subjects on which they treat.
We quote from the report.
OF everv 0 00children born alive in Antigua
last year pos died before they reached the
age Of one year. But the death rate compar-
ed with the whole number Of deaths is the
lowest that / have had to record viz 2s'3
per cent.
In connection with this question Of infant
mortality | may mention that IN 1ss9,50 infants
died from Trismus. that is Is ! percent Of the
whole number Of deaths Of infants under the
age of one year. In 1890, 80 deaths occurred
in Antigua from Trismus, that is la per cent
Of the whole number Of deaths Of infants.
From these figures it appears that the deaths
from Frismus in infants during 1870 in Anti
qua have been nearly one third less than in
1889.
In my report for 1889 the use of Gypsum
was suggested as a dressin4 to the stump Of the
cord in infants as an aEtiseptic and preyenta-
tive Of Trismus, as recommended by some Ger
man Authorities, and Gypsum was supplied
to all the midwives in DISTRICT No. 2 as well as
to some Of the Medica Of55rs Of the other
Districts, while some Of those who ala not use
Gypsum used other antiseptics for the same
purpose, and though the Gypsum or other an
useltics were not universally employed they
were PRETTY extensively used. ] think there
fore that il is reasonable TO infer that the
large reduction in the number Of jeaths from
TrisLus in the past year is at least to some eX-
tent due to the use 0fGypsHmand other dntisep-
ties as mentioned in tie foregoing part Of this
Report.
In 1889 there were 5 deaths If iufaut- from
Trismus in District No. 9. in 1890 there We're .
deaths from that disease. bur in neither of
these cases was the Gypsum used. as tn moth-
ers were attended by unlicensed midwiYes.
There were therefor orr no deaths from Trismus
in District No. 2 where the Gypsum was
used"
So far as we know this is the first time any
thing like a definite suggestion on tbs subject
has been made, and the flcts and figures in the
report seem to point to a discovery which it was
the duty of the Government to make known
as widely as possible, if they are sincere in
their professions Of solioitule on the subject
of infant mortality.
But their procedure in all matters OF pub
lie interest is uniform. They are consistent
only in their inconsistency and the secrecy
which shrouds their every action viii some
day prove disastrous in some way least expect
ed. Where secrecy or mystery begins, wee
or roguery is not far off,, says DR.. Johnson.
We do not at present say how far this judg
ment applies TO the Government of the Leo
ward lslands-time may possibly shew that
they do we'll thus TO conceal their domestic
Ills, but public confidence is not to be won
by proceeding on such lines, ana discomfort
and suspicion must grow while the relations
between rulers and ruled are strained by
the mysterious and mistaken conservatism Of
the former.
nnWRnn N a NY1ryun