Page 204 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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Male vaccinations reached the highest figure ever of 18,201, and one thousand a month are
being done regularly at the purl by the Quarantine Medical Officer. Typhoid was prevalent during
the first half of the year in sporadic form and practically every case which came under medical care
was cured with the new antibiotic Chloromycetin, which has revolutionised its treatment.
Mnlaria.—The incidence of 6 per cent infected outpatients remains at the same figure. The
new fog machine, previously mentioned, was put on trial in the hot weather and has proved its worth.
D.D.T. and Gammcxnnc, in varying mixtures or combined, can be sprayed on a large scale either as
a wet droplet spray for marshes and rubbish dumps or as a dry fog for houses and streets. The
performance of the machine is spectacular, time saving and economical. Large areas can be treated in a
day. Gammcxanc has been found to be the most potent and sustaining of the insecticides and is made
up in water or Kcrosinc. A preliminary survey of its work in Manamah is satisfactory and very
beneficial for such places as the markets where flies have been cut down enormously. In the town
and garden environs mosquitoes and larva: have already been substantially reduced. A team of
five machines for the northern half of the island will be in action during the new year and this effort
coupled with the increasing anti-malarial control of the Oil Company will it is hoped reduce Malaria
considerably in 1951. Also a reduction in Dysentery and Typhoid should go hand in hand with the
diminution of flics.
Venereal Disease.—This has declined, and the tighter control of prostitutes has been
effective. Secondary forms arc now uncommon.
Opthalmia.—This remains the most important prevailing disease.
The high figure of 268 Trichiasis operations is a measure of the final complication of Trachoma.
The worst effects arc to be found in those visiting Bahrain for treatment from Saudi Arabia, the
Trucial Coast and Iran.
Medical Conditions of Interest.—The modern operation of Iridenclcisis for Glaucoma was
carried out on eleven patients with success. Fractures and injuries reached the very high figure of
802, being mainly caused by road accidents and building hazards. Fourteen different fractures of all
parts of the body were in at one time.

More operations of interest are being done. For example, three Hydatid cysts were removed
in entirety from an abdomen. Chloromycetin has practically cured all cases of enteric a few of which
were grave with complications and which would have died formerly, particularly one with repeated
haemorrhages and another unconscious for three weeks with meningeal signs. The use of this drug
has been the most spectacular advance of the year. Streptomycin for T.B. is being used cautiously
for certain cases but is more effective in non-pulmonary patients.
Sulphetrone the new drug for Leprosy is certainly a great advance and has been used on a few
patients with marked abatement of their acute symptoms.
The Laboratory.—The new laboratory was completed in the spring and built above the
operating block commanding a wide view of the sea from the highest point of the hospital. Besides
the main technical room there arc three ancillary rooms. The latest Baird & Tatlock Steel unit
furniture painted in cream and black was installed and a teak bench was made to fit over this on two
sides very ably designed by the P.W.D. stained down and polished to a brown black.
Baird & Tatlock later informed us that we were the first overseas laboratory equipped with
this furniture. For the maintenance of this work, a lot is owed to Mrs. Hills for her skill and
enthusiasm over new ideas.

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