Abstract
THE fourth number of Paludism (Proceedings of the Committee for the Study of Malaria in India), published last March, begins with an interesting account of the proceedings of the second meeting of the general Malaria Committee held in Bombay on November 16–17, 1911. This meeting appears to have been of a very important nature. The president was the Hon. Surgeon-General Sir Charles Lukis, C.S.I., the new Director-General of the Indian Medical Service, and his introductory address is well worth the close attention of all sanitarians in tropical countries. After some preliminary remarks, he proceeded to say that he viewed with concern the tendency amongst malaria workers to divide into two camps, namely, those who advocate anti-mosquito measures, and those who pin their faith on quinine prophylaxis. He directed attention to a previous speech of his, in which he said that— “whilst agreeing that quinine prophylaxis, properly carried out, was one of the most valuable weapons in the fight against malaria, and whilst admitting that in rural areas it might be the only weapon at the disposal of Government, I felt bound to express my opinion that, if they were to place sole reliance on this measure in Indian villages, they were doomed to disappointment. Quinine prophylaxis should go hand in hand with general sanitation and with the destruction of anopheles breeding grounds wherever this can be accomplished at reasonable expense, and it seems to me that recent observations justify us in thinking that this destruction is not likely to be as costly as has hitherto been supposed. Quinine has undoubtedly conferred inestimable benefits upon the individual; but it never has, and never will, be of equal value to the community as a whole, and you cannot get away from the fact that if there were no mosquitoes there could be no malaria. I fully realise that in some of the hyperendemic areas mosquito destruction may be a counsel of perfection, but even there much good may be done by reducing the numbers of the special species which acts as the carrier, and, I ask you, should we halt in our activity because we cannot attain to an ideal perfection? I recognise the fact that no one method will suffice as a general anti-malarial measure; I recognise the power of each in its proper place, but I hold strong'y that wherever possible anti-mosquito measures must be carried out. I also recognise the importance of preliminary investigation, but it must not be carried to extremes; the time has come for definite action on well-considered and practical lines.”
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ROSS, R. Malaria in India . Nature 89, 505 (1912). https://doi.org/10.1038/089505a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/089505a0