A.—3

12

"Cases admitted to Cook Islands Hospital during Year ending 31st March, 1929.

" There were fifteen major operations performed in hospital. " One post-mortem examination was made by order of the Coroner. " The hospital is not used as much by the Natives as it might be, and many oases have to be treated in their own homes who could be more satisfactorily looked after in hospital. " In view of the number of tubercular cases seen during the year, I consider it would be a great advantage to the Group if a separate small hospital could be erected for the accommodation of these cases. This is a matter which should receive attention at the earliest opportunity. The removal of affected cases from their own homes would be of value in tending to check the spread of infection to other members of the families of the patients." Dental Clinic. In the past our Dental Officers have been dental bursars who have completed their course in dentistry and are under bond to serve the New Zealand Division of Dental Hygiene for four years. As no dental bursar is available, and we are unable to pay the full salary of a Dental Officer, it has been decided that for the present the clinic will be carried on by the dental nurse in the same way as school dental clinics are conducted in New Zealand. Miss Hilda Savage, of Rarotonga, having completed her course of training at the Dental Clinic in Wellington and qualified as a dental nurse, has been given charge of school dental work. The difficulties of coping with dental work are very great because of the isolation of the various islands, and the cost that would be involved in supplying a staff of trained Dental Officers, and the present policy is to gradually extend the staff of dental nurses, selected from suitable young Maori women and trained in New Zealand, until sufficient have been appointed to cope with the work of the Group. When another suitable trainee is available she will be sent to New Zealand to qualify. The Dental Clinic, being a branch of the local Health Department, comes under the supervision of the Chief Medical Officer, Rarotonga.

April. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. j Dec. Jan. j Feb. j Mar. Total*. Alimentary system— Constipation .. .. .. .. 2 j . .... .. 2 Helminthiasis .. .. I 1 .. ! .. . • 1 Gastro-enteritis .. 1 i 1 .. 2 Gastro-intestinal toxsemia .. .. .. .. . . .. .. | .. j 1 .. . .. j 1 Parotitis .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. j .. .... ...... 1 Tabes mesenteriea .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. I . ..!.... 1 Circulatory system— j J Haemorrhage .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..... 1 .. .. . . .. 1 Valvular heart-disease .. .. .. .. 1 .. ,. .. .. .. . . . . . . .. 1 Genito-urinary system— Abortion .. .. .. 2 3 .. .. 3 .. .. 1 .. 1 10 Cystitis .. .. 1 i • • ! i ■ ' • * Dysuria .. .. 1 .. .. , .. j .. • • ■ • * Hydrocele .. .. .. 1 .. I .. 1 1 .. ' .. .. 2 Post-partum debility .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. 1 .. .. .. | 2 Puerperal sepsis .. .. .. j .. .. j I 1 1 Retention of urine .. 1 1 Salpingitis .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. I ! .. 1 Stricture .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... II.. .. .. ..II 2 Venereal disease .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ! .. .. 1 .. .. .. j 1 Nervous systemEpilepsy .. .. I .. | '2 2 Respiratory system — Bronchitis .. .. .. 1 .. .. 1 .. 1 .. .. ; 1 4 Haemoptysis .. .. 1 1 2 Pleurisy .. .. .. 1 1 .. 1 2 .... 5 Pneumonia .. .. I .. 1 .. 1!.. 3 Phthisis .. .. .. .. 1 1 ,, | 1 3 Skin and subcutaneous tissues—• Bums .. .. .. 1 1 Sting from poison fish .. 1 .. 1 .. 2 Ulcers .. .. .. 1 I 1 .. 1 Supporting structures— Abscess .. .. ..4 132 1 111. .2 2 5 23 Fracture .. .. 1 1 Hernia.. .. .. 1 .. 1 .. .. 1 ..j.. 3 Injuries (wounds) .. ..3 ..1 2 1 3 1 3 3 3 4 | 1 25 Necrosis of jaw .. .. 1 1 Special-sense organs — Iritis .. .. .. |1 1 Infectious diseases— ( Yaws .. .. .. .. 1 1 2 Tumours— Dental cyst .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. 1 Hematoma .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. : 1 Lipoma .. .. .. .. 1 1 •• 2 Other causes .. .. 2 2 .. 1 3 19 I Totals .. .. ..Ill 10 13 6 8 7 8 13 I 8 11 12 I 17 I 124 _ | !