A.—3

29

' Notifiable Diseases.—The following notifiable diseases were reported : — Tuberculosis — Pulmonary . . .. . . .. . . .. 26 Abdominal .. .. .. .. . . . . .. 3 Meningitis .. . . .. . . . . . . 1 Gonorrhoea .. . . . . . . .. .. 4.5 Influenza .. . . .. . . .. .. . . 315 Pneumonia .. . . .. .. . . .. . . .. 3 Broncho-pneumonia .. .. . . . . .. . . . . 7 Chicken-pox .. . . . . .. .. .. . . . . 4 Leprosy .. .. . . .. . . . . . . . . 1 Total . . .. . . . . . . . . 405 " Influenza headed the list of notifiable diseases. Niue suffered along with Australia and New Zealand in this respect. The death-rate was fairly high. The Native habit when feverish of lying with scanty clothing in the most draughty part of the hut is undoubtedly a potent factor in causing the mortality to be so high. Some of the Natives have had difficulty in throwing of! residual nasal and bronchitic symptoms. Although the Niuean nose is capacious, chronic rhinitis and sinusitis is not uncommon. Another unfortunate feature has been the lighting-up of apparently arrested cases of pulmonary T.B. " Broncho-pneumonia is, as elsewhere, not uncommon among the aged and the young. We are meeting with less opposition now in taking the children and babies off to hospital and treating- them for long periods there. Some of the mothers appear all too ready to avoid the inconvenience of breast feeding, and lightly change over to Glaxo and other less nutritious foods. At every opportunity we educate the mothers in the elementary principles of baby-feeding and child welfare. In some cases the lessons are appreciated and assimilated. " As regards the health problems of the island and its future welfare, from a medical point of view there are five major health problems to be faced and solved. In order of importance I would place them as follows : (1) T.B. (pulmonary chiefly), (2) filariasis, (3) gonorrhoea and sterility, (4) infant welfare, (5) dental caries. During the next twelve months I hope to make a thorough medical survey of the whole island and thereby obtain the required statistics and information concerning the prevalence and severity of the above, and to institute campaigns to effectively deal with these problems, so vital to the community of Niue." Classified List of all Cases treated during the Year 1928. Alimentary system — Circulatory and glandular systems— Stomatitis .. .. .. 6 Aneemia .. .. . . . . 10 Glossitis .. .. ■ ■ 1 Cardiac debility .. .. . . 50 Thrush .. .. • • .. 2 Senile heart .. .. .. 3 Tonsillitis .. • • .. 3 Angina pectoris .. .. 1 Gastritis .. .. .. 23 Lymphangitis .. .. 1 Dyspepsia .. . • .. 60 Tubercular glands .. .. 3 Abdominal colic ...... 10 — 68 Intestinal parasites .. 17 Teething . • • • .. 1 Jaundice.. .. ..3 Nervous systemConstipation .. •. .. 58 Lumbago .. . . . . 20 Neoplasm —(Esophagus .. .. 1 Urititis .. .. . . . . 12 Diarrhoea .. ■ • .. 4 Sciatica .. .. .. 4 Tubercular peritonitis .. .. 3 Senile insanity .. . . 1 Enteritis.. .. ■ • . . 10 Idiopathic convulsions . . . . 1 Peptic ulcer .. • • • • 2 Locomotor ataxia.. . . . . 1 Pyorrhoea .. .. .. 4 Herpes zoster .. .. 1 208 Meningitis T.B. . . .. 1 Neurasthenia .. . . 1 Respiratory system — — 42 Common colds .. . • • ■ 112 Bronchitis .. • • .. 70 Pleurisy .. .. • • • • 21 FeversAsthma .. ■ • •• 6 P.U.O. .. .. .. 50 Lobar pneumonia .. 3 Chicken-pox .. .. 4 Broncho-pneumonia .. . • 7 Leprosy .. . . .. 1 Pulmonary T.B. .. .. .. 22 Influenza .. . . .. 315 241 370