A.—4.

Native Medical Practitioners. Last June one Native medical practitioner was sent to the Central Medical School at Suva for a post-graduate course. He returned in January. Two new graduates, after a four years' course, also returned with him. Three boys were sent to Suva to commence their studies. One student will be returning to Samoa next January on the completion of his four years. Native medical practitioners have been stationed at the new dispensaries at Falealili, Fagamalo, and Sala'ilria. In December all Native medical practitioners were brought to Apia and given a refresher course for one week. During this time all teachers of the Education Department were also brought to Apia and the opportunity was taken to give them lectures in health matters and first aid so that they could instruct the school-children thereon. Programmes have now been made out for the ensuing year for Native medical practitioners to inspect all Government and many mission schools and give free treatment for yaws, scabies, conjunctivitis, helminthic diseases, and sores, and give health lectures to children. All teachers are to be given health lectures and first-aid instruction regularly. By this means it is hoped to educate the younger generation in health matters so that good habits will gradually become natural to them. The Medical and Education Departments are co-operating very closely in this matter. Prepared health lectures are incorporated in the school syllabus, and it is expected that the influence in the villages of the Native medical practitioners, where it is proposed that they should enter into the closest possible relations with the chiefs and with the women, should have a distinct effect on health matters generally, and particularly on sanitation. Visits. In May of last year Dr. Heiser and Dr. Lambert of the Rockefeller Foundation visited Samoa. Their visit was much appreciated and Dr. Heiser's advice, with his vast experience of tropical diseases and problems, was of great use to the Administration. In October, Dr. Watt, New Zealand Director-General of Health, accompanied by Dr. Lambert, visited Samoa. Dr. Watt carried out a careful and valuable survey of the territory, and a number of suggestions are being put into operation with a view to improving the medical services. In addition, the Chief Medical Officer has been sent to New Zealand for a twelve-months' " refresher," and in order to enable him to obtain further experience in public health activities, while for this period he is being replaced by a Public Health expert from the Department of Health in New Zealand. At the same time steps are being taken to combat the heavy infant mortality by special instructional methods through the Native medical practitioner system and by a general health campaign.

Infant Mortality. Deaths (Samoans) at Different Ages.

Tie infant-mortality rates, per 1,000 registered births, have been as follow :— Year. Year. Year. Year. 1923 .. 200 1926 .. 106 1929 .. 70 1932 .. 121 1924 .. 153 1927 .. 101 1930 .. 61 1933 .. 114 1925 .. 186 1928 .. 58 1931 .. 11l 1934 .. 104-8 The rate is still high and is likely to continue so until sufficient time elapses for the community to benefit from the instructional work now proceeding. The figures for the years 1928-30 are of little value, owing to the non-notification of births and deaths during this disturbed period.

20

Number of Deaths. Percentage of Total Deaths. 1932. 1933. 1934. 1932. 1933. 1934. Under 1 week .. .. .. .. 20 18 32 3-74 3-70 7-24 From 1 week to 1 month .. .. 16 24 17 2-99 4-94 3-85 From 1 month to 3 months .. .. 13 31 17 2-43 6-38 3-85 From 3 months to 6 months .. . . 26 41 20 4-86 8-44 4-53 From 6 months to 12 months .. .. 79 55 65 14-77 11-32 14-70 From 1 year to 2 years .. . . .. 36 33 42 6-73 6-79 9-50 From 2 years to 3 years .. . . . . 27 19 12 5-05 3-91 2-72 From 3 years to 4 years .. . . . . 14 16 11 2-60 3-29 2-48 From 4 years to 5 years .. .. .. 7 12 5 1-31 2-47 1-13 From 5 years to 10 years .. .. 24 16 14 4-49 3-29 3-17 Over 10 years .. .. .. .. 273 221 207 51-03 45-47 46-83 Totals .. .. .. 535 486 442 100-00 100-00 100-00