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people in simple sanitation and to supervise the erection of latrines and the cleaning-up of waste areas and rubbish dumps. This work was curtailed owing to the necessity of bringing them back to Apia to assist in quarantine measures against the introduction of poliomyelitis, prevalent in New Zealand. Health education has continued through the women's committees in the villages, where they receive regular lectures, demonstrations, and visits. In addition, there has been instituted a series of two health lectures weekly in Samoan and one in English over the new broadcasting system, and a " Women's Committee Hour " is planned in addition. A 16 mm. talkie projector is on order, and health films edited specially for this country, with in many cases a sound track in Samoan, are in the course of preparation. A film on hookworm (Walt Disney) on loan from the American Legation in Wellington, New Zealand, has been shown widely throughout the schools by the Education Department. A short course on hygiene was given at the Samoan teachers' refresher course in the school vacation. No new public-health legislation has been introduced, except for the introduction of death certification by a medical practitioner. A research team from the Otago Medical School (New Zealand) was to have visited Western Samoa in December, 1947, and to remain three months making preliminary investigations into the problems of jaundice, fungous diseases, and dental disorders. Unfortunately, owing to quarantine restrictions referred to above, the visit was postponed. In the meantime, however, investigations have been carried out to establish a basis for the team's research. A tuberculosis survey was commenced, but had to be abandoned owing to staff shortage. It will be continued. The question of the introduction of B.C.Gr. immunization is under discussion with the Tuberculosis Division of the New Zealand Department of Health. The Samoan medical services come under the South Pacific Health Service Organization and, through the Board of Health of that Service, have contact with all the international organizations in this field. Regular notifications of infectious diseases are sent out. Vital statistics are not fully reliable in so far as notifications of deaths are concerned, and new legislation has been introduced requiring that all deaths be reported by a medical practitioner, whether he was in attendance on the case prior to death or not. Every effort continues to be made to obtain medical officers for the territory, but these are hampered by the general scarcity of men prepared to accept tropical service. Doctors are not trained within the Territory, but the Administration subscribes to the upkeep of the Central Medical School in Suva, where at present ten Samoan students are in training as Assistant Medical Officers. Samoan nurses, dressers, dispensers, laboratory assistants, dental officers, and assistant health inspectors are trained locally at the hospital in Apia. There is no private training organization outside this. Midwifery is taught to nurses as part of their general training. These courses are available to the whole population, with the exception of the Suva training course for Assistant Medical Officers, which is available only for full Samoans. Unqualified Samoan practitioners, or " witch doctors," are active in most villages, and little can be done to limit their activities as long as there exists a tendency among the ordinary people to believe in them. Improvement in medical services, however, is gradually undermining their power, and except in certain specified complaints like bone injuries and tuberculosis the qualified practitioner has the greater influence. During the year there have been three sharp epidemics with very wide incidence but very low mortality. In January, 1947, mumps broke out, and over a year later some cases are still being reported.

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