A Filarial Survey in British Guiana, 1921

Abstract

The Filariasis Commission, composed as it was of British, Chinese, and Mohammedan members, was able to take a more extensive and a more representative survey of the incidence of filariasis than would have been possible in the case of a single investigator. Dr. Khalil had frequent invitations to local Mohammedan ceremonies, and as these were usually held at night, he was able to examine a large number of bloodfilms from East Indian immigrants. Dr. C. U. Lee was very hospitably received by the Chinese families of Georgetown, and collected statistics as to the filarial rate amongst them on a scale that was hitherto unattainable. The whole commission, working together, was able to undertake a survey of an institution such as Georgetown Prison, the Almshouse, or Christchurch Public School with little inconvenience to the children or inmates. Thus from hospitals, schools, prisons, asylums, and domiciliary visitations, the Commission collected details and examined blood-films from 4,215 inhabitants of British Guiana. The total number of examinations was made up as follows:—