tanks were emptied and cleaned, and the pipes disconnected until after the next heavy shower, and the outbreak of dysentery ceased as abruptly as it had begun.
It is an interesting illustration of the curious and unexpected problems of sanitation with which one has occasionally to deal in the Tropics, and the obvious lesson is, that in localities where the water supply is dependent on the collection of rain-water, and where locusts occasionally pay a visit, we should see that the pipes are disconnected until the excretory efforts of these insects have been removed. It appeared to be of sufficient interest to bring before this Society.
Discussion.
Mr. J. Cantlie, in opening the discussion, said he was unable to give them any information about locusts, but the irritation of the intestines referred to in the paper seemed to be related to the theory that mica in water might cause Hill diarrhoea. Possibly there was a parallel between the two cases, although many authorities did not believe that mica had anything to do with the causation of diarrhoea. Still, it was evident that the irritation which Dr. Prout had described was very like the irritation seen in Hill diarrhoea in India. He thought Dr. Hartigan could state some facts about a similar disorder which was formerly prevalent in Hong Kong, and which was also due to water contamination by mica.
Dr. Hartigan was afraid he could not add anything to what Mr. Cantlie had said, except to state that in Hong Kong cases of diarrhoea very often occurred which could be traced to nothing else except intestinal irritation from a sediment in the water. Under ordinary circumstances the water in Hong Kong was perhaps the best in the East,
