34 Kordofan Province. The number of admissions to El-Obeid hospital showed an increase of 22 per cent. This is a continuation of the steady increase that has been taking place at this centre over the last few years. There are now nine dispensaries in this province in addition to two winter treatment centres opened in the Dago Hills. The 'total outpatients treated in the province during the year was 160,000 compared with 28,399 in 1924.

It may be said that in the course of the last four years, by a system of medical tours and by the establishment of dispensaries at important centres, the medical confidence of the people of this province has been gained. Whereas before in¬ formation as to epidemic outbreaks was haphazard and often long delayed, now prompt information of any outbreak of disease is at once received and before the news has reached the province headquarters the immediate measures of treatment and quarantine have been carried out by the dispensary hakim of the nearest dispensary.

Kassala Province. The eastern part of this province may now be said to have an adequate medical administration, sufficient to ensure immediate in¬ formation as to epidemic outbreaks, and the adequate treatment of the native population. The confidence of the shy, suspicious Beja tribesmen has been com¬ pletely won, a matter of political as well as medical importance.

There are now eight dispensaries situated at important centres of this area and two travelling dispensaries working among the camel owning nomads of the Butana. This has for the most part been accomplished since 1925, i.e. since the present medical inspector was posted to this part of the province. The western part of the province is still undeveloped medically, but it is hoped to commence organised medical work in this part of the province in 1929.

i Upper Nile Province. The extensive and very beneficial work which was being carried out among the Nuers has been largely interfered with owing to political unrest. It is hoped that the re-establishment of complete administrative control will enable the further development of medical work in this tribe during the coming year. In spite of the large diminution of medical work among this large and important section of the population, medical work continued to make steady progress throughout, the rest of the province. The total outpatients treated in the province increased from 128,679 to 155,353 an increase of 27,674. Two additional dispensaries were opened at Gelhak and Kaka, thus bringing the number of dispensaries working in the province up to a total of sixteen ; this includes the s.s. “ Lady Baker ” and s.s, “Kerreri.”

The system of chiefs’ dressers which had been introduced in the western Nuer district was this year extended to the large Shilluk tribe.

The improvement in the health and physique of the tribes in this province since medical work was initiated in 1921 is every year becoming more apparent, and this is particularly noticeable in the Zeraf, Shambe and Yirrol areas, where the people were previously very heavily infected with yaws.

A systematic medical survey of the southern part of the Shilluk tribe was carried out by a medical inspector of the Upper Nile Province. This tribe is the northern-most of the negroid tribes ; it extends chiefly on the western bank of the river from Latitude 9.5 to Latitude 12. The people are settled in villages along the higher ground a mile or so inland from the river. They do not migrate with their cattle as do the two neighbouring tribes the Dinkas and the Nuers. They