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I am informed that the average attendance at lectures and demonstrations has been over 90 per cent. of the total number of students at the School.
The appliances in the School are well up to date, and the constant presence of a medical superintendent and tutor ensures that all special diseases are demonstrated and investigated as opportunity arises.
I am informed by the Committee of Management that up to the present time the School has just paid its way on the receipts from tuition and from board and lodging fees. Thus, for the period from the 2nd October, 1899 (when the School was first opened) to the 31st of December, 1899, there was a deficit of £14 17s., for the year 1900 there was a surplus of £78 9s., for the year 1901 there was a small deficit of 13s. 4d., and for the year 1902 there was a surplus of £108 58. 5d.
18. Owing, however, to the success of the School the Managers consider that it is now necessary to place matters on a wider basis. The present buildings are too sinall, whether from a tutorial or from a research point of view. There is only proper accommodation for sixteen students in the laboratory, while the average attendance of students is 24. Research laboratories, a lecture theatre, and museum, are said to be much needed, and the library requires enlargement. The residential accommodation should also be increased. At present there is only accommodation for six resident students, the number contemplated when the scheme was first set on foot, whereas it is considered that there should be sufficient accommodation for at least 20. Up to November last the Managers had expended a sum amounting to £16,098 on the enlargement of the hospital, and one of £6,676 on school buildings, furniture, and equipment, £3,550 out of this last sum having been, as already stated, contributed by the Imperial and Colonial Governments, in addition to £1,000 given by the Government of India. A sum of £12,000 is now stated to be required to cover the cost of the new buildings, and to meet this expenditure a sum of no more than £3,000 is at present available.
19. It will be seen from the above that the School has carried out a great deal of teaching work. Much of the work has been done by lecturers who have received only a nominal remuneration, and the Committee of Management consider-and, I think, rightly consider that in order to place matters on a sound basis, the lectureships should be permanently endowed. An additional sum of money will be required for this purpose as well as for the extension of the research work of the school to which I shall refer hereafter.
20. The Governments of Ceylon, the Straits Settlements, the Federated Malay States, and Kong Kong have each promised a subsidy of £100 per annum for five years towards the revenue of the school, and some munificent private donations have been received; but these contributions are, I am assured, insufficient to meet the growing requirements, and the Committee of Management are endeavouring to raise a large capital sum for the various objects referred to above. Whatever may be the result of their fresh efforts, it may safely be said that the policy which resulted in establishing the school has up to the present time been fully justified.
21. I will now return to the question of the scientific enquiry into malaria. The experts who were selected for two years' work under the Malaria Committee, were Dr. Daniels of the British Guiana Medical Service, nominated by myself, and Drs. Stephens and Christophers, of Cambridge University and University College, Liverpool, respectively, nominated by the Royal Society. It was decided that they should, in the first instance, at any rate, carry out their investigations in the British Central Africa Protectorate, from Blantyre as a centre: Blantyre having been suggested, as a comparatively healthy place on the edge of the malarious zone, and as possessing facilities for the desired investigation, such as a hospital and hospital appliances.
Before starting for Central Africa early in December, 1898, Drs. Stephens and Christophers paid a short preliminary visit to Italy; they reached Blantyre about the beginning of February, 1899. Dr. Daniels, being seconded from British Guiana, proceeded to India in November, 1898, and studied for between two and three months under Major Ross, subsequently joining his colleagues at Blantyre on 8th April, 1899.
22. In the meantime it was suggested by the Malaria Committee that, with a view to obtaining exact knowledge of the different species of mosquitoes and allied insects in the various tropical colonies, it would be well if collections of the winged insects