PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:→→→
ITT C.O.885
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
19 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
96
3. The main function of the Bureau, which is administered by a paid Director, is to collect from all sources information regarding sleeping sickness; to collate, condense, and, where necessary, translate this information; and to distribute it as widely and quickly as possible among those who are engaged in combatting the disease. The publications of the Bureau will be divided into two categories, viz., scientific publications intended for those who are engaged in research work or in carrying out medical administration in the infected districts, and publications of a less teclinical character for the use of Government officials, missionaries, and others, whose duties involve residence in those districts. One important piece of work will be the preparation of a map of the whole of tropical Africa, showing the distribution of the disease and of the different species of blood-sucking insects which are suspected of conveying it. A map of this kind showing, as it would, the extent to which the distribution of the disease coincides with the distribution of the different species of insects is expected to supply valuable information to scientific investiga- tors and to give guidance to the different administrations by indicating the lines of advance of the disease and the districts which require special protective measures.
4. The duties of the Director of the Bureau will, for the present, be under- taken by Dr. A. G. Bagshawe, of the Uganda Medical Staff, who has been seconded from the Protectorate service for the purpose.
26432
No. 47.
MINUTES OF MEETING OF MANAGING COMMITTEE OF SLEEPING SICKNESS BUREAU, HELD 17TH JULY AT 3 P.M.
PRESENT:
Sir West Ridgeway, in the Chair.
Sir R. Boyce.
Dr. Rose Bradford.
Colonel Bruce.
Sir Patrick Manson.
Mr. Read.
Mr. Keith (Secretary).
Dr. Bagshawe also attended.
1. The Minutes of the meeting of the 11th June were read and approved. 2. Dr. Bagshawe submitted his proposals for the conduct of the work of the Bureau.
(a) With regard to clerical assistance he stated that the Royal Society pro- vided him with a typist at 2s. 6d. an hour. This was satisfactory and the arrange- ments would suffice for the present.
Sir West Ridgeway proposed, and it was agreed, that Dr. Bagshawe should be authorised to make any further arrangements as regards typing which might become necessary.
For other clerical assistance he had engaged the services of Captain Thimm, in the first place on probation for a month from the 13th of July, on the under- standing that if his services proved satisfactory, and the Managing Committee approved, he would be retained on the expiration of that period, it being open to either side to give one month's notice of the termination of the engagement. His salary would be three guineas a week, for which sum he would assist in translations, keep the card index, look up references, and write letters in French and German.
Captain Thimm was an officer of the reserve who had served in South Africa, and his references were unexceptionable. His appointment was approved by the Managing Committee, who expressed satisfaction that the services of so well quali- fied an officer could be obtained so cheaply.
(b) As regards translations, Dr. Bagshawe proposed himself to deal with the work, on the ground that it was difficult for any person not familiar with the subject to make satisfactory translations of foreign works on sleeping sickness, and that in the great majority of cases verbatim translations were not wanted, as extracts would suffice. In case of necessity he would avail himself of the services offered by Dr. Breinl, who already had been sent a
• No. 43.
97
paper in Portuguese. It was agreed that he should continue to act on these lines with power to make further arrangements if necessary.
(c) As regards research, Dr. Bagshawe stated that when the publications of the Bureau had been started, he would probably be able to see his way clear to carrying out research work. Dr. Rose Bradford suggested that it would be prema- ture to decide anything as to this in the meantime, and the Committee concurred in this view.
(d) Dr. Bagshawe reported the purchase of certain furniture, including desk, chair, stationery, a map table, card index, vertical filing apparatus, &c., and that he had made arrangements to obtain a case of biting flies, &c.
Dr. Bagshawe then laid before the Committee his proposals for the publication of monthly bulletins. After some discussion it was decided that for the first year, at any rate, the bulletins should be distributed free to all original workers on the subject and to foreign and English scientific journals, and that, as far as possible, the receivers of the bulletins should be induced to send copies of their papers to the
Bureau.
It was also agreed not to come to any formal decision as to the insertion of original contributions, though it was felt that the insertion of such contributions formed no part of the immediate work of the Bureau.
The size of the bulletins was discussed at some length. Dr. Bagshawe was of opinion that the usual extent should amount to about 32 pages, of the size and form of the Proceedings of the Royal Society, but under four ounces in weight, and he submitted an estimate from Messrs. Clowes for 500 copies monthly of a bulletin of that size, costing £180 for printing, £50 for postage, and £20 for publishers' commission, say, £250 in all.
It was agreed, on the suggestion of Sir West Ridgeway, that the number of copies should be increased to 750, and, on the suggestion of Sir Rupert Boyce, that the weight should not exceed 4 ounces, while the Committee were of opinion that no attempt should be made to obtain advertisements.
The question was also discussed of the nature and size of the first number of the bulletin. It was generally agreed that it would not be possible within any reasonable limits, and considering the time available, to bring out a full history of the whole question, and Dr. Bagshawe indicated that he would prefer to write a dis- cussion of the treatment of the disease, both in man and animals. It was, there- fore, left to Dr. Bagshawe to draft a bulletin on this question, which he proposed to submit in proof to the medical members of the Committee. It was also agreed to hold a meeting in September, when the question of the firm to whom the publica- tion was to be entrusted would be further considered, Dr. Bagshawe having, in the meantime, obtained further estimates of the cost of publication.
It was also agreed that Dr. Bagshawe should be allowed about £25 a month to cover the ordinary expenses, including Captain Thimm's salary; and that he should be permitted to take a vacation of three weeks, which he proposed to spend in Germany, in order to increase his familiarity with the German language.
Dr. Bagshawe also mentioned that he had had a visit from Dr. Hearsey, of British Central Africa, who desired to bring to his notice the matter of the exami- nation of the shores of Lake Nyasa, with a view to ascertaining whether or not Glossina Palpalis was present there. Dr. Rose Bradford stated that it might be possible to induce the expedition now in North-Eastern Rhodesia to investigate this matter.
Reference was also made to the despatches from Northern Nigeria, which formed the last item of the Agenda at the meeting of the 11th June, and which could not then be discussed for lack of time, and the members of the Committee were agreed that they had no observations to make on those despatches, which would no doubt be utilised in whatever manner was considered fit by the Director.
16360
No. 48. UGANDA.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.
Downing Street, 20 July, 1908. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch. No. 94, of
(No. 171.)
SIR,
92635