PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
44
sub-pericarpial layers had been removed. Sir Thomas Barlow was strongly in favour of some mark of recognition being bestowed upon Dr. Braddon. He felt satisfied that he had done excellent work and that nothing but good could result from the recognition of such work. Sir Patrick Manson admitted that the work was good and was anxious to see Dr. Braddon rewarded, but he could not feel that the problem had been solved as yet: there were places in which beri beri occurred though rice was not used, and the matter required further research. Sir Thomas Holderness thought that the work was obviously good, but that there was no basis of comparing the merits of Dr. Braddon with other persons who might be recom- mended for consideration in connection with the Coronation, and Mr. Read was also in favour of waiting developments as to the disease and its treatment. Sir Charles Lucas finally undertook that a note should made of Sir Thomas Barlow's opinion and the matter further considered either in the Office or by the Committee.
(3) The letter from Dr. Miers requesting the continuance for a period of years of the annual grant of £750 in respect of the salary of the Professor of Protozoology was read to the Committee by Sir Charles Lucas. It was explained that the grant was originally for a period of five years and that that period had expired in 1910, but that the grant had been extended for 1911 without formal application from the University in December last. It was agreed that the University might be informed that the grant would be continued for a period of five years from 1911, inclusive, on the same conditions as before, namely, that the grant was for the Professor irrespective of the occupant of the Chair and that reports were to be furnished.
(4) The question of the propriety of carrying out experiments in the treatment of yaws by the preparation " 606" in the Crown Colonies where these diseases are prevalent was considered. It was pointed out that Dr. Corney, formerly Chief Medical Officer in Fiji, had proposed that experiments should be carried out in Fiji, that the Governor of the Leeward Islands had asked by despatch for information on the question, and that Sir P. Manson had put forward proposals for a systematic campaign in the Island of St. Vincent for the extermination of yaws. Sir Patrick Manson explained at length his views on the question. He was satisfied that, despite the evidence quoted in the "British Medical Journal "-see the issues of December 17th, 1910, pages 1932, 1933, 1942; December 24th, pages 1974, 2002— the efficacy of the preparation was beyond all doubt. What was necessary was that
a skilled man who was interested in the matter should be sent to St. Vincent, should carry out the treatment with the preparation on a wholesale scale, and in six months, he prophesied, yaws would disappear. He admitted that it was necessary to employ a skilled man and he suggested that a suitable man would be Dr. Henry Alston, a Government Medical Officer of Trinidad, who had carried out experiments in Trinidad in the treatment of yaws, who had made a discovery with regard to it, and who was clearly an enthusiast and who would be likely to do useful work.
Sir Thomas Barlow also was satisfied that the drug was a very valuable one and that, despite the evidence adduced of the dangers of its use (it is clear that in some cases death has resulted after its use, perhaps in consequence of its use, and that blindness is also a possible result) it would be desirable that it should be used. He mentioned that it must be injected intravenously and therefore the injection must be done by a skilful operator.
In the special case of Fiji, Sir Patrick Manson stated that Dr. Lynch, who was quite competent to do the work, would not be able to spare the time for the purpose and that he did not know whether there was a doctor competent. of these facts, it was thought better not to press action in the case of Fiji until it In view was better known how far the preparation was safe to use.
Sir Charles Lucas, Sir Thomas Holderness, and Mr. Read saw difficulties in any wholesale experiment in a West Indian Island; compulsion was impossible, and voluntary action, in view of the nature of the inhabitants, not very probable. It was agreed, however, that it would be desirable, in the first place, to make enquiries with regard to Dr. Alston, his personal character, his technical qualifica- tions, his powers of persuasion, and thereafter consider whether an experiment in St. Vincent was within the range of practical politics.
It was also agreed that the Governor of the Leewards should be informed of the opinion of the technical members of the Advisory Committee as to the merits of the drug, the place and price at which it could be purchased, and that he should also be warned of the fact that the preparation must be administered skilfully.
8712
(No. 75.)
45
No. 88.
EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 18 March, 1911.)
Government House, Nairobi, British East Africa, SIR,
February 21st, 1911. WITH reference to your circular of the 20th December, 1910,* I have the honour to transmit the answers compiled by the Principal Medical Officer to the various questions contained in the annexure to Major Ronald Ross's note of the 8th November, 1910.
I have, &c.,
8861
9183
E. P. C. GIROUARD,
Governor.
Enclosure in No. 88.
[Published as No. 7 in Appendix I. to [Cd. 6024], February, 1912.]
No. 89.
SOUTH AFRICA.
THE HIGH COMMISSIONER to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 18 March, 1911.)
(No. 112.)
Government House, Cape Town, March 1st, 1911.
[Published as No. 10 in Appendix 1. to [Cd. 6024], February, 1912.]
(No. 30.)
8289
No. 90. BAHAMAS.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 21 March, 1911.)
Government House, Nassau, March 3rd, 1911. [Published as No. 14 in Appendix I. w [Cd. 6024], February, 1912.]
No. 91.
COLONIAL OFFICE to UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.
[Answered by No. 93.]
SIR,
Downing Street, 21st March, 1911. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th of Marcht and to inform you that your request for a continuance for a period of years of the annual grant of £750 in respect of the salary of the Professor of Protozoology was laid before the Advisory Committee for the Tropical Diseases Research Fund at their meeting on the 16th of March.
2. The Committee had pleasure in recommending, and Mr. Harcourt has approved, the continuance of the grant for a period of five years with effect from the 1st of January, 1911, on the same conditions as formerly, it being understood that the grant is conditional on the maintenance of the Professorship and the effi- cient performance of the duties of the Professor, and the rendering of a full report annually for publication in the report of the Advisory Committee.
I am, &c.,
C. P. LUCAS.
• No. 11 in Appendix I. to [Cd. 5514].
† No. 85.