PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
CO. 885
22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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preference to a scheme establishing a special local laboratory for carrying out local routine clinical work for the Medical Department. I had the following reasons:—
(1) For the maintenance of efficient communication between the members of
the West African Medical Staff and the Medical Research Institute. (2) Because it is only at the Medical Research Institute that he can receive
effective help in difficult work.
(3) Because it is only at the Medical Research Institute that he can find the library of reference books, and the various collections of insects, worms, and pathological specimens indispensable in such investigations as he would be expected to undertake.
After another year's experience here, I still believe that my proposal of the 23rd December, 1910, was both necessary and sound. Should it be approved by His Excellency the Governor, I should wish to make a further proposal, which would, I believe, add to its value.
I do not think that the immense importance of the diseases incident among the native population has ever been adequately appreciated by administrators. Not only is the country depopulated and trade interfered with by epidemics, but it is from the native that the European acquires most of the serious disorders from which he suffers in these Colonies. Prophylaxis for the European, therefore, to be effective, must begin with prophylaxis for the native, and for effective prophylaxis a previous exact knowledge of indigenous disease is required.
The absence of a general hospital where natives are treated close to the Insti- tute, and the impossibility of watching the progress of a case from which interesting material for study had been obtained, has, ever since its inception, been felt to be one of the drawbacks to the complete success of the Medical Research Institute. As a partial remedy, which would bring the staff of the Medical Research Institute into personal contact with native cases, I proposed verbally to the Principal Medical Officer, during a visit he recently paid to Yaba, that a Medical Dispensary should be opened in the vicinity of the Institute, and that it should be conducted by the Medical Officer seconded for service at the Medical Research Institute. The Institute is surrounded by native villages, and the nearest dispensary where medical help can be obtained is at Ebute-Metta, more than two miles distant. The opening of such a dispensary would, therefore, meet a public want at little expense, and the native patients attending it would furnish material for the exact study of at least the more common native disorders, of which at present very little is known. The Principal Medical Officer expressed his approval. I now submit my latest proposal as the completion of my earlier scheme.
Finally, trust that, though my letter must have made it clear that it is im- possible for me to state categorically what clinical work I should wish and what I should not wish to do, it will have at least inferentially answered your letter by laying down the principles upon which I should arrive at a decision as to what is legitimate work for a research laboratory. I am unable, of course, to make any such distinction at present.
The Principal Medical Officer, Lagos.
I have, &c.,
W. M. GRAHAM, Director of the Medical Research
Institute.
Enclosure 2 in No. 7.
COPY OF ACTING PRINCIPAL MEDICAL OFFICER'S MINUTE, DATED 4th MARCH, 1912.
Honourable Colonial SecRETARY,
I ATTACH hereto Dr. Graham's views.
The suggestion that a Medical Officer from the West African Medical Staff should be seconded for three or four months at a time to work at clinical pathology under the Director of the Medical Research Institute would overcome all difficulties. In the course of time trained men would go to the various stations, and would un- doubtedly be of great service to Director of the Medical Research Institute in meeting his wishes as regards purely research work. Other West African Colonies would probably take advantage of such a scheme.
11
As to the provision of a dispensary at Yaba, I am of the opinion that one is necessary, and I raise no objection to its being made the fullest use of by the Director of the Medical Research Institute; but if the running of the dispensary absorbs much time—and I anticipate it would involve all the mornings of any Medical Officer in charge-I doubt whether such a Medical Officer would have much energy left to work in a laboratory if all the pathological work of the Colony devolves upon him also. The Medical Officer in charge of Yaba Asylum has ample time to take charge of a dispensary in that neighbourhood, and I suggest that it would be wiser for him to be put in charge with instructions to allow the Director of the Medical Research Institute every opportunity of performing research work in regard to any patient attending.
T. HOOD,
4th March, 1912.
10482
No. 8.
Acting Principal Medical Officer.
AGENDA AND MINUTES OF AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE ADVISORY COM- TROPICAL DISEASES RESEARCH FUND MITTEE, HELD AT THE COLONIAL OFFICE ON FRIDAY, THE 12TH OF APRIL, 1912, AT 4.30 P.M.
AGENDA.
(1) To consider the question of the work which is being carried on in the Lagos Dr. Langley, Medical Research Institute. (Copy of correspondence* enclosed.) Principal Medical Officer of Southern Nigeria, will be in attendance to give any information and assistance to the Advisory Committee.
(2) To approve the Minutes of the last meeting of the Advisory Committeef (copy herewith).
(3) To consider a report by Captain Potter on his investigations into the disease known as vomiting sickness in Jamaica. (Copy herewith).
(4) To advise as to the administrative measures in connection with yaws in St. Lucia, discussed in a despatch of the 3rd of November§ from the Acting Governor (print herewith).
MINUTES.
PRESENT:
Mr. READ (in the Chair).
Sir T. BARLOW.
Surgeon-General Sir A. BRANFOOT.
Sir P. MANSON.
Sir R. Ross.
Mr. KEITH (Secretary).
Mr. Strachey attended as head of the Nigeria Department during the discussion
of No. 1 of the Agenda, and Mr. Grindle as head of the West Indian Department during the discussion of Nos. 3 and 4.
le
1. Dr. Langley was invited to explain his views to the Committee. emphasised the difficulty caused by the fact that Dr. Graham was on very bad terms with the doctors throughout the Southern Nigeria service; his natural source of supply of material was the general hospital, but he was not on working terms with the officer in charge of it. He did not think that the Director and his Assistant were, in point of fact, over-burdened with routine clinical work: Dr. Graham had, indeed, complained of not obtaining sufficient material, and he had asked all Medical Officers to supply him with what they could.
Dr. Langley's own suggestion was that in each of the territories-Nigeria, Gold Coast, and Sierra Leone an additional officer should be appointed to the medical staff so that one officer could be seconded from time to time to work at the Research
• No. 144 in Miscellaneous No. 252 and Nos 1 and 23 in African No. 984.
West Indian No. 187. † No. 135 in Miscellaneons No. 252.
§ No. 134 in Miscellaneous No. 252.