36
symptoms when administered orally or by injection to sound animals;" these experi- ments were not made by us, and in a paper which lays claim to scientific accuracy such an error should not have been made. On page 334 of the same paper they make the amazing statement that" beri-beri is due to a gross deficiency of the organic phosphorus in the diet," and later they state that a whole cycle of other diseases in all probability have a similar etiology to that of beri-beri.
A paper which consists mainly of a translation and précis of Dr. Schaumann's monograph supplemented by a very few experimental observations does not justify wide-sweeping statements and generalizations being made; these cannot possibly advance knowledge, more especially since the statements made have no foundation
in fact.
The voluminous literature on the subject of beri-beri produced during the past few years serves to illustrate the ease with which a mountain of inaccuracies can be constructed from a grain of fact. It is, therefore, not surprising that the original fact should tend to become obscured, a result which is all the more to be regretted since the practical application of that fact will suffice to prevent the occurrence of beri-beri among rice eaters.
H. FRASER,
Director, Institute for Medical Research,
Federated Malay States.
37
4. At the same time I notice that Mr. Cork was of opinion that even the partial application of that policy in St. Lucia had produced results that compared satis factorily with those in other islands. In these circumstances I do not think the matter should be allowed to drop without further examination, and careful con- sideration of ways and means. The first step would appear to be to ascertain what asylum accommodation would be required for an organized campaign against yaws, and what expenditure would be involved. It would also be necessary to consider carefully how the difficulties which led to the Ordinance of 1907 could best be met. and how far action taken in St. Lucia, independently of other communities, could be expected to be successful, or rather, what precautions, if any, could be adopted with this object. These are questions which local knowledge and experience alone can solve, and I would suggest that you should refer Dr. Nicholls's report to a local Committee to deal with them.
44
5. Finally I note that Dr. Nicholls recommends the treatment of all cases with the remedy" salvarsan," if future experience continues to uphold the present promise." In this connection I would refer you to a report* on the use of this remedy in Trinidad, a copy of which is being communicated to the West Indian Colonies with the observations of the Tropical Diseases Research Fund Advisory Committee. I understand that in expressing their general concurrence in Dr. Nicholls's recom- mendations the Committee took note of the qualification which he introduces as regards" salvarsan," and do not desire to be understood as advocating its immediate adoption for all cases without waiting for the result of further research and experi- ment, and careful consideration of all the information on the subject which they are placing at the disposal of medical officers in the Colonies.
38357
I have, &c.,
L. HARCOURT.
No. 22,
WINDWARD ISLANDS (ST. Lucia).
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.
[Answered by No. 38.]
(No. 44.) SIR,
Downing Street, 18 June, 1912. WITH reference to my despatch, No. 10, of the 31st of January,* I have the honour to inform you that Dr. Nicholls's report on yaws in St. Lucia was considered by the Tropical Diseases Research Fund Advisory Committee at their meeting on the 12th of April and also at a subsequent mecting on the 24th of May, when the treat- ment of this disease was again under consideration in connection with a report from another Colony.
2. The Committee expressed their satisfaction at the report, and advised that, in addition to being printed in their general report for 1911, it should be circulated separately to the West Indian and other Colonies in which the discases is known to occur. This will be done. The Committee also recommended that the administra- tive measures suggested by Dr. Nicholls should be carried out so far as local con- ditions and the financial resources of the Colony permit.
3. It is satisfactory to learn that high scientific authority confirms the views expressed by Dr. Nicholls as to the lines on which the extirpation of this serious disease can be attempted with the best hope of success. At the same time the proviso which the Committee have added to their recommendation recognizes the existence of considerable practical difficulties in the way of a successful campaign on the lines indicated. I have referred to the despatch‡ from Mr. Cork which you mention, and I find that, at the time he wrote, there was in force in the island an Ordinance pro- viding for the segregation of sufferers from this disease, but that in practice it was to a great extent inoperative, owing, I gather, to the difficulties which Mr. Cameron considers still to exist. The asylum accommodation was, and is, inadequate; action in St. Lucia alone was likely to be ineffectual owing to intercourse with neighbouring communities; and the severity of the law in some cases led to concealment of the disease. In view of this an amendment was made by Ordinance 10 of 1907 which exempted from the necessity of segregation cases which a medical officer considered could be properly treated at home without danger to the community. Also the expense involved in carrying out fully a policy of segregation was and is an obstacle to its adoption.
• 38357; not printed.
† No. 14 in Appendix VI. in [Cd, 6024], February, 1912.
753/12 not printed.
19735
SIR,
No. 23.
BRITISH GUIANA,
THE ACTING GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(No. 169.)
(Received June 25, 1912.)
Government House, Georgetown, Demerara, 4th June, 1912.
I HAVE the honour to transmit a report on tropical diseases research work in the British Guiana Laboratory during the half-year ended 31st March, 1912.
I have, &c.,
Enclosure in No. 23.
CHARLES T. COX.
[Published, except the portion printed here, as No. 1 in Appendir VI. to [Cd. 6669], March, 1913.]
*
Granuloma Pudendi in Dogs.
In an article contributed by Cleland and Hickenbotham on the Etiology of Ilcerative ganuloma of the Pudenda to the Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in 1909, there appears the following passage :—
"There is a popular and most disgusting idea prevalent in some of the affected areas that this and other venereal diseases are transmitted to the aboriginal women by connection with dogs."
Ulcerative granuloma exists widely in British Guiana, as does also Granuloma pudendi of dogs. Investigation was therefore undertaken into the nature of this disease of dogs to ascertain if in any way resemblance existed between them.
This disease of dogs is also found largely in Europe and North America. Animals suffering from it are readily obtained in this Colony.
33111
Council Paper No. 191 of 1911, Trinidad : not reprinted.
C 3
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
9
Reference :-
C.O. 885
22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO