PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-| COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
23005
46
No. 30.
SOUTHERN NIGERIA,
RETURN OF MALARIAL FEVER, BLACKWATER FEVER, YELLOW FEVER. FILARIASIS, AND DENGUE, DURING THE YEAR FROM THE 1ST JANUARY to the 31st December, 1911.
23647
(Received in Colonial Office, July 23, 1912.)
[Published as No. in Appendix I. to [Cd. 6669], March, 1913.}
No. 31.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
RETURN OF MALARIAL FEVER, BLACKWATER FEVER, YELLOW FEVER, FILARIASIS, AND DENGUE DURING THE YEAR FROM 1ST JANUARY TO 31ST DECEMBER, 1911.
24615
(Received in Colonial Office, 29 July, 1912.)
[Published as No. 4 in Appendix 1. to [C'd. 6669], March, 1913.]
No. 32.
AGENDA AND MINUTES OF AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE TROPICAL DISEASES RESEARCH FUND ADVISORY COM- MITTEE HELD AT THE COLONIAL OFFICE AT 4.30 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 31ST, 1912.
AGENDA.
1. To approve the Minutes of the last Meeting of the Advisory Committee.* 2. To consider a despatch from the Officer Administering the Government of Jamaica, on the subject of Captain Potter's Report on Vomiting Sickness in Jamaica. (Copy of despatch to the Governor and of his despatch§ herewith.)
MINUTES.
PRESENT:
Sir THOMAS BARLOW (in the Chair).
Surgeon-General Sir ARTHUR BRANFOOT.
Sir JOHN ROSE BRADFORD.
Sir PATRICK MANSON.
Mr. READ.
Mr. KEITH (Secretary).
Mr. Grindle, as Head of the West Indian Department, attended the meeting.
1.
The Minutes of the Meeting of the 26th of June were approved.
2. The Secretary informed the Committee that Sir Ronald Ross, who was unable to be present at the meeting, had written to him stating that vomiting sickness required early and complete study, and that, whether or not it was yellow fever, it needed investigation. He pointed out that the third paragraph of the despatch from the Officer Administering the Government of Jamaica seemed to be based on a misunderstanding of the intention of the Committee in recommending that an expedition should be sent out in the autumn, as that recommendation was made in order to enable the expedition to be ready to start work at the very beginning of the winter epidemic. He considered that an outside investigator to co-operate with the local officers would be desirable.
Sir Ronald Ross had also sent a telegram in the following words :- Can send David Thomson to Jamaica in November; funds already subscribed."
No. 24. † West Indian No. 187.
6370: not printed. § 21960: not printed.
47
The Committee considered that the telegram indicated that the Liverpool School were prepared at their own cost to despatch Dr. Thomson on an expedition, and the discussion proceeded on that basis.
Sir John Rose Bradford stated that he was strongly of opinion that further investigation was essential, and this view was concurred in by Sir Thomas Barlow, Sir Arthur Branfoot, and Sir Patrick Manson, who were all agreed that the case was one in which investigation was essential.
In reply to Mr. Grindle, Sir Patrick Manson stated that Dr. Ker was right in the points which he made against the identity of the disease with yellow tever; if it were yellow fever it was certainly remarkable that the mortality should be so great, especially among children; that the disease should break out at a time when in the hills the temperature was cold; and that, concurrently with the disease, stomatitis should be found among those surrounding the patient. On the other hand, the pathological evidence in favour of the indentity of the disease with vomiting sick. ness which had been adduced by Dr. Potter was very strong and could not be ignored. The matter, therefore, demanded further investigation.
Mr. Grindle explained that the attitude of the Government of Jamaica was against employing outsiders for further investigation. He had discussed the matter with Sir Sydney Olivier, who, of course, in this matter, merely voiced the opinion of the representatives of the people of Jamaica, and it was clear that it would be difficult to obtain the vote of the Legislative Council, which was not subject to the Secretary of State's control, to defray the expenses of an outside investigation.
Mr. Read pointed out that the situation in Jamaica had somewhat altered of late, because of the appointment of Dr. Scott, who was a skilful officer, and that the Government were, therefore, in a better position than before to have investigations effectively carried out in the Island.
The scientific members of the Committee were, however, unanimously agreed that investigation by an outside expert was really essential; they concurred that he should act in conjunction with the local men, Dr. Scott and Dr. Grabham and any others, but they did not think that mere local work would be sufficient.
The question was therefore discussed as to whether the proposal of the Liver- pool School to send out Dr. Thomson offered a satisfactory prospect of outside investi- gation. The scientific members considered that Dr. Thomson, while suitable for an assistant on an expedition, had no such experience as would justify the Com- mittee entrusting him with the conduct of an important enquiry like this, and on the whole they concurred in thinking that Dr. Wolferstan Thomas, who had had quite exceptional opportunities of studying yellow fever and who was admirably fitted in every way to deal with the question, would be the man to be appointed for the work. They admitted that it was not certain whether Dr. Thomas, who was understood to be in private practice at Manaos, would be willing to undertake the work, but they thought that in a matter of such importance he might consent to do what was proposed.
Mr. Grindle then suggested that, as it appeared that the Liverpool School meant to send an expedition in any case, it might be possible to obtain the concur rence and the co-operation of the Government of Jamaica by proceeding as follows:-
The Liverpool School should be urged semi-officially to entrust the conduct of the proposed expedition to Dr. Wolferstan Thomas, in view of his exceptional know- ledge and his reputation as an investigator. On receiving an official intimation from the School that they were prepared to send out an expedition under the conduct of Dr. Thomas, the Secretary of State would address the Government of Jamaica, pointing out that this expedition would proceed in any case, and that it would obviously be greatly to the advantage of Jamaica if it should be recognised by, and placed under the general control of, the Colonial Government, in which case the expedition would, of course, work in conjunction with the local pathologist.
Mr. Grindle pointed out that he laid great stress on the expedition being under the control of the Government, since otherwise the investigator would be able to publish his results, and if he held that the disease was yellow fever he might very easily involve the Island Government in a diflicult position, whereas if the expedition were sent out with the sanction of the Government and were placed under its control no publication of results could take place until the Government had fully considered the position and were able simultaneously with the publication of the facts to announce any policy which had been decided upon.