PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
41919
132
No. 123.
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
[Answered by 789 in Miscellaneous No. 301.]
SIR,
Downing Street, 4 December, 1913. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to request you to inform Secretary Sir E. Grey that, at the last meeting of the Advisory Committee for the Tropical Diseases Research Fund, Sir Ronald Ross raised the question of the desirability of conducting researches, either in Egypt or in Cyprus, into the disease known as bilhar- ziasis. As it appeared that the disease was chiefly prevalent in Egypt, where it caused much suffering, especially among the agricultural population, the Advisory Committee considered that the attention of the Egyptian Government should be called to the importance of the investigation of the disease, with a view to the discovery of the mode of its transmission."
2. I am accordingly to enclose a note on a proposed expedition to Egypt or Cyprus for the study of the disease, which has been drawn up by Professor J. W. W. Stephens, M.D., Professor of Tropical Medicine at the University of Liverpool. It will be seen from this memorandum that the disease is very widespread throughout Egypt, and that there is probably an opportunity for important research to be carried out in Cyprus under circumstances exceptionally favourable for the study of the mode of transmission of the disease. Mr. Harcourt would, therefore, suggest, for the consideration of Secretary Sir E. Grey, that the proposals made by Dr. Stephens should be submitted for the consideration of the Egyptian Government, and that that Government should be invited to state whether it would be prepared to bear the whole or any part of the cost involved.
I am, &c.,
H. J. READ, for the Under-Secretary of State.
Enclosure in No. 123.
NOTE ON A PROPOSED EXPEDITION FOR THE STUDY OF BILHARZIASIS IN CYPRUS OR EGYPT BY PROFESSOR J. W. W/ STEPHENS, M.D., PROFESSOR OF TROPICAL MEDICINE, University of LIVERPOOL.
Prevalence :-
cent.
In Cairo 30 per cent. of school pupils are infected.
In Cairo environs 80 per cent. of school pupils are infected.
In Cairo 35 per cent. of street sweepers are infected.
In Egypt, especially Lower Egypt, infection is found post-mortem in 32-46 per
Nature of disease :—
In majority of cases the symptoms are slight hæmaturia (blood in urine) and a little pain, but on the other hand, the disease gives rise to a most miserable state, practically incurable conditions of bladder and large intestine, chiefly among the agricultural population.
Research proposed :-
To determine the mode of infection.
When Sir Ronald Ross mentioned to me that bilharziasis was confined to a certain locality or village in Cyprus, it occurred to him and to me that this would be a favourable opportunity for investigating the mode of infection :—
(a) because, if the fact were true, it would probably be possible to determine in what respect this locality differed from others in regard to possible intermediate hosts (molluscs, &c.).
(b) If the diseases were confined to one village or locality, it would be possible to study minutely the conditions prevailing there as regards the habits of the people, contamination of water by urine, &c.
If the facts were not true, or the material was insufficient, it would then be advisable to study the disease in Egypt, although this would be more difficult unless a well-isolated infected village, with a well-defined water supply, could be found, preferably in approximately desert conditions, and not in a freely irrigated district.
133
This
1. So far as I am aware the embryos have never been found in nature. seems to me to be one of the primary things to look for, and the first step towards tracing their further life. As infection is apparently so easily acquired this would not, I think, be so hopeless as it might first seem, provided one was working in a place with little water about,
2. The next course I should adopt would be to see if the embryos (which hatch out from the eggs in urine) pass into any fresh-water host, and more especially if actually they themselves can penetrate the skin-a simple experiment which also, so far as I know, has not been tried. Or it may be that after leaving a host they penetrate the skin, as appears to be the case for the allied Schistosome Š. japonicum. Time required:-
Minimum 3 months. Maximum 6 months.
It is not possible to say exactly until the local conditions are known. Estimate of Expenses:-
Return passage to Cyprus...
Three months.
Six months.
£50
£50
Maintenance (if in Egypt, £135 and £270)
90
180
Professional Fee
255
510
Scientific equipment
50
50
For Cyprus, total
£445
£790
For Egypt, total
490
880
Travelling allowance 10s. in Cyprus, £1 in Egypt, per diem, when required.
N.B. This estimate of my professional fee will be contingent on my retaining
my salary at the University.
39573
SIR,
No. 124.
COLONIAL OFFICE to INDIA OFFICE.
Downing Street, 9 December, 1913. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 22nd of August last,* I am directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to transmit, for the consideration of the Marquess of Crewe, copies of despatchest which have been received from the Governors of Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements, in regard to the proposals contained in the report of Major S. P. James, of the Indian Medical Service, upon the possible introduction of yellow fever into Asia as a result of the opening of the Panama Canal.
2. Mr. Harcourt would be glad if he might be favoured with Lord Crewe's observations on the enclosed despatches.
I am, &c.,
42872
SIR,
No. 125.
H. J. READ, for the Under-Secretary of State.
BRITISHI SOUTH AFRICA COMPANY to COLONIAL OFFICE.
*
(Received 13 December, 1913.)
2, London Wall Buildings, London, E.C.,
12th December, 1913.
I AM directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 34270/1913, of the 3rd instant,§ asking, on behalf of the Advisory Committee for the Tropical Diseases Research Fund, to be informed whether steps are being taken in Southern Rhodesia to organise a systematic campaign against malaria.
• 27682: not printed.
† Nos. 121 and 122. ‡ Sub-enclosure in No. 68. § Not printed.
1
39111
K