1
77
317
1
76
4. Testing methods of destruction to be used against the rat.
Up to the present time no human or animal infection with plague has been found in Sierra Leone,
The Medical and Sanitary authorities having asked if the Staff of the Laboratory would carry out animal experiments in connexion with the investigation of an outbreak of what appeared to be food poisoning among the military forces; this work was undertaken and a report on the findings was sent to the Medical and Sanitary authorities.
The Director, in his capacity as Pathological Consultant to the Government, has examined and reported on numerous cases submitted from Freetown and the Colony as well as on material sent from cases in the Protectorate.
In addition to the work published and submitted for publication by members of the Staff, the Director has, at the request of the Colonial Government, written a pamphlet on the present day health conditions of Sierra Leone for the Empire Exhibition. The Director desires to thank J. L. McCarthy, Esq., Secretary of the School, for the trouble he took in obtaining for him many of the figures used in this publication.
Sierra Leone Laboratory. Period 1st May to 31st October, 1924.
The Director was engaged on a tour of the Protectorate from 3rd July to 15th July; a large collection of biting insects was made during the period. At the request of the Government he visited the Cape Lighthouse Peninsula on the 18th August, and was engaged on tsetse fly investigation in this area till 6th September, when he returned to the Laboratory. The results of clearing certain areas in this district (as previously recommended by members of the School) appears to have had highly satisfactory results; a report of the work done has been furnished to the Government, and appears in the Annual Medical and Sanitary Report of the Colony for 1923. On 15th September at the request of the Medical Depart- ment the Director proceeded to the military quarters of the West African Frontier Force at Daru to inquire into the malarial conditions and the breeding places of anophelines; he returned from Daru 30th September. I understand that the resultant report together with suggestions as to the destruction of existing breeding places will be forwarded to the Government after his arrival in England. Professor Blacklock brought back with him from Daru samples of soda water and the ingredients used in its manufacture. I have made a bacteriological examination of these and have furnished a report to the Principal Medical Officer.
On 27th March a Committee consisting of Major W. A. Peacock, W.A.M.S., Dr. E. R. Wright, W.A.M.S., and Professor Blacklock was formed to inquire into the causes of infant mortality in Freetown. Dr. Gordon on his arrival was also co-opted a member; the results so far obtained have been very promising and as the scope of work and the material obtainable appear to be steadily increasing, valuable results should accrue in the near future; the results of placental examina- tions have revealed a truly remarkable rate of infection (46 per cent.) with malaria; the results of this latter work have already been submitted to the Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology for publication. A short preliminary report on the work so far accomplished by the Committee has been forwarded to the Government. During June, July and August the Director in collaboration with Major Peacock carried out a number of experiments to test the value of motor exhaust gas for rat destruction; the results, which proved very successful, have been published in the Lancet; the value of such an efficient and convenient method of fumigation, especially in plague outbreaks in out of the way localities is obvious, and I under- stand that it is proposed to continue the experiment on a larger scale in England.
A meeting of the local branch of the British Medical Association was held in the Laboratory on 7th October, and at the request of the Committee Professor Blacklock delivered an address on Schistosomiasis as it occurs in Sierra Leone.
Two cases of blackwater have recently occurred in Freetown, and have been investigated by myself and the Director. The material obtained is still undergoing examination but it is not proposed to publish any results till further cases have heen observed. In addition to the Government work already referred to, the Director has identified a large number of mosquitoes, etc., for various Medical Officers, and also a collection of biting flies made by His Excellency the Governor of the Gambia.
The Assistant Director on his arrival undertook the examination of urines of both the white and native population with a view to establishing whether certain
This work
well recognized tests have any value in the diagnosis of malaria. together with the completion of a paper on blood changes in primary malaria are awaiting publication. A number of cases of severe vesicular eruptions on the face and neck having occurred in Freetown the matter was inquired into, and a small staphylinid beetle identified as the probable cause of the trouble; a paper on this insect and a similar pest common on the Amazon will shortly be submitted for publication. Work has now been commenced on the effect of ankylostome infection or the mental and physical condition of the native; this work will probably be continued with till the end of the tour.
The Laboratory is indebted to the following gentlemen for reprints of scientific papers :-
Ackert, James E.
Clayton, Lane Cawston, F. G. Faust, Ernest Carroll Fulleborn,
Manson-Bahr, Phillip
Root, Metcalf Taliaferro, W. H.
Van De Velde, E. Wenyon, C. M.
The following reports have been published in addition to those already recorded under publications:— Blacklock, B.-Report on the effects of bush clearing in reducing Glossina palpalis in the Cape Lighthouse Peninsula. Ann. Report of the Med. Dept., Sierra Leone, 1923. Blacklock, B.-Report on the investigation by means of experiments on fowls of constituents of the Freetown Prison diet. Ann. Report of the Med. Dept., Sierra Leone, 1924. Blacklock, B., Peacock. W. H., and Wood, J. Y.-Investigations into the health of Prisoners in Freetown Gaol. Ann. Report of the Med. Dept., Sierra Leone, 1923. Blacklock, B., and Peacock, W. H.-The destruction of rats by exhaust gas. The
Lancet. 13th September, 1924.
I have, &c.,
2845
No. 19.
J. MIDDLEMASS HUNT,
Honorary Dean.
THE LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE AND TROPICAL MEDICINE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
SIR,
(Received 20th January, 1925.)
Temporary Offices:
Institute of Historical Research (University of London),
Malet Street, W.C.1, 17th January, 1925.
I AM directed by the Board of Management to transmit the enclosed copies of reports of the work of several Departments of the Division of Tropical Medicine, for the half-year ended 31st October, 1924. These reports are sent in compliance with the conditions governing the grant from the Tropical Diseases Research Fund. As the Secretary of State is doubtless aware, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine was constituted by Royal Charter dated the 1st April, 1924, and the London School of Tropical Medicine which now becomes the Tropical Division of this School-was taken over under the terms of the Charter as from the 1st August last.
I am, &c.,
R. W. HARRIS,
Secretary.
885/20
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-Page 391
77
317
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
10 ELCO 885/26
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
76
4. Testing methods of destruction to be used against the rat. Up to the present time no human or animal infection with plague has been found in Sierra Leone.
The Medical and Sanitary authorities having asked if the Staff of the Laboratory would carry out animal experiments in connexion with the investigation of an outbreak of what appeared to be food poisoning among the military forces; this work was undertaken and a report on the findings was sent to the Medical and Sanitary authorities.
The Director, in his capacity as Pathological Consultant to the Government, has examined and reported on numerous cases submitted from Freetown and the Colony as well as on material sent from cases in the Protectorate.
In addition to the work published and submitted for publication by members of the Staff, the Director has, at the request of the Colonial Government, written a pamphlet on the present day health conditions of Sierra Leone for the Empire Exhibition. The Director desires to thank J. L. McCarthy, Esq., Secretary of the School, for the trouble he took in obtaining for him many of the figures used in this publication.
Sierra Leone Laboratory. Period 1st May to 31st October, 1924.
The Director was engaged on a tour of the Protectorate from 3rd July to 15th July; a large collection of biting insects was made during the period. At the request of the Government he visited the Cape Lighthouse Peninsula on the 16th August, and was engaged on tsetse fly investigation in this area till 6th September, when he returned to the Laboratory. The results of clearing certain areas in this district (as previously recommended by members of the School) appears to have had highly satisfactory results; a report of the work done has been furnished to the Government, and appears in the Annual Medical and Sanitary Report of the Colony for 1923. On 15th September at the request of the Medical Depart- ment the Director proceeded to the military quarters of the West African Frontier Force at Daru to inquire into the malarial conditions and the breeding places of anophelines; he returned from Daru 30th September. I understand that the resultant report together with suggestions as to the destruction of existing breeding places will be forwarded to the Government after his arrival in England. "Professor Blacklock brought back with him from Daru samples of soda water and the ingredients used in its manufacture. I have made a bacteriological examination of these and have furnished a report to the Principal Medical Officer.
On 27th March a Committee consisting of Major W. A. Peacock, W.A.M.S., Dr. E. R. Wright, W.A.M.S., and Professor Blacklock was formed to inquire into the causes of infant mortality in Freetown. Dr. Gordon on his arrival was also co-opted a member; the results so far obtained have been very promising and as the scope of work and the material obtainable appear to be steadily increasing, valuable results should accrue in the near future; the results of placental examina- tions have revealed a truly remarkable rate of infection (46 per cent.) with malaria; the results of this latter work have already been submitted to the Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology for publication. A short preliminary report on the work so far accomplished by the Committee has been forwarded to the Government. During June, July and August the Director in collaboration with Major Peacock carried out a number of experiments to test the value of motor exhaust gas for rat destruction; the results, which proved very successful, have been published in the Lancet; the value of such an efficient and convenient method of fumigation, especially in plague outbreaks in out of the wav localities is obvious, and I under- stand that it is proposed to continue the experiment on a larger scale in England.
A meeting of the local branch of the British Medical Association was held in the Laboratory on 7th October, and at the request of the Committee Professor Blacklock delivered an address on Schistosomiasis as it occurs in Sierra Leone.
Two cases of blackwater have recently occurred in Freetown, and have been investigated by myself and the Director. The material obtained is still undergoing examination but it is not proposed to publish any results till further cases have been observed. In addition to the Government work already referred to, the Director has identified a large number of mosquitoes. etc., for various Medical Officers, and also a collection of biting flies made by His Excellency the Governor of the Gambia.
The Assistant Director on his arrival undertook the examination of urines of both the white and native population with a view to establishing whether certain
This work
well recognized tests have any value in the diagnosis of malaria. together with the completion of a paper on blood changes in primary malaria are awaiting publication. A number of cases of severe vesicular eruptions on the face and neck having occurred in Freetown the matter was inquired into, and a small staphylinid beetle identified as the probable cause of the trouble; a paper on this insect and a similar pest common on the Amazon will shortly be submitted for publication. Work has now been commenced on the effect of ankylostome infection or the mental and physical condition of the native; this work will probably be continued with till the end of the tour.
The Laboratory is indebted to the following gentlemen for reprints of scientific
papers :-
Ackert, James E.
Clayton, Lane
Cawston, F. G.
Faust, Ernest Carroll Fulleborn,
Manson-Bahr, Phillip
Root, Metcalf Taliaferro, W. H.
Van De Velde, E.
Wenyon, C. M.
The following reports have been published in addition to those already recorded under publications:— Blacklock, B.-Report on the effects of bush clearing in reducing Glossina palpalis in the Cape Lighthouse Peninsula. Ann. Report of the Med. Dept., Sierra Leone, 1923. Blacklock, B.-Report on the investigation by means of experiments on fowls of constituents of the Freetown Prison diet. Ann. Report of the Med. Dept., Sierra Leone, 1924. Blacklock, B., Peacock. W. H., and Wood, J. Y.-Investigations into the health of Prisoners in Freetown Gaol. Ann. Report of the Med. Dept., Sierra Leone, 1923. Blacklock, B., and Peacock, W. H.-The destruction of rats by exhaust gas.
Lancet. 13th September, 1924.
I have, &c.,
2845
No. 19.
The
J. MIDDLEMASS HUNT,
Honorary Dean.
THE LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE AND TROPICAL MEDICINE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received 20th January, 1925.)
Temporary Offices:
Institute of Historical Research (University of London),
Malet Street, W.C.1, 17th January, 1925.
SIR,
I AM directed by the Board of Management to transmit the enclosed copies of reports of the work of several Departments of the Division of Tropical Medicine, for the half-year ended 31st October, 1924. These reports are sent in compliance with the conditions governing the grant from the Tropical Diseases Research Fund. As the Secretary of State is doubtless aware, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine was constituted by Royal Charter dated the 1st April, 1924, and the London School of Tropical Medicine which now becomes the Tropical Division of this School-was taken over under the terms of the Charter as from the 1st August last.
I am, &c.,
R. W. HARRIS,
Secretary.