PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
PTO 885
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
9 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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This was
3. Some time ago the rural population received practically no medical aid. The people expressed to me that they died like beasts of burden. Permission was sought to raise by extra taxation a yearly sum of £650 to meet the want. granted, and the amount has been most economically expended, but it is not sufficient for the purpose. I have, in recent despatches, explained the necessity, as a matter of humanity, of increasing this amount to £1,200, to meet the bare require- ments of the country, and to provide some training for the medical officers for the rural districts. The highest salary which can be offered to these medical officers is £90 a year, and their whole time is taken up by their duties. It is essential they should receive some hospital training, so as to be of use when working their districts.
4. I have laid the matter before you at length in previous despatches, and asked that this additional expenditure may be met from the revenue of the Island, but as this might affect the amount the grant in aid from the Imperial Parliament I submitted an alternative proposal, which is rendered possible by the necessity for an increase in the currency. The proposal is that a Government £1 note issue pay- able in gold against a gold deposit should be authorized, and that the profits of such issue should be allowed to the Island, one portion being devoted to the promotion of the staple industry of the country from which the principal revenue is derived, and the other portion being allowed for the medical wants of the rural population. If the arrangements are sanctioned, I would, in reply to the circular under acknow- ledgment, ask that, besides the £550 for medical aid in the Island, a sum of £100 should also be paid, from the net profits of such Government note issue, as a yearly contribution from Cyprus towards the proposed fund in aid of research into the diseases of the British Dependencies, and of the medical and sanitary training of those who there practise their profession.
I have, &c.,
36157
SIR,
No. 9.
W. F. HAYNES SMITH.
MR. LYTTELTON to the GOVERNORS OF VARIOUS COLONIES.*
(British Guiana. No. 18.)
(Jamaica (Turk's Islands). No. 29.)
(Trinidad. No. 35.)
(Leeward Islands (St. Kitts-Nevis). No. 30.)
(Dominica. No. 2.)
[Answered by Nos. 42, 61, 68, 84 and 128.]
Downing Street, February 2, 1904. No reply having been received from you to Mr. Chamberlain's circular despatch of the 28th of May last,† on the subject of the investigation of malaria and the training of medical officers in the treatment and prevention of tropical diseases, I wish somewhat to amplify the formal reminder which was sent to you on the 1st of January.
2. In the last paragraph of that despatch Mr. Chamberlain wrote that: "it is clear that the work cannot stand still, and as long as those who can speak with the authority of science are confident that by human effort the rate of mortality from malaria and other tropical diseases can be greatly reduced, and the strength and efficiency of European residents in unhealthy climates can be sensibly increased, so long, in my opinion, ought funds to be forthcoming for carrying on what has been so well begun." Mr. Chamberlain went on to state that, while one or other of the objects mentioned in his despatch might more specially commend itself to a particular Colony, he thought that, as a rule, Colonial contributions, if and when made, might with advantage continue to be paid into a common fund, to be adminis- tered by a Board advising the Secretary of State as to how the moneys received could at any given time be best allotted.
3. I share the views held by my predecessor as to the desirability of following up the good work which has already been begun in the direction of combating the diseases which are prevalent in tropical Colonies, but at the same time I am very
* 1.6., British Guiana, Jamaica, Trinidad, Leeward Islands and Dominica. † [Cd. 1598] June, 1903.
‡ Not printed.
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desirous that any funds contributed for the purpose by those Colonies should be freely given on the ground that the objects for which contributions are asked are recognised as being beyond question beneficial and worthy of support, and that the Colony can well afford to contribute.
4. I would ask you, therefore, to place the matter before the Legislative Council for their free and full consideration, and I would only suggest that if, as I hope may be the case, they are inclined to vote a contribution, even though the sum may be small, it should not be ear-marked to a particular object, but be paid into the common fund suggested by Mr. Chamberlain.
5. Possibly the Council may be willing to vote a moderate annual sum for the term of five years, at the expiration of which the matter can be again considered.
I have, &c.,
44559
No. 10.
ALFRED LYTTELTON.
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
[Answered by No. 22.]
SIR,
Downing Street, February 3, 1904. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to express his regret at the delay which has occurred in answering your letter of the 11th of December last,* enclosing copies of correspondence relating to sleeping sickness in the Uganda Protectorate, and enquiring whether Mr. Lyttelton has under his consideration any plan for an organised study of tropical diseases and bacteriological investigations on the spot in the various territories administered by the Colonial Office.
2. I am to transmit to you, to be laid before the Marquess of Lansdowne, the accompanying copy of a despatch with enclosure from the High Commissioner of the Federated Malay States. It will be seen from Dr. Daniels' letter [p. 3 of print that there is an Institute for medical research at Kwala Lumpur, and laboratories, with good bacteriologists, in Ceylon, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Steps are also being taken by the Mauritius Government to establish a bacteriological laboratory in that Colony.
3. Information regarding the cost and staff of the Kwala Lumpur Institute will be found at pp. 38-48 of the accompanying Parliamentary Paper, but it appears from the 6th paragraph of Dr. Daniels' letter that he would not consider it necessary to provide so costly an Institute for East Africa. Dr. Daniels, who was Medical Superintendent of the London School of Tropical Medicine before he was appointed to his present post, is qualified to speak with authority on this matter, and Mr. Lyttelton finds that his views are shared by Sir M. Foster, who is in favour of pro- vision being made for the investigation of tropical diseases in East Africa, but does not think that this should necessarily take the form of a central laboratory, as the officer employed on research work might desire to carry on his investigations in different districts, and a simple building, provided with the necessary apparatus, would answer his purpose.
Sir M. Foster also concurs in the view, which has been expressed by Dr. Daniels, that it is desirable to keep permanent and continuous records of the research work which is being carried out in any particular district or group of Colonies, and this can of course only be secured by making the provision referred to above in some permanent form.
4. It is not proposed to take any action at present with regard to the suggestion made by Dr. Daniels in the 7th paragraph of his letter, that a central research insti- tute should be provided for West Africa, and, in view of the fact that sleeping sick- ness practically does not exist in the British West African Colonies and Protectorates, it seems doubtful whether such an institute could in any case supply the needs of East Africa, as he seems to suppose. It will, therefore, be necessary for independent action to be taken with regard to East Africa, and I am to suggest that the pecuniary provision, although not on so extensive a scale as that which has been made in the case of the Kwala Lumpur Institute, should be sufficient to provide for the continuous investigation of the diseases most prevalent in East Africa, and for keeping a perma- nent record of the work done.
• No. 126A in Miscellaneous No. 139 Page 108 et seq. of Miscellaneous No. 139.
† No. 104 in Miscellaneous No. 139 § [Cd. 1598].