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(No. 735/C.M.D./1907.)

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Enclosure 2 in No. 58.

The ACTING PRINCIPAL MEDICAL OFFICER to COLONIAL SECRETARY.

In forwarding copies of replies from medical officers who received copies of the reports of the laboratories for perusal, suggestion, and criticism, a few points are noticed in them to which I wish to briefly refer.

Dr. H. E. Arbuckle indicates that in his opinion (1) commencement might be made on a small scale in Freetown under the direction of a medical officer; (2) One or more medical officers should receive instruction at an advanced course.

Dr. W. Renner suggests the detailing of a medical officer interested in bacterio- logical and pathological work from the members of the staff, for the investigation of the material at hand.

Dr. Orpen refers to the question of the direction of research work, and obtaining "proper stains," &c.

Dr. Campbell has also replied.

It will be seen that both Dr. Arbuckle and Dr. Renner lay stress rather on the importance of having a man, than a laboratory, and this coincides with the view I have expressed already elsewhere that if a medical officer, specially detailed were forthcoming a good start could be easily made with the "research" work; which should be routine, in connection with the Colonial Hospital, Freetown. The point raised by Dr. Orpen of "proper stains" may seem to indicate that stains are not supplied, but such is not the case. Many men prefer to use the stains they are accustomed to, and when they bring such from England at their own expense I think they should be allowed to enter "duty free."

"

Microscopes are duty free," but if medical officers were allowed to bring in 'scientific instruments, and apparatus, chemicals, stains (dyes), necessary for research work" duty free, it would be a concession which would encourage them to have with them the particular kinds they are used to, and familiar with the working of. It would mean a very small sacrifice of revenue, and be quite as important as the freedom already accorded to microscopes.

Any further replies received from medical officers will be forwarded as received.

R. H. KENNAN.

P.S. My "criticisms and suggestions" I have embodied in separate report herewith.

R. H. K.

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from the Colonies of Ceylon, Trinidad, British Guiana and Straits Settlements. These reports are of very great interest and exhibit the important work that is being done in those Colonies; work which, with the amount of material at hand, could be done here and at no great expense. To me it seems that what we require is to have a medical officer who is interested in bacteriological and pathological work. Such an officer I have no doubt could be found amongst the members of our staff as Dr. Stephens suggests.

The detailing of such an officer would advance not only our knowledge of tropical medicine, but he would enable us to unravel the thousand and one mysterious diseases which are put down by the native population as being caused by fangayism and witchcraft, and which are swelling year after year the death-rate among the people. I take this opportunity of recording my appreciation and the great obligation which I owe to Major F. Smith, Captains Gratton, Morris, Harvey and Skelton, all of the Royal Army Medical Corps, and sanitary officers, who have at various periods of their service in this Colony been good enough to examine bacteriologically, &c., specimens that have been sent to them by me from the Colonial Hospital. In the British Guiana Medical Report, Dr. Kennard has called attention to the condition of acute anæmia associated with pregnancy, which he has observed in that Colony. The condition is one which my attention was called to some years ago, and which was classed amongst the mysterious diseases of this Colony until with the assistance of Major F. Smith the true cause of the condition-ankylostoma in the intestine-was discovered by him. This condition is pretty general here, not especially confined to pregnant women but to a large number of the population.

Granuloma-pudenda another condition common in British Guiana, and was thought to be not widely distributed, was observed by me in 1903. The case was treated in the Colonial Hospital and reported in the Journal of Tropical Medicine, May 1, 1903.

Yaws, another condition common, but not widely distributed, in this Colony. It goes under the name of " Tobo." It is well looked after by the people, fortunately, and there has been no necessity to have a separate hospital for this.

July 18, 1907.

W. RENNER.

MEDICAL OFFICER, Moyamba, to Acting Principal MEDICAL OFFICER, Freetown. Circular Letter, No. 27/07, forwarding Laboratory Reports from Secretary of State: Acknowledgment of.

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I hail the day when we shall have in the Colony and Protectorate Government Laboratory with proper equipment for research work, for without which it is impossible to criticise such able reports or to make any suggestions as requested.

I have, &c.,

W. F. CAMPBELL.

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MEDICAL OFFICER, Batkanu, to ACTING PRINCIPAL MEDICAL OFFICER, Freetown.

(No. 50/1907.)

SIR,

I HAVE read the reports of the various Colonial laboratories with great interest.

With regard to this Colony I think a small laboratory, not an expensive one, should be started in Freetown, and one or more of the medical officers receive an advanced course of tropical medicine, as advised by the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

If the work in the laboratory warranted it the laboratory could be enlarged. If the laboratory were directed by a medical officer of the Colony it would not entail much expense, and would, I am confident, well repay in good work all money expended on it.

July 22, 1907.

ACTING PRINCIPAL MEDICAL OFFICER,

I have, &c.,

H. E. ARBUCKLE.

I AM glad of the opportunity you have given me of perusing the reports of the Liverpool and London Schools of Tropical Medicine and also the medical reports

Moyamba,

July 22, 1907.

MEDICAL OFFICER, Daru, to ACTING PRINCIPAL MEDICAL OFFICER, Freetown.

(No. 84/1907.)

SIR,

I HAVE read the various reports of work done in laboratories of Ceylon, Hong Kong, British Guiana, &c., also of Liverpool and London Schools of Tropical Medicine. I would suggest that a central laboratory be established for the West African Medical Staff at Freetown, Accra, or any other place that might prove to be the most central.

If a properly equipped laboratory was in any of these places in charge of fully competent Director it would be a great boon, in my opinion, to the West African Medical Staff, and a great incentive for the various medical officers to investigate various diseases, i.e., trypanosomiasis, and would obviate the necessity of sending home specimens either to London or Liverpool, and also much valuable time would be saved. If such a laboratory was established on the West Coast of Africa, under

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