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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

9

Reference :-

C.O.885

19 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

40327

32

No. 52.

PAPUA.

CAPTAIN MUIRHEAD COLLINS (COMMONWEALTH REPRESENTATIVE IN LONDON)

to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received 3 November, 1908.)

[Answered by Nes. 53 and 71,]

SIR,

I HAVE received from my Government a memorandum (copy attached) by Dr. W. M. Strong, containing certain observations and suggestions for a scientific expedition to Papua for the purpose of investigating tropical diseases, and I am requested to forward a copy to the Schools of Tropical Medicine, &c., in England, asking for their suggestions, and an estimate of the cost of an expedition on the lines sketched out by Dr. Strong.

72, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., 3 November, 1908.

I have communicated with the Schools of Tropical Medicine, and should be much obliged if the Advisory Board on Tropical Diseases would furnish me, for the information of my Government, with any remarks which it may be considered desirable to make on the subject.

I am,

&c.,

R. MUIRHEAD COLLINS,

Representative of the Commonwealth in London.

Enclosure in No. 52.

OBSERVATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS BY DR. W. M. STRONG, CHIEF MEDICAL

OFFICER.

On page 35, paragraph 5,* reference is made to the research expeditions which the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has so successfully sent out to investi- gate tropical diseases in Africa and elsewhere. It has been in my mind that some- thing of the same kind should be done in Papua. The objects of such expeditions are primarily scientific, yet enormous practical benefits sometimes arise from them, and, in any case, the knowledge obtained by them forms a sure basis on which the future medical policy of the country can be based.

In Papua no systematic work has been done by anyone who has had a special training in investigating (as distinct from the diagnosis and treatment of) tropical diseases along modern scientific lines. The subjects for investigation by such an expedition might comprise the following: Classification of Papuan mosquitoes, determination of those which carry fever and their breeding places, determination of the exact form of the malarial parasite which causes malaria in Papua, deter- mination of the species of filaria which gives rise to elephantiasis, &c. Such an expedition should be informed that malaria, tropical sores, tinea, venereal soft sores, and granuloma pudenti are common; that yaws, blackwater fever, beriberi, elephantiasis, and scrub itch occur, and that leprosy has been also occasionally seen; that the question of intestinal parasites in L'apua has not been at all systema- tically investigated.

The matter is one which should be carefully considered, and perhaps something could be done in connection with the school of Tropical Medicine which, I under- stand, it is proposed to start at Townsville; but I am strongly of opinion that the first step should be an investigation by someone who has made investigations of this kind a speciality. Of course, the country, or perhaps the Commonwealth, would have to provide funds for the purpose. The first step might be to approach the President of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and ask him if he could make any suggestions in the matter, with estimated cost of carrying them out, or perhaps the matter might be referred to the Colonial Office or put by the Common- wealth Authorities in the hands of their representative in London.

18 July, 1908.

W. M. STRONG, M.D.,

Acting Chief Medical Officer.

• ie., of [Cd. 3992]. Report of the Advisory Board for 1907,

40327

33.

No. 53.

PAPUA.

COLONIAL OFFICE to CAPTAIN MUIRHEAD COLLINS (COMMONWEALTH REPRESENTATIVE IN LONDON).

SIR,

Downing Street, 10 November, 1908. I AM directed by the Earl of Crewe to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd of November,* forwarding a memorandum by Dr. W. M. Strong, con- taining certain observations and suggestions for a scientific expedition to Papua for the purpose of investigating tropical diseases.

2. In reply, I am to inform you that your letter will be laid before the Advisory Committee of the Tropical Diseases Research Fund at their next meeting in November, and that a further communication will be addressed to you in due

course.

41369

(No. 258.)

41541

No. 54. HONG KONG.

I am, &c.,

R. L. ANTROBUS.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 12 November, 1908.)

Government House, Hong Kong, 10 October, 1908.

[Published as No, 8 in Appendix VII. to [Cd. 4476], March, 1909.]

No. 55. SIERRA LEONE.

THS GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 13 November, 1908.)

(No. 488.)

Government House, Freetown, Sierra Leone,

29 October, 1908. MY LORD,

#K of I HAVE the honour to enclose copy Observations" by Dr. Forde, the Principal Medical Officer, on the reports from the London and Liverpool Tropical Schools, &c., which were forwarded in your circular despatch of the 13th of July, 1908.t

I have, &c.,

Enclosure in No. 55.

L. PROBYN,

Governor.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE REPORTS from the London and Liverpool Tropical Schools, &c., attached to Secretary of State's Circular Despatch of the 13th July, 1908.

I have read the reports with much interest, and have detached the extra copies for filing in the Medical Library.

I will take this opportunity of pointing out the usefulness to be derived from, and, bearing in mind the importance of the investigations, such as are referred to in the reports in their connection with the practice of tropical medicine, the necessity that, in my opinion, at present exists for, a medical officer specially detailed in Free- town for carrying on work of this nature at the Colonial hospital in conjunction with a certain amount of ordinary medical duties when required."

32233

• No. 52.

† No. 41.

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