18871
59
No. 107.
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE TROPICAL DISEASES RESEARCH FUND ADVISORY COMMITTEE, HELD AT THE COLONIAL OFFICE ON THURSDAY, 9TH OF DECEMBER, AT 4 P.M.
PRESENT:
·Sir Patrick Manson (in the Chair). Sir Thomas Barlow.
Mr. Read.
Mr. Parkinson (Acting Secretary).
?
Dr. W. M. Graham also attended; and Mr. Ellis and Mr. Strachey were
present on behalf of the West African and Nigerian Departments.
A despatch from the Governor of Southern Nigeria (No. 602, of the 5th of November, 1909), advocating the enlargement of the Medical Research Institute for West Africa at Lagos was discussed.
Dr. Graham showed several photographs of the bungalow and laboratory, which now form the institute, and called attention to many defects in the present structure, e.g., accommodation, difficulties of ventilation, narrowness of the verandahs, and consequent heat of the laboratory, and the liability of infection spreading within the laboratory as the result of experiments in so confined a space.
Certain plans of buildings, based on the King Institute at Guindy, Madras, were submitted to the meeting; and Dr. Graham pointed out the alterations which he proposed to effect in the Lagos laboratory. The Governor of Southern Nigeria had supported the extension as proposed in the plans at a cost of £2,350 (approxi- mately).
The plans were carefully examined by the expert members of the Sub-Committee, and it was eventually resolved that the laboratory be extended as proposed in Sir Walter Egerton's despatch, the cost to be borne by the West African Colonies and Protectorates as follows:-
Southern Nigeria, £1,175.
Gold Coast, £587.
Sierra Leone, Gambia, Northern Nigeria, £195 each.
In reply to a question by Mr. Ellis, Dr. Graham stated that Lagos had its own chemical laboratory, and that research at the Medical Institute was of value not for Nigeria only, but also for the Gold Coast and other West African Colonies. At the same time, he pointed out the necessity of leaving the institute in an independent position, in order to avoid the loss of time that would ensue in the case of all specimens, &c., having to pass through the Principal Medical Officer.
Incidentally, Dr. Graham alluded to the desirability of having calf lymph imported into the country, and not made locally.
At this point Mr. Ellis and Mr. Strachey withdrew.
2.
A brief report by the Attorney-General of the Cape on the spread of tuber- culosis in the native territories was read, and the meeting was invited to make suggestions of a practical nature for remedying the serious state of affairs portrayed by the Attorney-General.
It was suggested that:-
(a) Native boys, before going to the mines, should be subjected to a careful
(not a "lightning") medical inspection.
(5) Native boys, on returning from the mines, should be subjected to a careful
medical inspection.
(c) Any cases of tubercle should be at once isolated.
(d) Pressure might be brought to bear on the proper authorities to improve
the dormitory system on the Rand.
It may be added that the general statement made by the Attorney-General
as to the effect of European clothing on natives was corroborated by Dr. Graham, who remarked that natives of Africa did not suffer from pneumonia, lung complaints, &c., until they were dressed up in European clothing.
SIR,
No. 108.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Miscellaneous.)
Downing Street, 9 December, 1909. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Sir Arthur Young's despatch, No. 195, of the 13th of May last, and to state that I am glad to learn that the Legis- lative Council have agreed to the continuance of the grant of £100 per annum towards the Tropical Diseases Research Fund during the years 1910-1914 inclusive. I would, however, point out that the last grant made by the Colony was in respect of the year 1908, and that no contribution would appear to have been provided for the present year. I have, therefore, instructed the Crown Agents to transfer the sum of £100 from Straits Settlements Funds to the Tropical Diseases Research Fund as the Colony's contribution for 1909.
24608
SIR,
No. 109.
COLONIAL OFFICE to INDIA OFFICE.
I have, &c.,
CREWE.
Downing Street, 9 December, 1909. I AM directed by the Earl of Crewe to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd of July last† and to state, for the information of Viscount Morley of Blackburn, that the contributions promised by the various Colonies towards the Tropical Diseases Research Fund have now exceeded the sum of £1,500 per annum, on the conditional attainment of which rested the promise of a contribution from Indian revenues of £500 per annum for a further period of five years.
I am, therefore, to request you to move his Lordship to be so good as to issue instructions for the payment to the Crown Agents on behalf of the fund, of the sum of £500 in respect of the year 1909-10, being the first of the further five years in question.
31255
SIR,
No. 110.
LEEWARD ISLANDS.
I am, &c.,
G. V. FIDDES.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Miscellaneous.)
Downing Street, 10 December, 1909.
I HAVE the honour to refer to Mr. Branch's despatch, No. 351, of the 26th of August last, with reference to a contribution from the Leeward Islands towards the Tropical Diseases Research Fund.
have learned with pleasure that the Government of St. Kitts is prepared to continue its yearly contribution of £25, and that provision is being made on the Estimates accordingly.
I note that the Administrator of Dominica, while referring to the contributions already made by that Dependency to the fund in past years, makes no mention of any future contribution, and I should be glad to learn at an early date whether it is proposed that the contributions should be continued, and, if so, to suggest that instructions should be issued as soon as possible to the Crown Agents in respect of the payment of the contribution for the current year.
• No. 46.
† No. 67.
‡ No. 82.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
To Te To Tv
Reference :-
mmimmi C.O.885
19 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.