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No. 88.

THE EARL OF ELGIN to THE GOVERNORS AND HIGH COMMISSIONERS OF CROWN COLONIES AND PROTECTORATES.

[Note: The answers to this Circular will be printed in a separate Command paper.]

(Circular.)

Downing Street, June 6, 1906.

SIR,

I HAVE the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a question asked in the House of Commons by Major Seely, requesting the grant of a return of the measures taken in the Crown Colonies and Protectorates to eradicate malarial fever, together with a copy of the reply returned.

2. I am anxious not to trouble your Government with the compilation of un- necessary statistics, and still less do I wish to hamper the practical work of com- bating malaria by requiring elaborate returns. I would desire, however, to meet, as far as possible, Major Seely's wishes. I recognise that the publication of annual or periodical reports showing what has, or has not, been done in the different Colonies and Protectorates to put into practice the preventives and remedies which have been abundantly tested by scientific experts is one method of ensuring steady progress. I propose therefore to adopt the following procedure.

3. It has been contemplated to issue annually a report of the work done by means of the funds subscribed by certain Colonies and Protectorates, and adminis- tered by the Advisory Board of the Tropical Disease Research Fund, which was constituted by my predecessor. I would suggest that the Advisory Board should utilise in their annual report, which would be issued early in each calendar year, any reports on the measures taken to eradicate malarial fever, yellow fever, and other mosquito-borne diseases which Colonial Governments may be able to supply. The report of the Advisory Board will be for the academic year, 1st October to 30th September, and it would therefore be sufficient if a section dealing with these measures could be inserted in the usual annual medical report of each Colony or Protectorate which is, or should be, always received at the Colonial Office before the autumn of the succeeding year.

4. This special report or section of a report would be supplementary to, and not in substitution for, the returns now included in the annual report. It should give a concise account of the nature and cost of all measures of the kind indicated which have been begun or were in progress during the period in question, whether by legislation, public works, education, sanitation or otherwise, and it should, if practicable, give figures showing the comparative salubrity of different localities, and the varying rates of death or disease from malaria, &c., among the several classes of the community. Any really accurate and trustworthy figures as to the results of precautions taken against mosquito-borne infection should be of value.

I have, &c.,

The Officer Administering

the Government of

Enclosure in No. 88.

ELGIN.

House of Commons, Friday, May 4, 1906. Major SEELY asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies "whether he can grant a return showing the measures taken in the Crown Colonies and Protectorates to eradicate malarial fever, and the results as shown by the health statistics of the inhabitants."

Mr. CHURCHILL, in reply, said: "The Honourable Member's wish has been noted, and the Secretary of State is instructing the Advisory Board for the Tropical Disease Research Fund to consider how it can best be met."

SIR,

No. 89.

THE LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE to COLONIAL

OFFICE...

(Received June 11, 1906.)

[Answered by No. 95.]

B 10, Exchange Buildings, Liverpool, June 9, 1906. In accordance with the request contained in your letter of November 4th, 1904, I have the honour to forward the following report of the work of the Liver- pool School of Tropical Medicine up to date. I must apologise for not sending this report earlier owing to circumstances over which I have had no control.

EXPEDITIONS.

1. Expedition to the Congo.-This expedition left England for the Congo Free State on September 4th, 1903, and returned to England September 7th, 1905. The school sustained a great loss by the death of Dr. Dutton, the leader of this expedition, who died at Kasongo on February 27th, 1905, from the results of tick fever contracted whilst investigating that disease. The school are now endeavour- ing to commemorate the services he rendered to tropical medicine by establishing a Research Professorship in Tropical Medicine in his honour.

During the year several communications from this expedition have been issued, and since the commencement of the year reports on "Tick Fever" and "Sleeping Sickness" have been published. The latter report suggests a method of preventing the spread of the disease by enforcing quarantine measures, depending for their efficiency on gland palpation.

Dr. R. H. Mole, Holt Fellow in Physiology, has, during the past six months, done special work on material brought to England by this expedition.

2. Expedition to the Amazon. This expedition left England for Manaos on April 17th, 1905. Unfortunately both its members, Dr. H. Wolferstan Thomas and Dr. Anton Breinl very shortly afterwards contracted yellow fever. Dr. Breinl's illness was exceedingly severe and he was compelled to return to Europe, arriving. in England at the end of September. Although the work of the expedition was thereby much impeded, Dr. Thomas, nevertheless, remained in Brazil and is still carrying on the work of the expedition. He has chiefly made observations at Manaos, and at Iquitos (in Peru), and at various points on the Amazon River; his detailed report is expected shortly.

3. Yellow Fever Expedition, New Orleans and British Honduras.-Professor Boyce, F.R.S., was despatched to New Orleans in August, 1905, with the consent of the Federal Authorities of the United States of America, to observe the' work of the United States Medical Authorities in dealing with the outbreak of yellow fever there. Professor Boyce subsequently visited British Honduras at the special request of the Colonial Office, to make a report on the conditions existing in that Colony with reference to a recent outbreak of yellow fever. He has since issued reports on the subject of the New Orleans outbreak, and the preventive measures taken to combat the epidemic there. The Colonial Office have received his report on the outbreak at British Honduras direct.

RUNCORN RESEARCH LABORATORIES.

The tropical laboratories at the University of Liverpool were found to be too small for the extensive researches being carried out on trypanosomiasis, especially as regards the accommodation of the larger animals. This part of the laboratory work of the school has, therefore, been removed to laboratories at Runcorn. Im- portant research work has been continued there uninterruptedly since that date.

There is at present a staff of four medical men who are engaged at Runcorn specially on research work, viz., Dr. J. L. Todd, Montreal (Director of Research). Dr. Anton Breinl of Prague, Dr. A. Kinghorn of Toronto, and Dr. E. N. Tobey of Boston.

• No. 7.

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