Papua

Dysentery Outbreak

On Lakekamu Goldfield, Papua

From Our Own Correspondent.

Pt. Moresby, Sept. 28.

DR. W. E. GIBLIN, Medical Officer to the Territory, left by Guinea Airways ’plane on September 20 for Wau, en route to the Bulldog aerodrome on the Lake kamu goldfield, on the report of an out break of dysentery amongst the Euro peans, some of whom had beeft taken to Wau for treatment.

The outbreak was at first considered to be of a more serious nature —amoebic dysentery—than usually encountered in Papua or New Guinea. On his return on September 22, after making his inspec tion, Dr. Giblin was of opinion that the outbreak was not amoebic, but a milder form of dysentery.

Dr. Giblin has had over 25 years’ ex perience of tropical diseases. He was appointed in 1910 as Medical Officer to the old Lakekamu goldfields after dysen tery had broken out among the 600 native labourers, who were employed by the many miners working claims in the creeks and gullies on the field.

The Lakekamu is an unhealthy district and it is hoped that the outbreak, now in abeyance, will not re-occur and break out among the labourers. So far it has been confined solely to Europeans.

Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Levett, London Mis sionary Society workers, who had been in London on furlough, joined the L.M.S. schooner John Williams V. at Apia, Wes tern Samoa, on September 11. They will remain on the vessel until she returns to Beru, the L.M.S. headquarters in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony.