Victory Over Disease

in N. Guinea

rnHE victory won over disease in New JL Guinea by the Australian Army may do much in the future, to make New Guinea living conditions better for European civilians.

When the Japanese forced a way across the top of the Owen Stanley Range in 1942, and were within 30 miles of Port Moresby, a serious outbreak of dysentery occurred among AIF troops who had just been sent there to hold the enemy.

This small force was all that remained between the Japanese and Port Moresby, and it was in danger of complete im mobilisation through the disease.

Officers of the Australian Army Medi cal Corps, while in the Middle East, had experimented with the new drug, sulpha guanadine. for the treatment of dysen tery, and had obtained promising results.

Supplies of this drug were hurriedly manufactured and sent to New Guinea by plane. This was distributed right up to RAP’-s for use at the first sign of diarrhoea.

The treatment was completely success ful, and, as a result, the Japanese, who also were ravaged by dysentery—and from whom our men had doubtless re ceived the original infection —were driven back across the range, to be finally ex terminated in the Buna-Gona fighting.

In December, 1942, the dysentery rate in New Guinea was 212.64 per 1,000 per vear. By December, 1943, this rate had been reduced to 62.82 per 1,000 per year.

During recent months the rate has averaged 21.08 per 1,000 per year—this representing an improvement of 90 per cent, in 2i years.

It is interesting to recall that one medical man associated with this impor tant victory over disease was Dr. Trikojus, whom National Security compelled to re port to the police daily, because he had been in Germany before the war. Yet he was born in Sydney!