Resourcefulness!

Cook Islands Medical Service Calls For More Than Mere Medical Skill.

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, March 30.

SERIOUS outbreaks of illness in the Cook Islands during March called for resourcefulness on the part of the medical staff.

While a few cases diagnosed as menin gitis were being treated in Rarotonga, radio messages from Mauke reported that an outbreak of contagious eye disease had occurred there after the visit of the phos phate steamer which returned workmen from Makatea.

From the description the disease was diagnosed as Trachoma, and advice for treatment was given.

A later radio message from Mauke stated that medicines were finished and further supplies were urgently required.

As this is still the hurricane season, no vessel was available and it was eventually decided to divert the mail plane which dropped a parcel of medical supplies.

RADIO messages were received from Atiu also, requesting assistance for a number of cases which appeared to be meningitis. Dr. T. Davis considered these reports to be sufficiently serious to warrant an effort to contact the island by any possible means.

The only craft available was a towing launch belonging to the Union SS Co., and it was decided to use this. There was no lack of willing helpers and in 28 hours of continuous work the launch was made reasonablv safe for the voyage. Mr.

R. Powell’s skill as a shipwright and ocean-wanderer was called upon and he was ably assisted by Mr. J. Pratt—another ex-ocean-yachtsman—Mr. R. Anderson of the USS Co., and others.

Dr. Davis, himself a yachtsman, worked with them. Engineers overhauled the 35 h.p. diesel, while experts installed radio equipment. The Rarotonga Sailing Club supplied masts and sails and the launch was quickly converted into an auxiliary ketch as the engine was not too reliable for a long trip. A round-up of naviga tion instruments was made and stores taken aboard.

The crew for the trip were: R. Ander son, captain; J. Pratt, navigator; F.

Story, engineer; L. Wohler, assistant en gineer; M. Lee, radio operator. Dr, Davis was listed as assistant navigator. T.

Williams, NMP, went as assistant medi cal officer.

A large crowd gathered on March 23, to watch the departure of the launch on the 116 miles passage to Atiu. The boat had to punch into a stiff head wind and choppy seas, and during the three days

and nights they were at sea the crew, continually wet from the flying spray, had a rough time tossing around in the open cockpit. The only cover was a small cabin protecting the engine, but this was a place to be avoided. Everyone’s sym pathy was with the radio operator who had to attend his instruments in the engine-room to make contact with Raro onga every two hours.

Atiu was reached at 8 p.m. on March 26.

It was pitch dark, but Dr. Davis and Williams, together with their medical equipment, were transferred to a surf boat and safely landed over the reef. The medical officers went straight to the hos pital and two cases were confirmed as suffering from cerebro sninal meningitis Sleep was further denied to the doctors when they were renuired to attend to eases iniured in a recent motor accident The following morning they attended a crowded out-patients’ clinic.

While the doctors were •• ashore the launch was forced to stav at sea as there is no anchorage or shelter at Atiu.

The launch left Atiu at 1.30 p.m. on March 25, and arrived back in Rarotonga about noon the following day. Dr. Davis returned to Rarotonga leaving Williams in charge at Atiu. The return passage was slightly less uncomfortable with the wind and sea following instead of head on.