News From Pitcairn

Island Has Its First Appendix Operation

From a Special Correspondent

Pitcairn Island, July 22.

FOR nearly three months we have had no mail, though on two or three oc casions we have been able to send mail away. Next week we expect that the Port Lyttleton will bring us letters.

Pitcairn Island made history on June 22 when Dr. Gording, ship’s surgeon on the Port Pirie, performed an appendicec tomy in the tiny dispensary near the Post Office.

Pervis, 21 year old son of Andrew Young, our radio operator, was taken ill with appendicitis on June 21. In the even ing Andrew contacted the Port Pirie, to which he had been speaking early in the morning about another case of sick ness. But this case was different. To save the life of the patient the ship had to come back almost 260 miles. The doctor came ashore and operated.

About nine a.m. on the 22nd, there was the ship coming at full speed! The sur geon, with two assistants, came ashore.

Many islanders sat around in the Public Square waiting to know how the patient came through the operation—the first ever performed on the island. Through the windows of the little dispensary they could see those working on the case, but the father was on lonely vigil up at the radio station. By telephone he was in formed of the success of the operation.

At the dispensary door one of the as sistants held up a small jar and called, “Here is the appendix that caused all the trouble!” As the people gathered around to see, they marvelled that so small an organ could bring such danger to health.

By four p.m. the ship was on her way again, happy that she had helped to save the life of one of the lads. And the doctor settled down to attend to the three cases of appendicitis on the ship itself! • • * \\TE were amused recently over an in ff cident which made us feel quite “small?’ At the radio station news was received that a certain ship would call about 6 a.m. next day. No ship

called, but about 8 a.m. she was heard calling another ship and stating that she had planned to call at Pitcairn Island at 6 o’clock, but so far had not sighted land. Evidently she was the ship whose lights we had seen passing the island in the darkness about 2 a.m.! We are so small she might have collided with us! * ♦ • NORFOLK ISLAND is proving an at traction to Pitcairn Islanders now in New Zealand. Taking advantage

of the easily arranged tourist trip, Mrs.

Roberta Warren, of Rotorua, recently flew to Norfolk Island, where she spent a happy time visiting relatives and be coming acquainted with their homes on that beautiful island. Others have since made similar visits and more are plan ning to do so. * ♦ • WHILE excavating white rock gravel on the cliff side overlooking Bounty Bay, Wendel Christian was severely hurt by the fall of a ledge of harder rock. The gravel was required for building purposes connected with the new Government School, and several men were detailed to dig for it. The ledge fell suddenly, narrowly missing two men. Wendel’s injured knee will neces sitate his going to New Zealand for an operation.