Dwellers in Isolated Islands
pp. 47-49 · Read in the full issue
Here is a Medical Book For All Dwellers in Isolated Islands
EVERY new European resident of Melanesia should find room in his luggage for a copy of Dr. Clifford S.
James’ book, Diseases Commonly Met With in Melanesia. It will be of great worth to old residents as well.
It occurs to me now, that it is an extra ordinary thing that in several years in the New Guinea interior, I never once saw a medical book that dealt with local diseases in a fashion that could be un derstood by laymen—or for the matter of that, any medical book at all. Yet, away from the government stations, in still-primitive ESI, New Guinea and Papua, health problems become the pre occupation of all—even those who pre viously have nevef seen the inside of a doctor’s surgery.
To everyone in the outback of the South-West Pacific islands, sooner or later comes the horror of hours or days spent in “wondering what’s wrong’’ either in themselves, in members of their family, in workmates or the natives under their care. Disease, like many other things in the tropics, sometimes develops with great suddenness out of all proportion to the time in which skilled medical aid can be obtained. Upon promptness in diag nosis, treatment or even decision, some times hangs the life of a man or woman.
This is the third edition of Dr. James’ book. He was, for a number of years, Medical Officer at the Melanesian Mission Hospital at Fauabu, ESI and in revising the new edition he has added notes on the uses of the new drugs (sulpha, penicillin, atebrin, paludrin, etc.), in treating many
. . .. ... . .. , , pf_ the diseases dealt with in the book. in this he acknowledges his indebtedness to Dr. A. G. Rutter, who was, until re cently, Senior Medical Officer of the BSI
Government as well as Medical Officer of the Methodist Mission in the Solomons.
The whole book been revised and brought up to date in relation to new de-
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the sections dealing with tropical diseases but to the many other ills described—ills that are likely to be met with in Melanesia as readily as they are in other parts of the world.
(Continued on page 47)
There are notes on the care of white children in the tropics, on general hy giene, the ideal to be aimed at in leading a healthy life under tropical conditions (wherein Dr. James urges a hobby of some kind upon our Melanesian dweller). The book should be of great benefit to nurses and Assistant Medical Practitioners as well as to our laymen of the outports.
In a foreword, Dr. H. B. Hetherington, Senior Medical Officer of the BSI says that although the book was written primarily for the use of field workers of the Melanesian Mission, procedures for treatment are described in sufficient de tail to enable the non-medical worker to understand and carry them out. In making available to others the results of his experience, says Dr. Hetherington, Dr.
James has made a contribution of real benefit to the health of the South-West Pacific communities.
The book is obtainable from all branches of Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd., Australia and New Zealand, er from the Melanesian Mission, Shortland Street, Auckland, NZ. Price is 7/6. —JT.
The engagement has been announced of Miss Paquita Margaret Flatten, only daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. G. A.
Flatten, of Rabaul, New Guinea, to Mr.
F. P. Bulbeck, son of the Venerable Arch deacon and Mrs. A. L. Bulbeck of North Adelaide, SA. Miss Flatten is a real Territorian, having been born at Nama tanai, New Ireland, and spent a con siderable part of her life in the Terri tory.
After rebuilding and alterations the Administration sawmill at Kerevat, New Britain, is again functioning.