New Development In
p. 41 · Read in the full issue
Malaria Study
BY “planting” malaria germs in chicken egg cultures and keeping a constant microscopic watch over the germs as they develop to maturity, scientists in the United States are learning some of the secrets of the life-cycle of the malaria parasite. The knowledge gained from these studies, it is hoped, will give doctors weapons to fight malaria in its earliest stages.
The parasites being studied are the type that cause malaria in birds. They are not the same as those that infect human beings. The life cycles of both types of parasite, however, are believed to follow the same pattern.
Lack of knowledge of how the parasite develops in the body during the seven day period between infection from an anopheles mosquito, and appearance of the parasites in red blood cells has long been a major obstacle to effective early treatment of the disease. During this seven-day period the parasite apparently vanishes in the body. When it reappears, it is full grown and already firmly estab lished in the red blood cells. The victim is already in the “chills and fever” stage of the disease.
The technique for isolating the malarial
parasites and growing them in chicken embryo cultures was developed by scien tists of the University of Tennessee, work ing for the US Office of Naval Research.
The High Commissioner of Western Samoa, Mr. G. R. Powles, and Mrs. Powles, with an official party of leading officials of the Western Samoan Government, left Apia on November 26 by plane for Pago Pago, American Samoa, for a short official visit at the invitation of the American Government of the neighbouring Terri tory.
Steamships Trading Company of
Papua has opened what it claims is the most modern native store in the Terri tory. Situated in Douglas Street, Port Moresby, next to G. G. Smith’s trade store, it is attractively designed and well stocked. It will sell ice cream and soft drinks and freezer goods such as saus ages, as well as groceries, hardware and drapery goods.
Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Fulton, of Makura pau Plantation, New Britain, have estab lished a second home at Frankston. Vic toria.