SEARCH FOR A PARASITE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2109, 28 March 1914, Page 3

SEARCH FOR A PARASITE.

4 — ANTARCTIC EXPLORERS ON A CHINESE EXPEDITION. An interesting little expedition is to bo taken immediately by sob» of those who havo shared in recent Antarctic expeditions (reports tho "Daily Mail"). Surgeon E. L. Atkinson, R.N. (who was parasitologist to the Scott expedition), accompanied hy : Mr. .. Ch«try Garrard, is to set off during February with a small party to travel across Northern China in cder to track to its lair a very minute creature which is the cause of a serious malady.

It is supposed that this offensive atom spends a part of its life-history in shellfish living in the Yang Tse-kiang and other rivers. At any farte it is found in water and attaches" itself to those who have traffic in the water, It then penetrates the skiu, and, if the attack' : S severe, may cause death. The. discovery of the life-liistory of the parasite should mean the discovery of a cure.

Tho expedition is witness to the extreme scientific zeal prevailing among our explorers, and a number <3f those who have returned from, the Antarctic are throwing themselves in various ways into the pursuit of science; 4 Some, in spite of their great desire to set out again to the Antarctic, have set themselves to two years' study -of the stuff brought back from the Scott expedition, of which the valuo will largely depend on. tho skill in interpretation. And this expedition to China ■is only one of several that are meditated by. members of Captain Scott's party.