QUALIFIED DOCTOR REQUIRED

Evening Star, Issue 21640, 8 February 1934, Page 8

QUALIFIED DOCTOR REQUIRED

URGENT CALL FROM BYRD EXPEDITION SERIOUS ILLNESS OF DR SHIREY KASTV TRIP TO BARRIER NECESSARY An urgent radio message for a fullyqualified doctor and surgeon to go immediately to the Byrd Expedition base at Little America to take over the duties of Dr Shirey, the expedition’s medical officer, who has been taken seriously ill. was received last night by Air J. 11. Duncan, manager of Messrs H. L. Tapley and Co. Ltd., the local agents for tho expedition. Air Duncan, who is at present in Christchurch, communicated the call to the Dunedin office, where steps were taken without delay to endeavour to secure the services ot a doctor to make the trip. Inquiries made this morning at the Medical School failed to discover an available man, while a Timaru doctor communicated with by telephone, was forced to turn down the otter because of the pressure of local duties. However, sonic encouragement was received from a medical practitioner at Ranfurly, who is prepared to consider tho proposition of journeying to the base, but bis decision will not be known until to-morrow. Should a suitable doctor be prepared to make the trip immediately a vessel will probably have to be chartered to transport him to tho ice, and in the event of a suitable charier not being available, there is a possibility of a ship having to be purchased. . . , _ , T , Dr Shirey was to join the Jacob Kuppert at Little America to be brought back to New Zealand, the vessel being expected to leave the ice barrier last Tuesday. She is expected to reach this port about the end of next -week, but will be too late to return with another doctor, who, it is hoped, will be well on the way south by that time. It was suggested last night that the Wyatt Earp should convey a local doctor to the barrier, and Air Lincoln Ellsworth expressed his desire in a message sent from National Park to Dunedin to assist in this way, but stated lie would leave Sir Hubert Wilkin, who is in command of the vessel, to make the decision whether the ship should go or not. Sir Hubert instantly conferred with his engineers, and the conclusion was readied that the Wyatt Earp was at present unfit to make the trip. It would require about a month’s work to prepare her for another voyage to the ice. ]f the doctor is engaged to join the expedition party, he must be willing to winter at the base with a section of the men, who will be left there during the return of the Jacob Ruppert and Bear of Oakland to Dunedin. It is probable that ho will not set foot on New Zealand soil for twelve months after he leaves.