CONGO ROMANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23381, 24 June 1939, Page 17

CONGO ROMANCE

FOiiMER HAMILTON BOY DOCTOR FIGHTS TETANUS NURSED BACK TO LIFE SEQUEL BEFORE THE ALTAR [from OUK own correspondent] HAMILTON, Friflny The fight of a Now Zealand-trained medical missionary with threatened dontli from tetanus in the heart of the Belgian Congo and his subsequent marriage with the nurse who assisted to save his life form the basis of a modern romance of particular interest to New Zen hinders. The missionary was Dr. Harold Trevor Knights, the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Knights, of Hamilton. He was horn in Auckland 31 years ago, and was educated at the Hamilton High School. He was assistant bactetiologist at the Waikato Hospital and, after qualifying as a nydical practitioner at the Otago I)Diversity, he served on the medical staff of the Waikato Hospital. Four years ago Dr. Knights loft ISew Zealand to join the English Baptist Missionary Society. He underwent a special course in tropical diseases in Belgium, and was granted a Belgian degree. He was then posted to the Belgian Congo. Arduous Journey lor Help Apart from his work as a missionary, Dr. Knights was engaged bv the Belgian Government to medically examine all the natives in a specified district twice a year. When employed in this work lie contracted tetanus 20 miles awav from the nearest dispensary. Mounting his bicycle ho pushed his way through forest paths back to the disnensary, but on arrival ho found that everyone was absent. He then cycled to the .river and was fortunate in nulling a missionary launch, in which he made for the medical post at lakusu, where, however, there was insufficient serum to treat the patient, who by this time had become very ill. Except ior his right arm his whole body was paralysed. , . . Miss Alice Doris Movies, a missionary nurse engaged in the Belgian Congo Baptist Mission, was advised or Ur. Knights' illness, and with rare courage she travelled many miles by canoe through the night to reach the patient. Serum by Aeroplane A fast canoe was dispatched to Stanleyville for more serum, but when it arrived it was found to be unsuitable. An aeroplane was chartered, and fresh supplies were secured. In the meantime Miss Movies nursed the patient, who was then in a dying condition. The serum eventually arrived and injections were made just in time to save the Consul's office in Leopoldville on J'ebruarv 3, when the marriage -took place of Dr. Knights and Miss Moyles. A religious service followed in the Baptist" Missionary Society's church. Miss Xanino Van Rycke, a relative of the Belgian Governor, was bridesmaid, and the Rev. Leslie Taylor was best man.