N.Z. RHODES SCHOLAR WHO CONTRACTED POLIO, MAKING PROGRESS

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 November 1950, Page 5

N.Z. RHODES SCHOLAR WHO CONTRACTED POLIO, MAKING PROGRESS

LONDON. Nov. 1 Reed. Bpm). Good progress is being made at the Winfield Morris Orthopaedic Hospital, Oxford, by Mr. W. P. Packard, Rhodes Scholar from Canterbury College, who contracted poliomyelitis (infanole paralysis) in Nepal after parting company with a party exploring the Himalayas It is hoped he will be well on the road to complete recovery by about the end of November. Mr. Packard left England last April to join Tilman, the noted Himalayan explorer and mountaineer, and his party making an expedition into the mountains of Nepal. Two months were spent in high climbing until the monsoon period. Once the party ascended as high as 24,000 feet. With the arrival of the monsoons, the party broke up. Two members returned to England and four, one of whom was Mr. Packard, remained tJ explore and collect botanical and zoological specimens. Subsequently, Mr. Packard said goodbye to the other three, since he had to get back to Oxford to resume his studies, but the remainder of the party was not so pressed for time. Some time after leaving the party, the New Zealander was taken ill, suffered a day’s high fever, but failed to recover, as he anticipated. He was assisted to Katmandu capital of Nepal, where his trouble was regarded as the after effects of fever. After some days he was sent on to India by rail to Bombay. There an English doctor diagnosed his illness as poliomyelitis. He was flown home to England. His recovery was handicapped by the fact that a considerable period had elapsed since the attack. Mr Packard has accepted an appointment as lecturer in geography in London University. He was to have taken up his duties early in 1951 on completion of his work at Oxford. He now proposes to spend the first term of next year at Oxford and has had his London appointment deferred until the second term. Mr. Packard describes his Indian trip as "a great experience.” Of the Himalayas he says: “Imagine New Zealand mountain country multiplied by three or four and you get a good idea of the Himalayas. ’