MELANESIAN MISSION HOSPITAL

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XX, Issue 12, 2 June 1930, Page 14

MELANESIAN MISSION HOSPITAL

We have just received from Major .Robinson, Secretary to the Melanesian Mission, a copy of the latest report from tho Mission Medical Officer, Dr. L .M. May bury. Major Robinson writes: ■ "I do riot know that I am blesised with an unusually vivid imagination, but this medical work appeals to me tremendously. You will remember that not long ago I visited these Tsslands when I saw a great deal for myself, and I do realise very fully what this medical work means tc- these people. "The figures quoted m Dr. Maybury's report give a fair idea of the work being done, but m addition, and this is something which the report does not state, ono must remember the extraordinarily difficult circuostances under which the woi'k is being carried out. "I feel it difficult to know of anything finer which is being done to raise and uphold the prestige of the white man — the best side of the white man— than the medical missionary work m heathen lands. It is magnificent." We would all endorse the words quoted above that there is no finer work toeing done m the world to-day than medical mission work. There is no record more thrilling than that of the heroes of medical science. The courage, endurance and self-sacrific& shown by men and women m the fight against disease have never been surpassed. Life itself has been counted as nothing m the service of humanity. Let us have some part however small, m this epic struggle between science and disease. The imagination is appalled at the thought of what might happen to the world were it not for the divine self-sacrifice of the few. Let it nob be said of Gfod's chosen ones m this generation a<s it was said by the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews of the heroes of the Old Testament: "Of these the world was not worthy." We live m the times of the world's greatest danger and greatest opportunity. For weal or for woe we are forming the future destinies of humanity. ]No generation has had the responsibility laid xipon it that rests onus. If we wait quietly m the presence of God He will grant us the higher vision ; the torch of the Holy Spirit will "fire our imaginations, so that our thoughts will go swelling across the world m waves of prayer, helping and encouraging those who can do so little without us. While there is yet time let us prove ourselves worthy sons, and daughters of this generation, identifying ourselves

giving of our substance as they giro with these noblest of humanity by of themselves. So may we, when we are called hence, he numbered amongst those worthy ones whose names are inscribed m letters of gold m Gods own Book of Remembrance. REPORT. January Ist to March 31st, 1930. Amongst the white staff there have been cases of BaciJ.lary Dysentery, subtertian and benign tertian malaria. General: Clearing has been continued as before, and more kumeras planted. The Medical Officer's house is just completed, and will be occupied shortly. The present M.O.s house wtiL he occupied by the two carpenters until November. The site for the Nurses' House has almost been cleared, and building will start there almost immediately. Another native ward has been partially built, and will be used for isolation purposes , especially tuberculosis. During the quarter a leper colony has been started; it now has nine inhabitants, all male. Twenty-five lepers are under treatment, over half being from .Gwountafu. Two m the colony are from Maqana, and two from Norefou. The question of feeding- them until their gardens are going is a problem, owing to the expense. Their houses are at present only shacks, but it is hoped to get some of the houses built by the lepers' relatives, as it is impossible to spare any of the regular work-boy* ftt

present. Atepol has been used so _ far exclusively, combined with Trichloracetio acid externally, and some of the early cases are showing considerable improvement. It is hoped to try "Moogrol" shortly on two cases. Leprosy appears to be more prevalent than was supposed at one time, and it is time the problem was taken m hand by the authorities During the quarter visits have been paid to two neighbouring villages to ascertain the extent of pulmonary tuberculosis m one, and leprosy m another. The former report has already been given to the Senior Medical Officer, an<i a copy of the latter is onclosed with this report. I visited Si'ota and Tulagi at the end of February, and was able at the former to clear up a few medical and surgical cases. The natives of Gfwauru have Just given us a present of some "noota" (thatch), with which to roof a temporary Chapel. Compared with last year, it will be seen that both in-patients and outpatients outnumber those seen last year, although the period of time is much shorter. This can be attributed to the fact of our getting known more, an<j to the advent of two Sisters last November, enabling the in-patients to be looked after more m the manner required at a modern hospital. Although the daily average of patients is not very high, we feel that it is ■encouraging that this is. inoreas-

ing, and -a sudden rise would only indicate some temporary spasm' of popularity. Diseases: From the enclosed forms the numbers will be easily seen. The one death was due to Haemoptysis m a severe case of pulmonary tuberculosis. Consequently on my visits to Dala and C4wounatatu, most of the villagers appeared for medicine of one kind or another. A case of whooping cough was admitted from Fiu, and two weeks later two cases from Abu, near Fiu, have been admitted. The native of Fouia, whose leg was amputated (report m 4th quarter, 1929), has since died from secondary deposits m the liver and abdominal glands, three months after the operation. Chronic malaria is very frequent m natives of Fiu, adults as well as children. Ulcers, too, are much worse m this village than m many others, owin# to the coral that is there. There is no operating theatre here, and until after November we shall not have one, as the carpenters will be living m the house, but, despite this, there have been several small operations performed.