INTKOnUCTION 
1 !) 
Sliilinks iinil Dinkas, aii<l traversed a great deal of wild eouiitry. The niader, however, will 
look in vain for any detailed report from Dr. J’irrie’s pen. It is my very sad duty to record 
the tact that his expedition to the Sudan proved fatal to this young and enthusiastic observer, 
lie returned to Scotland early in July, lhU7, suffering from continued fever anil other symptoms 
j)ointing to infection with the parasite of Ticishmaniosis (kala-azar). An illness of several 
months’ duration ensued, during which, whenever his state of liealth periidtted. Dr. I’irrie 
made efforts to work up his material and prepare a paper for the (Jarnegie Trust 
and the Jjahoratories’ lleport. At times he seemed to improve somewhat, hut the fever 
always reasserted itself in a severe form. He hecame gradually weaker and died on 
November 16th, 1!)07. It was felt that an effort should he made fully to utilise his 
notes and observations, and Professor Cunningham, of Edinbiirgh, under whose direction 
Dr. Pirrie was to have worked out his results, kindly took charge of matters, and it is due to 
his help and to the valuable assistance rendered by Dr. David Waterston, of his department, 
and by Mr. D J. Vallauce, of the Koyal Scottish Museum, that we have been enabled 
to publish a record of the work performed. Of its value I must leave others to judge. 
Naturally it has suffered greatly from the absence of Dr. Pirrie’s guiding hand ami brain, 
but it is fortunate that we are able to present some evidence of his skill in, and devotion 
to, the difficult work he undertook. The (Toveruor of the Upper Nile Province assured me 
that Dr. Pirrie’s method of managing the natives surprised and pleased him, and one can 
only deeply regret that so jiromising a career was cut short in this untimely fashion. 
Dr. Waterston has had a task of much difficulty, but has succeeded in working up 
Dr. Pirrie’s statistics, and contributes a paper embodying, as far as possible, the results 
of his observations. Mr. Vallance deals with the archmological and ethnological aspects 
of the research. To both these gentlemen the lalmratories are greatly indebted. 
i\lr. H. C. Dunn has kindly permitted us to reproduce some of his interesting photographs of 
the Iturun country ; while mention must be made of the kind help rendered Dr. Pirrie by 
.Mr. K. 'f. iStouve, during his expedition. 
The Floating Laboratory became an accomplished fact in Ajiril, 1907, and started on a 
maiden trip up the White Nile in charge of 1 )r. U. M. Weiiyon, Protozoologist to the London 
School of ’I’ropical Medicine. We owe his appointment in part to the kind co-operation 
of the Committee of that School, in part to Mr. Wellcome, and in part to the Sudan 
(loveriimeiit, and we owe the Floating Laboratory jiartly to the latter and partly to 
Mr. Wellcome. Mr. Wellcome ju’esented the excellent equipment chiefly intended for 
protozoological and entomological work, and the (Tovernmeut housed it and placed it 
upon a special barge. The working room is of considerable dimensions, completely 
mosquito proof, supplied with water from a tank on the upper deck, specially ventilated 
and in every way fitted for the purpose it is intended to fnlril. Jlr. King, who spent some 
time in the laboratory on the White Nile and Sobat, informs me that “ it is an ideal 
thing for working in up-river in the rains but would, I think, be infinitely more 
serviceable if it was not dependent on the post-boats for towing or had a small launch 
attached.” As a matter of fact arrangements had been made for the laboratories to take 
over the steamer of the Slavery 1 lepartment as soon as their new vessel was reaily- 
Unfortunately the latter did not fulfil expectations and was not accepted, so that we were 
deprived, for the time being, of this useful auxiliary and had to do the best we could, 
assisted by the Steamers and Hoats Dejiartment, which has aided us in (iverv possible 
manner. Later on, however, we secured this small steamer, which, apart from other 
Death of 
Dr. Pirrie 
Assistance in 
preparation 
of Dr. Pirrie’s 
Report 
The Floating 
Laboratory 
Co-operation 
with the 
London School 
of Tropical 
Medicine 
