INTROnUCTION 
21 
vei'V short time we were able to prove that this fly, whicli may very well ho the carrier of 
camel trypanosomiasis in Kordofan, harboured a spiK'ies of [lerpetomonas. I merely mention 
this fact here to show how spcaalily snhjeet-matter for research presented itself. Anotlnn’ 
noticeable feature was the way in which tlie natives flocked to the hai'ge. 'Pliey had got the 
idea that it was a Floating Hospital and crowded on board eager to get medicine for their 
iminifold ailments. As Mr. Wellcome had provided a certain nnmher of simple drngs, with 
directions as to use })rinted in Arabic, some effort to help these nnfortnnates conld be made, 
and in return they were, as a rule, only too glad to allow blood films to be taken and 
observations made concerning the illnesses from which they were suffering. 
It may, perhaps, be thought that it would have been a wiser policy to confine the 
work within certain limits — to concentrate energy on one or two subjects. It was felt, 
however, that in a country like the Sudan it was better to obtain in the first instances 
a general idea of the field of work, and it is hoped at a later date to ex})loit more 
thoroughly those subjects which appear to have the more pressing claims to investigation. 
As regards the bactcn-iological laboi-atory, 1 I'egret to say that my time for research has 
been very limited. Every year the routine e.xaminations become more; numerous. Moreover, 
the general administrative work is heavier than before and the creation of sundry Hoards, 
whose meetings have to be attended, and the control of the public health work in Khartoum 
all militate against efforts at special investigation. 'L'he necessity for a prolonged and carefid 
bacteriological analysis of the pivjposed new water supply foi' the town also greatly intfufered 
with research. Hence the output is somewhat meagre, but in one instance is of considerable 
interest. Spirochaetosis of fowls was found to exist in Khartoum and became the subject of 
extended research owing to the discovery of what eventually proved to be an “ aftta- phase ” 
of the infection, but which, for a long time, presented a puzzling problem for solution. I’lie 
state of the blood in dengue fever has claimed attention and a few experiments have been 
made with Derris root as a larvicide in mos([uito work. Many blood examinations have 
been conducted and the encpiiry into animal trypanosomiasis has been carried a little further 
afield. The disease which attacks camels in Kordofan has been studied, a new trypanosome 
has been found in cattle from the Kassala district, and the therapentic action of a new 
arsenical preparation, allied to, but less toxic than, atoxyl has been the subject of inve.stigation. 
Piroplasmosis, as it occurs in the Sudan, has also received some attention. 
Still, one cannot pretend that the research work has been in all cases satisfiictory. 
Investigations have had to be left unfinished and sometimes a ])romising field has had 
to be abandoned oi' passed by. Moreover a great deal of valuable pathological material is 
wasted in Khartoum. Medical Officers as a rule have not time to conduct post mortem 
examinations in the minute manner demanded by the careful study of morbid histology, nor 
have they much opportunity of searching for the metazoan [)arasites-which play so important 
a part in tropical pathology. Our knowledge of these worms as they occur in the Sudan 
is very limited ; but fortunately, we have been favoured with a valuable paper by 
Dr. R. T. Leiper, who kindly undertook to examine the helmintliological material brought back 
by Dr. Wenvon. However, as research was one of the main objects for which tlie laboratories 
were founded and as, at times, even the routine work was in danger of being neglected, 
I felt amply justified in applying for another official to act as Pathologist and Assistant 
Hacteriologist. I am glad to say that the post was created, and Colonels Hruce and 
licishman, of the Royal Army i\[(Mlical Corps, very kindly fonnd a man to fill it in the person 
of Mr. R. G-. Archibald, who was not only a past jirizeman in pathology at the Royal Army 
'The Floating 
Laboratory 
on the White 
Nile 
Research work 
Necessity for 
increased help 
