EErOET OF TRAVELLING PATHOLOGIST 183 



Report of Travelling Pathologist and Naturalist 



BY 



SHEFFIELD NEAVE, M.R.C.P., M.R.C.S. 



Gexeral 



I left England un 11th Nuvenilier, 1904, having spent some six weeks in collecting 

 outfit. Scientific apparatus is very diffienlt to collect hurriedly, makers are few, and 

 independent in their methods, and it was only with great exertion that I got most of it 

 shipped before I started. Much I was unable to inspect and consequently some of it 

 was not satisfactorv. 



On arrival in Cairo I wished to get hold of my outfit and urge on its despatch to 

 Khartoum, as shipping and railway delays are proverbial. I was, however, ordered to 

 Khartoum at once. 



On arrival at Khartoum, I had to wait for my outfit for 23 days; this delaved my start 

 till the 16th of December, and necessitated my taking with me the whole three years' supply 

 nnsorted and much of it in bulk, with parcels not labelled. Some packages were missing and 

 did not reach me till my return. 



While in Khartoum, besides the necessary preparations, I spent most of my spare time 

 in studying the mosquitoes known to the Sudan. 



On 16th December, 1904, I left by the " Dal," S.W. for Gondokoro under orders to Plan of 

 meet Captain Greig, I. M.S. of the Royal Soc. S.S. Commission in Uganda, and confer with 

 him as to the investigation of the distribution of (Udsxiuii ji(ilpiilit<, and then to proceed to 

 carry out the same in conjunction with him. I was also to take every opportunity of 

 examining the blood of men and animals as regards infection by blood parasites and to secure 

 specimens of biting flies, etc. I was also to study disease generally and collect specimens of 

 animal and vegetable life and articles of interest, and to obtain any information likely to be 

 of medical or economic value, and to observe and note native customs, etc., as far as possible. 



To this end I was to commence by camping in the neighbourhood of villages and obtain 

 the confidence of the inhabitants by means of gratuitous medicine and surgery and otherwise. 

 After exploiting the Bahr-El-.Tebel from Gondokoro to Shambe, I was to proceed to the 

 Pongo River, etc., in the Bahr-El-Ghazal. 



To have done this properly would, I reckon, have taken some two vears, but owing to 

 delays and to the necessity as I then thought of returning to the Sudan by the following 

 November, I only had some four months to spend between Gondokoro and Meshra-El-Rek. 

 It is a matter of regret to me that I was not aware that this was to be mv onlv journey, as I 

 would have prolonged it by two months at a very small expense compared to the total. 



My assistant, on whom I relied for collection and skinning, etc, did not consider himself 

 qualified for the work, liut was very useful and obliging in every other way. Later he had 

 to return, seriously ill. Thus my power of carrying out these directions was verv limited, 

 and it is due to the richness of this field for investigation that I achieved such results 

 as were attained. 



I was 127 days absent from Khnrtuum, and of these I only had 40 for actual scientific Duration of 

 work, the remainder being occupied in travel and search for tsetse fly, and this although I 

 did not miss a single day for work, thanks to being fortunate enough to keep my health. 



