ADDENDA. 
55 
expenditure of £^oo tor the formation of a medical research laborator}' at Accra, and before I left 
I had the pleasure of seeing the building almost read}- and fit to receive its scientific equipment. Mucii, 
too, might be done, I venture to suggest, throughout the Colon}' in this direction. At present no 
facilities — not even microscopes — are provided for the assistant or Colonial surgeons on duty in the 
hinterland. When one considers that by the microscope we are alone able to diagnose malaria with 
certaint}', this complete absence of proper instruments is not only appalling, but incomprehensible. 
In this connection I may say that there is reason to believe that man}- cases are \\rongly attributed to 
the malaria parasite, and earnestl}' treated with quinine. Were it feasible, though for certain political 
reasons it ma}- not be possible, I think better results would accrue it each assistant Colonial surgeon 
had a definite district assigned to him with a permanent headquarters, where he might, with a small 
outfit of scientific apparatus (at least the microscope, which he is at present without), do much good 
w-ork in the interests of tropical medicine. The Colonial surgeons are at present so continuousl}- 
travelling (often unavoidably, no doubt), that to expect any scientific work w-ould be ridiculous. But I do 
not think that a central research laboratory at Accra — receiving films of blood, pathological specimens, etc., 
for examination — will entirely meet the case, especially in a climate where morbid specimens so rapidl}' 
change their character. There is already a well-.appointed and well-managed hospital at Accra, open 
for the reception of white and black alike ; and here, too, improvements are being made. 
There is no doubt that at Accra the greatest desideratum is a proper water-suppl}'. Up 
to the present time, though borings in every direction have repeatedly been made, no water fit for 
drinking purposes has as yet been discovered. Rain-water can alone be obtained, and must be stored 
in tanks for long periods — during which time it runs great risk of contamination, though ever}- care 
be taken. A scheme is on foot to bring water from the Aburi hills, 26 miles awa}-, at the cost of 
over ^100,000. But considering the great expense of this, and the great hindrance to all forms of 
business caused by the short term of service imposed b}- the climate, it is surprising that onl}- during 
the last year has the possibilit}- of moving the whole community to Aburi been mooted. 
Parasites were not found in any out of 47 Cukx examined b}- me at Accra. 
III. LAGOS. 
I proceeded to Lagos, and arrived there on October 27. The Chief Medical Otlicer of the Colon}- 
(Dr. Henry Strachan) offered me quarters ; and for the great hospitality he showed me during the w hole 
of my stay I wish here to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude. Lagos is the largest town I 
visited. It has roughly 75,000 inhabitants, of which about 150-200 are Europeans. Any estimate of the 
population is necessarily only approximate, because the taking of the census is the signal for a general 
exodus of the natives for the bush. The town itself is built on an island surrounded by lagoons (rvV/r Map 
IV.). The highest point is 19 feet above the level of the water, while, on the other hand, several parts are 
actually below sea-level. The island consists geologicall}- of sand deposited on the top of mangrove 
sw-amps ; and borings reveal the existence of alternate strata of sand and decaying vegetable matter. The 
swamps (shaded on the map) are seen to almost entirely surround the island. These evil-smelling 
quagmires consist largely of mangrove trees and black mud — the latter has a peculiarly offensive odour, due 
chiefly, I think, to the evolution of sulphuretted hydrogen gas. Under the microscope I found this mud 
to consist chiefly of sand and decaying vegetable matter : many protozoa also were present. The 
Europeans live almost entirely in one limited part of the town, their quarters being stretched out along 
the edge of the south-western lagoon {vide Map IV.). They are therefore, it will be observed, 
surrounded on two sides by swamp and lagoon, and on the other two sides by native habitations. These 
latter I need not describe, as they bear a general resemblance to those existing at Accra. 
The geological formation of Lagos being such as I have described, it is not surprising that puddles 
suitable for the breeding of Anopheles are plentiful. The island may almost be said to be one immense 
puddle ; for the ground everywhere lends itself to the formation of small collections of water and mud on 
