VOLUNTEERS FOR TRENCH FEVER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 255, 16 July 1918, Page 8

VOLUNTEERS FOR TRENCH FEVER

VETERANS' WAR SERVICE. • The eplendid service to science of a number of men too old to fight, who volunteered to be infected with treuch fever so that the origin and character of the disease could be investigated, was described recontly to a representative of the "Daily Mail" by Major W. Byam, R.A.M.C., who is carrying out the experiments with a staff of expert*, unaer Sir David Bruce's direction, at New End Military Hospital, Eampsteßd, N.W. .In a paper rend at a meeting of the Society of Tropical Medicine. Major 13yain said it had been established that it is not (lie bite of the louse that sets :ip tho ( disease but its excreta, scratched into the skin by the patient. "Between 30 and 40 volunteers have come forward to bo experimented on," said llajor Byain last evening. "All were over military njte or unfitted for tlin Army. Special credit is due to the first two volunteers—W. H. Cole and U. H. lldgelcr. Cole, wlio is Kl, served as a Kunr..-:r with Lord Roberts in tho inarch to Kar.divh.ir. lOdgclcr is 78, and came liii'.'k from the United States hoping: to be of use to his native countrr. These men did not know what would happen lo (hem alter infection. Neither did we, and we told them so. Cole let himself bo bitten by infected lice for 35 days and Kdgi'ler i'or (wo months. Neither ruofc the disease. Their skins were' tough, and they did not scratch themselves. "The third volunteer was px-Consfalilc T'l. Kobinson, aged 7(1, who arrested tho famous diaries Peace. Then- cnnie T. j llr.rant, 71, nnd C. •lonian, (18, ex-sdWiar. 3 , and .1. Ward, (10, an ex-marine. They ail ' said they wauled to do something nsthuy 1 did not iiko being 'left out of tho win , .' A volunteer named Carpenter is still in th. , hospital. Ho was given trench fever, and while still siillVriiig from il allowed us to lake a portion of his leg muscle away. This liHisclo is the principal site of llift | pain. Our object is to ascertain if a duo can be obtained for treatment: lo ailevisiti(ho pain in other cases. We pay our , volimlpors 111 a week and their keep, and give them every possible attention until | I hey get well agaiu. There are many , problems yet to be solved, and wit war.l, | very many more volunteers. Young men would be useful—thoir skin is not en lough—but they must be ineligible for Iho Army. There has never been a falal J case of trench fever, and no volunteer pntient laa suffered any fieriouK altereffect*. Several women have volnntecrii], but we could not take them in a mon"s military hospital."