EGYPTIAN SCOURAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1932, Page 6

EGYPTIAN SCOURAGE

SCIENCE BATTLING EYE DISEASES. N.Z. SURGEON’S WORK. WELLINGTON, October 26. Diseases of the eye ure the modern plagues of Egypt. They affect £6 per coat, of the city populations, and 100 per cent, of the village dwellers. Of the total population 6.6 per cent are blind in one or both eyes. These statements were made yesterdoy by Air Rowland P. Wilson, M. 8., CH.E;., B. Sc., F.R.C.S. (Edinburgh), director the Giza Ophthalmic Laboratory in Cairo, who with his wife. a.nd two children returned to New Zealand in the Zeajand'a.; Mg prison intends to spentf VWoMtim *a-'hau months’ furlough with his parents, after 14 years’ absence; from ' WelUrg on, his native city. He is an ex-pupil of Welington College and attended Vi tor'a Universty College before pursuing medical studies jn Edinburgh. The Giza Laboratory, Mr Wilson said, was a gi:t from tie Imperial Wer Graves Commission in memory of tiro Egyptian Camel and LabourCorps. As a utilitarian memorial it was probably unique, arid the work carried out, which included both research £tnd post-graduate studies, was of immense benefit to the country.

ASSISTED BY RED CROSS. Though attached to the Fuad Ophthalmic Hospital the laboratory is supported bv funds provided by the Egyptian Government and subsidised by the British Red Cross. Mr Wilson was sent to Egvpt to organise the work. “Our staff consists qf another Eng lisman, two Egyptian doctors, qnd native assistants,” he said. “Fullytrained Egyptian medical men are very skilful, in fact some of the surgeons are second to none. They hive so much nractice.”

In the Fuad Hospital as many as from 30 to. 40 eye operations have been carried out in a single day, Mr Wilson said. Forty ophthalmic hospitals were maintained by the Eg' ptian Gov eminent, and those, together with travelling hospitals, formed probably the greatest ophthalmic hospital system in the world. The Gina Laboratory was equipped with the most up-to-date apparatus and instruments and was a model of modern efficiency. “Diseases ofl the eye constitute a very serious problem in the East and especially in Egypt,” Air Wilson continued.' “This has been the case for centuries. The maimer in which the position is being faced may bo judged by tlio number' of special establishments, and from the fact that, last vear, there were 4,000,000 attendances at ophthalmic hospitals, this representing about 500,000 cases.

Although trachoma is a scourge only in the East—it is known as ‘Egyptian Ophthalmia’—it occurs also in other parts of the world, more particularly where climatic conditions, are similar. There have even been cases in New Zealand, although these are rare. I am of opinion that people coming to New Zealand from Eastern countries should bo examined for diseases of the eye. As far as I amt aware, this is not being done at present.” In the course of his investigation into the cause of trachoma, Air Wilson has visited Arizona, and Alexico, where the disease occurs among the Red Indians. Each year he prepares an exhaustive illustrated report that it circulated throughput the world.

CAIRO A MODERN CITY. Cairo was now outwardly a modern European city, said ATr Wilson. It was typical of any of the larger centres cf Europe. From a point of view of climate, life there was very pleasant.' the Egyptian being unsurpassed anywhere in the world. Tourists, unfortunately, for usually came through Cairo to 0 late in the year. ! Though Egypt owed so much of her prosperity and improvement in community life to Britain, the English were gradually being edged out of the country. Englishmen . still, however'■ occupied a, great many of the important administrative posts in the cominanity. “In n y work among the medical idents, I have found that Egyptians have keen minds, and really extra or-; dinary _ memories,” Air AYilson added.' “AA T hen examining them 1 have heard them quote nearly a whole page out of a text book, including the number cf the page itself. Undoubtedly this giff of memory is hereditary, and, is culti-* vated by generations of constant readying and memorising of the Koran.” j