A Liberian Journey

Creator

Richard Pearson Strong

Date

9/22/26

Coverage

Gbanga, Hinterland, Liberia

Transcription

Wednesday, September 22nd.

I continued the Simulium observations today, examining two flies caught about the camp. I found in one of these five filaria of the second type or form, the developmental form in the thoracic segment near the head. Of fifteen flies caught along the river the examinations were all negative. Evidently it is the flies near the towns that are more commonly infected than those along the river, which probably do not have the same opportunity to bite the natives.

Four snakes have been brought in this morning and an interesting lizard that has the form of a snake and looks as though it was made of wax with a transparent skin. This is sometimes called the two-headed snake (Amphisbaena) on account of the fact that its tail is so broad that it looks like a second head. We found this snake also in Amazonia. It is one of the links zoologically between South America and Africa. Harold Coolidge reported that he shot a crocodile on the river this morning, but that it fell into the river and escaped.

In order to cover as much territory as possible in Liberia I have decided to split the party into two groups, sending one to the St. Paul river to work down from there to Monrovia, and conducting the second farther eastward and southward to the River Cess and from there to the coast about Sino, a much longer and more difficult line of travel. I asked George if he would like to take charge of the second party but he said he would prefer to go with me. So I have asked Bequaert to take charge of the second party which will include Allen, Linder and Theiler. This division is made in order that the entomologist may examine the insects on the animals which come to Allen and also that Theiler may examine the animals for parasites. Also I want Linder to have Bequaert’s assistance in the botanical work.

We started a survey for other forms of filaria today. And George S. found a case with filaria in the blood. It is probably Filaria diurna, as in the specimen of blood I examined there was no sheath.

I must say a word of tribute of the patient way in which George S. has treated the patients at our clinic. He does all the dressings, etc., and prescribes all the medicine that is given to the patients. Day after day he dresses and treats ulcerations of the legs, etc. with a patience and care that is marvelous. He displays in this the qualities of the true physician. We did a spinal puncture today in a case of possible sleeping sickness, but did not find the trypanosome. I hardly expected to. There are too few tsetse flies about here.

Type

Diary

Citation