A Liberian Journey

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Sat Oct 9^th. For the first time since returning from Sessu I got some exercise today. At about 20 minutes of eight, Dr. Strong, Dr. Shattuck and I set out for Zugas town in search of prospective medical victims to chop – literally. On the way back from the Fr. Board they had seen these cases and asked them to come to Tappi for treatment. And when they didn’t come we sent Africa after them only to find that they had come to Tappi. That day but had then disappeared. It was a case of mohammed going to the mountain so off we set. It was pleasantly cool and after the first half hour along a nicely shaded trail very similar to that on the way to Sessu town. – Dr. George and I walked on ahead chatting about odds and ends and occasionally hearing monkeys leaping off thru the tall trees and vines. All in all it was extremely pleasant going. After about 2 hrs we came to our destination – to find it practically deserted, and except for an wary emaciated woman none of our perspective victims were there.

            The first thing I noticed was a row of elephants lower jaws varying from quite large to quite small. <Drawing of elephant jaws> There were six of them – one quite a big bigger than the rest. Then two medium sized adults and 3 younger ones. Either it was some grave or fetish of sorts. I took a picture of it. In the meantime some people had been gathering and my collecting spirit awakening I bought one more hairpin altho Shattuck beat me to another – of copper or copper rich bronze – which I could have liked. They – the people – also brought us some pumpkins which we gladly bought. Then we had them sweep out the remains of the blacksmith shop – a very low open sided thatch shelter- I started to work. The people were curious – as was to be expected and crowded around us for a while but as the novelty wore off and the heat wore on they retired to the shelter of the nearby houses and watched us from the shade. Dr. George and I went over and called on the very thin lady. In addition to her back of flesh she has one eye which inclines to point to heaven. But her wits seem to be entirely there and she is still of cheerful disposition even tho she later admitting that she had a devil of a job enter feeding herself – she has no teeth. All conversation with her – as with the rest was thru two interpreters 1 English to Pessi 2. Pessi to Gio Our first was Africa – our second was a red headed negro – of pleasant face with red eyelashes.

            I took some photos of the lady as she stood jauntily leaning on a cane – But blood smears were negative – Evidently just old age and starvation.

            Our next patient was a woman with a very pleasant face and kindly  brown eyes – white features but a black skin – whos soft palate was damaged – (urula gone) – And who had an enlarged liver and an old periostitis of the tibia – probably syphilis. *I took a picture of a young girl clad in next to nothing who had the physique and looks of a boy – but strong and powerfully built. Dr. Strong in the meanwhile had sent out to the rice farms fro the towns people not wanting to have wasted a whole day on an empty village. And so we sat. I amused myself by taking a photo of Willie – Dr. Georges boy and fairly short – holding an elephants femur -. He is about 5 ft and the bone was at least 3 ½ ft long; quite a sizeable leg bone. Some of the ladies like wear very close to the minimum <Drawing of cloth> this kind of thing, 

            But patience was rewarded I one of the “spotted” cases came in – A woman with huge scar like masses all over her body, arms and somewhat on the legs. Most of these were raised placques about 1/2'” high and rough and shiney like a huge round scars, but some actually over hung the base like the lobe of an ear. And these completely encased her upper body and arms. The same tissue had formed in the notch at the elbow drawing up her arm into a permanent bend. <Drawing of elbow> I took some photo’s and the Md’s then took a few snips off them to study under a microscope and to section at home. 

            No 4. Was a man with what looked to be the remains of an old smallpox while again he had lost not only the urula but the whole soft palate. The cartilage of his nose had gone giving him the most ape like profile of any man I have ever seen.

            No 5 – Gangosa – a horrible sight. Gangosa is the more or less rotting away – first of the soft parts and then the bone. In this case the nose, lips and connecting sections were gone leaving front teeth and tongue visible. One eye was merely a puff. And all looked fly blown – a mealy round mass with one eye and few teeth showing thru –

            That completed the day – so we packed up and returned to camp – getting home about 430. Hal had spent a rather dull day, hunting for guinea fowl and small deer with no success till 200 other packing chop for a 3 day trip we are not going to take altho we are going to leave tappi. Our plans had been to go to twoway (tui) town tomorrow on a medical hunt – but thanks to lack of time and lack of accurate knowledge of the distance to and the size of the town we have decided to get on our way to the coast and spend our extra days there. Colbar shot a guinea fowl which we will chop for breakfast – good for Colbar.

            Before the D.C. left this A.M. he sent over a goat. This we had butchered and will live high tomorrow.

            In the evening I checked off – as Harold says – 2 dozen more pictures. 

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