Ronald Ross Nobel Lecture

62

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it likely that it had been feeding on the case of tertian all the time (that is, from

about a week before it was killed) as the patient was in a bed by himself in a

corner of a large nearly empty ward. Hence I naturally inferred as a probabil-

ity that the pigmented cells in this insect were derived from that case; and I

thought that their large size suggested that they must have been so derived

about a week before the insect was killed. But of course I could not speak

with absolute assurance on these points.*

Meanwhile swarms of small grey larvae had been found in an isolated pool

of rain-water, which I had overlooked because it was on the top of a hillock

where pools were not likely to exist. On hatching out, these were found to be

the long-sought larvae of the small dappled-winged mosquitoes. I observed

at once that they had no breathing tubes and that their attitude was peculiar as

compared with the larvae of other mosquitoes; and noticed also that the pool

in which they were found seemed too shallow and evanescent for the latter -

facts shown by me and my colleagues in 1899 to be of the greatest importance

in connection with the prevention of malaria. Directly enough of the adults

appeared from the larvae in the breeding-bottle, they were released in large

numbers within the mosquito-net of a patient with crescents in his blood.

Next morning only two of them were found to have fed themselves. One

was killed next day, but nothing was found in it. The second was killed the

day after, and was found to contain a large number of very small pigmented

cells! This really almost clinched the matter; for three out of four dappled-

winged mosquitoes bred from the larvae in captivity and fed on cases of cres-

cents had been found to contain pigmented cells; while these cells could not

be seen in insects of the same kind which had not been so fed. Just at this time

I wrote to Manson, in a state of unbounded delight, that he might expect to

know the full life-history of the parasites of malaria in the mosquito within a

few weeks.

Next day however, I received telegraphic instruction from Government

ordering me to proceed forthwith to Kherwara in Rajputana - a place a thou-

sand miles distant !

14. Interruption (September 1897-February 1898). It would be difficult for others

to understand the effect of this cruel blow. Here in Secunderabad I had numer-

ous cases of malaria in my own hospital, and, moreover, the men had been

trained to submit to mosquito bites - a matter often of some difficulty with

* This mosquito also contained a number of the swarm-spores which I had observed in

the Sigur Ghat.

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63

the superstitious natives of India. I had also experienced assistants hired by

myself for the work; and, above all, the proper kind of mosquitoes, including

their larvae, just found in abundance. There is no doubt whatever that, had I

been left at Secunderabad, I could easily have traced the whole life-history of

the human parasites in dappled-winged mosquitoes within a few weeks. But

at Kherwara I did not know what would happen. It was in the north; winter

was approaching; and I knew that mosquitoes would refuse to bite in the cold.

I failed even to guess the reason for this sudden transfer. The astonishing dis-

covery of the pigmented cells had been officially and fully reported to the

Government through the chiefs of my own department; malaria is the most

important disease of India; and I thought that my superiors were taking the

greatest possible interest in researches which touched so vital a subject - I

thought that they would make every effort to leave me undisturbed, if not to

give me active help.

But the orders were peremptory and not to be discussed. Within two days

(26th September) I was on the week’s journey to Kherwara. I saw only one

gleam of comfort. It was impossible that my chiefs, medical men, would con-

sent to interrupt my work at such a moment. There must undoubtedly be a

bad outbreak of malarial fever at Kherwara which would throw great light

on my subject.

When I arrived at the place however - a petty station with three or four

Europeans (whom I shall always remember for their kindness), and part of a

native regiment of Bhils, isolated in the midst of miles of wild country far

removed from civilization - I was told that there was no malaria there; there

had not been a case for months !

This then was my Elba - almost my île du Diable; and I saw no prospect of

escaping from it for a year at least. After excusing myself from accepting the

appointment in Berar, I had indeed later asked to be remembered for a per-

manent appointment to which I thought my long service (more than sixteen

years) and my work at Bangalore had at least given me some claim. But this

was only a temporary and insignificant one, generally held by juniors; and I

do not know why the transfer was made, unless possibly (though not certain-

ly) for reasons connected with the Afridi war. At all events it was made with-

out reference to my researches. I wrote officially to my superiors, begging to

be allowed to return to Secunderabad to continue my work; but received

only a reprimand in consequence. There was no escape; but my pension was

due to me the following April, and I made up my mind to apply for it as soon

as the war was over, and to continue my researches as a private person.

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