National Archives of Australia, Darwin Office
Series F1 Item 1940/226
Groote Eylandt Medical Reports 1930s

Copyright P J Mackett, 2019


31.10.1935 Inspection of Groote Eylandt Mission - Medical Inspection

Male children

Nangiwara                   NAD
Nangiaga                    NAD
Nugijima                    NAD
Nangwara                    NAD
Nangalala                   NAD
Dabaruba                    NAD
Numaguba                    NAD
Mundermoolwool              NAD
Mumrayer                    NAD
Mungumganim                 NAD
Mayrayi                     NAD
Crosbie                     Wasted left lower limb. Apparently congenital.
Nahgunga                    Traumatic corneal opacity L. eye.
Nahjulgula                  NAD

Male adults

Perdu                       NAD
Bill                        NAD
Banjo                       NAD
Charlie                     Contracture of right 5th finger
Langpeanga                  Gangosa. Under treatment with N.A.B
Jibarakoo                   NAD

Half-Castes

Female Adults

Rita                        NAD
Marie                       NAD
Florence                    NAD
Constance                   NAD
Gwenneth                    NAD
Marjorie                    NAD

Female children

Eileen                      Palpable spleen.
Nelva                       NAD

Male children           

Arnold                      Traumatic contracture L. thumb.

4-6. 9.1934 Detailed Medical Report on Natives at the Mission

Brady - Male Aboriginal. Old man - active gangosa case. None missing.

Lily Carter - Half-caste female. Boils on legs. 

Melva - Half-caste female child. Burns on forearm, almost healed.

Digiti - Female aboriginal child. Extensive scarring of right lower limb
(thigh, leg, foot), apparently due to burns in infancy.

Paddy - Male aboriginal. Extensive old non-active gangoses.

Malugibungu - Male aboriginal child (aged 9 months). Complete corneal
opacity left eye. Infective conjunctivitis (acute) right eye.

Tumulubukworu - Female aboriginal. Bowed tibiae.

Owindi - Female aboriginal. Bowed tibiae.

Jackson - Male aboriginal, Advanced leprosy. Anaesthetic ulcers and depigmentation
of both knees. Ulcers also on right leg, ankle and foot (dorsum) and thigh. 
Amputations of all toes of right foot. Stumps present of first and second, other
toes completely missing. Extensive depigmentation and loss of tissue of right foot.
Anaesthetic ulcer, with depigmentation, left elbow. Wasting of thenar and hypothenar,
left hand and commencing contracture of the little finger. Depigmentation of right
elbow. Anaesthetic ulcer on right wrist (dorsum). Contractures of first four fingers
of right hand, fifth finger, small stump only.

Dooroola - Female aboriginal, wife of Jackson. Advanced leprosy. Right arm : anaesthetic
ulcer, elbow, palm of hand, and dorsum of hand and fingers. Contractures of all fingers.
Terminal two joints of little finger missing.
Left arm : patch of depigmentation on elbow. Large ulcers and depigmentation of hand (palm). 
Thumb wasting and contracture. Other fingers missing. Right leg : anaesthetic ulcer on
knee and on dorsum of foot. Patches of depigmentation on right foot. Big toes, stumps only.
Little toe missing. Left leg : anaesthetic ulcer on knee healed ulcers on dorsum of foot.
Deformity and contracture of toes.

22.11.1933 From Police Camp Groote Eylandt

Isolation of lepers

The lepers Peter and Lydia were accomodated in small huts,
one just within and the other just without the Mission Compound.
These two were unable to walk and the inmates used to visit them.

The lepers Henry, John and Alec were living in the Half-caste 
Village in small huts.

The leper girl Esther lived for a considerable period with her
companions in the usual routine prior to the discovery of her
condition.

 3.10.1933 From the Protector of Aboriginals to the Administrator Darwin
 
 A half-caste Dorcus Wesley was removed from Roper River to Groote
 Eylandt on the Mission Lugger 'Holly' in early July. This was done 
 expressly against orders.
 



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