This series contains two cinefilms relating to mites as vectors of scrub typhus and scabies. Notes are as follows:
Cinefilm AA 872/1/1
In 1942, with the threat of a Japanese invasion, the Museum busied itself with the preparation of Air Raid Precaution equipment for the interior of the building and its contents, the staff and the visiting public. The following year the Army Education Service made use of the Museum as well as camps and hospitals for lectures and demonstrations including 'camouflage in animals, reef-life, food-getting in the Australian interior and details of the terrain of some of our country.' [1] 'The Army Education Service has been established to provide occasional lectures, short lecture courses, classes of instruction, vocational training, continuation courses, library services, pastimes and hobbies for the AIF [Australian Imperial Force] and AMF [Australian Military Forces].' [2] These services were provided voluntarily but transport or any travelling costs were met by the Army Education Service. Volunteers were requested to observe the following points:
- 'Lectures on economics, sociology, and political questions should treat their subjects objectively and not controversially, and should aim at providing information rather than stating a case.
- It is not desired that any restriction be placed on free discussion, providing it is not used as a cloak for the spreading of partisan doctrines.'[3]
A similar service was provided to the Australian Women's Army Service which was approved by government on 13 August 1941 to release men from certain military duties for employment in fighting units. Womersley provided discussions on mites and harmful insects.
In a South Australian Museum Board report dated 14 May 1942, the Military Authorities 'asked that selected parties of soldiers be given conducted tours around the Museum on wet days when physical military training cannot take place, and also illustrated talks be given to troops in the Lecture Room. The Chairman has tentatively approved of these and the Chairman of the Board for Anthropological Research (see AA 346) at the University of Adelaide has approved the use of the cinematograph films (see AA 346/9) for the education of the troops, particularly in the direction of illustrating the obtaining of food by natives in desert country; these should be of particular interest to Airmen.'
The American army was investigating into a more effective method to treat clothing against trombiculid, mites that cause scrub typhus. Testing with dimethyl phthalate (DBP), a chemical available in Australia, began under the command of Major McCulloch, an Australian entomologist in New Guinea. Application of DPB onto clothing required special drills and training for the chemical to have most effect. 'The dimethyl phthalate emulsion treatment was directed as a standard means of scrub typhus prevention in the Pacific Theatre in a memorandum issued by General Denit. It was later recommended by the Surgeon General's Office and was successfully used by our forces until the end of the war.' [4]
At the request of the Medical Directorate of the Army, Womersley was requested to 'Report on the Occurence of the Ti-tree itch-mite Trombicula samboni Wom. at Robe, South Australia.' The visit took place 6-8 April 1943. A second visit to the district took place from 16 to 20 April 1943 with Army Medical Corps soldiers who were experimenting with the use of chemical repellents on clothing. Womersley's role was to advise upon the best localities for the mite, to locate the adult, and to gain further information on it's habits. [5]
The Army Kinematography Unit was responsible for training films.
Cinefilm AA 872/1/2
It is not clear how Womersley acquired this cinefilm but one can assume it served Womersley's personal research as well as army training purposes.
1. Hale, H 'The First Hundred Years of the South Australian Museum 1856-1956' in
Records of the South Australian Museum, 1956, Volume 12, p173
2. Letter from Army Education Service to Tindale dated 29 September 1941, AA 338
3. Letter from Army Education Service to Tindale dated 17 December 1941 AA 338
4. Bushland, RC 'Tests against chiggers in New Guines to develop a practical field method for impregnating uniforms with dimethyl phthalate for scrub typhus prevention' in
Amercian Journal of Epidemiology, 1946, 43(3), pp219-229
5. South Australian Museum Board reports and papers (AA 298)