THE HOSPITAL, PEOPLE AND PATIENTS WAITING OUTSIDE THE BUILDING WHERE THE DOCTOR LAY DYING, HOSPITAL STAFF LEAVING THE BUILDING TO ANNOUNCE THAT HE WAS SINKING INTO A DEEP COMA, AND PATIENTS SITTING ABOUT THE OPEN HOSPITAL WARDS.




Initials JT/OCORA/WH/SGM



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Background: DR ALBERT SCHWEITZER: THIS IS THE FIRST FILM FROM HIS JUNGLE HOSPITAL AT LAMBARENE, IN THE GABON, TO REACH LONDON SINCE HIS DEATH. IT WAS TAKEN ON SATURDAY, A FEW HOURS BEFORE HE DIED THAT NIGHT.

DR SCHWEITZER HAD FALLEN ILL THE PREVIOUS WEEKEND, AND FOR SEVEN DAYS THE LEPERS AND OTHER PATIENTS HE HAD SERVED FOR SO MANY YEARS KEPT A VIGIL NEAR HIS SICK-BED. BUT THERE WAS NO HOPE OF RECOVERY.

ON SATURDAY NIGHT, HE DIED AT THE AGE OF 90 IN THE PLACE HE CHOSE TO DIE. LAMBARENE, HE SAID EARLIER THIS YEAR, IS WHERE "I BELONG UNTIL MY DYING BREATH." HE WAS BURIED THE FOLLOWING DAY.

THE QUESTION NOW IS THE FUTURE OF THE STRAGGLING COLLECTION OF WOOD AND TIN HUTS WHICH MAKE UP THE HOSPITAL. ON THIS POINT, THE STAFF ARE UNANIMOUS: IT SHOULD CONTINUE ITS WORK, THOUGH NOT NECESSARILY UNDER THE SAME PRIMITIVE CONDITIONS. FOR THE LOCAL PEOPLE, IT IS NOW THE SCHWEITZER SHRINE.