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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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Reference :-
C.O.885
18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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yet no doubt a small percentage, in their superstition, remained away intentionally. All available persons were palpated, only those being counted that evidenced large unmistakable glands. Doubtful cases were not counted. So well chosen were they that in one village of fourteen taken haphazard from a large number palpated, every one showed organisms on puncture. In most villages only palpation was carried The percentages were found in this way: In a village 25 of 50 palpated, are found with enlarged glands, hence it is estimated that 50 per cent. are infected, mentioning at the same time the estimated population of the village. This method is open to obvious errors, but these cannot be great, and no better method has presented itself to us. That there would be a larger percentage of suspected persons remaining in the village does not obtain, as all our cases are in the earlier stages, no physical symptom having yet appeared.
V. The Examinations in Detail.
At Mazanguli we palpated 129 carriers from Lake Kasali, and found 14 with enlarged glands, in each of these were found microscopically the organisms. Of 61 carriers palpated from the Lufoi River, 60 miles west from Lake Kasali, only two showed enlarged glands, and they were not quite characteristic. As it was their first trip, it was not thought advisable to puncture them.
At Mazanguli Village were palpated 150 men, women, and children; not one showed enlarged glands.
At Salabwe we palpated about 150 men, women, and children, not one showing enlarged glands.
In Malonda's village, on the Lualaba, of 50 palpated, 35 had enlarged glands, and 14 examined microscopically all showed the organisms-70 per cent. Probably above 60 per cent. of the people were seen.
At the Belgian Post Bukama, of 45 soldiers from all parts of the Congo, 10 were shown microscopically to harbour the organisms in their cervical glands. Of 20 workers from the surrounding districts, five were shown microscopically to be Infected.
At Tengalonzi's village, opposite the post, of 50 examined 40 showed unmistak- able glands by palpation, and eight had enlarged glands, but not so characteristic- 80 per cent. Probably above 60 per cent. of the people were seen,
At Pengi's village 30 out of 60 were found with enlarged glands. Estimated population 120. At Lambula's village, palpated 35, and found with enlarged glands, Estimated population 70. At Karu, on Lake Kavele, 15 miles west of the Lualaba, 30 were examined by palpation, and six showed enlarged glands. Karu is a large village of several hundreds of people.
We examined a native from 10 miles west of Karu, who showed sleeping symp- toms, and the peculiar weak falling attacks. His cervical glands revealed the organisms.
One or two examined from Chibwe, and from the district about Katapona were also shown to be infected.
VI. Conclusions.
It is very obvious that from the limited amount of work done, it is doubly important that too positive conclusions should not be drawn. It must also be borne in mind that these figures are based largely on palpation. Of 260 people living on the Lualaba that were palpated 145 had unmistakably enlarged cervical glands, a percentage of 55. Removing all sources of error, and making what we believe to be a very conservative estimate, we estimate the proportion in the early stages of sleeping sickness on that part of the Lualaba to be at least between 40 and 50 per cent. of the population.
The district about Mazanguli we believe to be free from the disease. Of the Kasali's examined, we found 11 per cent. infected.
VII. Probable Time of Introduction, &c.
While it is quite impossible to estimate with any accuracy the time at which the disease was introduced, yet there are a few data. Nearly two years ago, Dr. Todd examined at Cabinda a number of fish traders from Lake Kasali, but found none infected. Now, of 129 examined, we found 11 per cent. infected.
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The disease first appeared at Kabinda in 1902, and at the end of 1904, Dr. Todd found 13 per cent. of the people infected. It is doubtless at Cabinda that the Lake Kasali fish dealers came in contact with the disease who in turn have spread it up the Lualaba. From these considerations we may say that the disease was probably introduced into the Lake Kasali region, and southward about two or three years ago, not more.
It was not until this year that the natives themselves noticed any increase in their death-rate. The chiefs now say that their people are all dying. The evidence of Mr. Hayes, of this Company, and that of Mr. Heenan, Chief of the Belgian Post at Bukuma, was that the villages were becoming depopulated. Many natives are moving away from the river recognising that it is among the river people that there is so much illness. While proof was not possible, due to lack of apparatus, yet it is our belief that the increased mortality is due to sleeping sickness.
VIII. Immunity.
There seems to be good reason to believe that there is a small percentage of recoveries from the, disease. On the Lower Congo no doubt a certain immunity has been established in the inhabitants.
It is a rule amongst disease that when a new disease is introduced into a country, it enters as an epidemic, with a high mortality, only the stronger surviving from the onslaught. The progeny of these are more resistant to the disease. In this manner no doubt the wild game became immune to the tsetse fly disease.
IX. Distribution of the Glossina Palpalis,
The following localities have been noted:-
1. West side of Lake Mweru.
2. Junction of the Dikulwe with the Lufira.
3. On the Luapula between Mweru and Bangweolo.
4. At Koni Hill on the Lufira.
5. On the Lukulezi River, near the Congo-Zambesi watershed.
6. At Busanga, at the junction of the Lufupa with the Lualaba.
7. On the South Kaluli, at the cut-road crossing south of Mazanguli.
8. On the Lualaba from the Kalenga Falls north to Chisamba.
9. At the Inje River, running into Lake Kavele.
X. Prevention.
The gist of the measures which have been advised, and are law in the Congo Free State, are: (first), the establishment of posts of inspection along the main roads to prevent the entrance of infected persons into uninfected districts; and (secondly), the removal of infected persons from posts in uninfected districts to places already infected.
The present danger to this Company rests in the passage of infected Kasalis to Ruwe and Busanga. To remedy this, a white man at Mazanguli could palpate each gang, and those with enlarged glands should not be allowed to proceed to Ruwe or Busanga. This would probably incur the turning back of 10 to 12 per cent. of the carriers. This would protect the crossing two miles south of Mazanguli, where the fly is present, and also Busanga, where the fly is found in some numbers.
XI. Conclusion.
I wish to mention Mr. Charles Grey, Local Manager at Mazanguli, and Mr. John H. Hayes, Agent of the Company in Balubaland, for the invaluable assistance which they rendered, without which it would have been impossible to accomplish a fraction of what was accomplished.
I am also indebted to the Manager, Mr. George Grey, and the Assistant Manager, Mr. Herbert Cayley, who made the expedition possible.
The accompanying map* will show all the places mentioned in this report. This Company holds a strategic position. The invasion is only from the north, and it is our duty to do everything in our power to prevent the disease spreading southward. We have no proof that the fly does not exist south of the watershed.
*Not received in Colonial Office.