PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
T
19_
Reference :-
C.O.
885
20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- | COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
14
(2) To observe and note as completely as possible the life-histories, habits,
and habitats of the insects or ticks collected.
(3) To interest the resident officials in entomology, to induce them also to
collect, and to teach them how to
or preserve, the insects and
"set
»
ticks for conveyance to this country. 13. Of these dutics the second is the most important. It can only be done on the spot, and it alone points the way along which remedial measures must be followed. The third is, however, scarcely less important; for, to take one instance only, it is possible with the assistance of a number of competent workers to rapidly map out the distribution of any particular species of insect and so obtain a sure foundation for remedial or preventive measures.
14. The practical bearing of this is well exemplified in the cases of Uganda and Nyasaland. In Uganda the whole scheme of administrative measures for the suppression of sleeping sickness is based upon an accurate knowledge of the dis- tribution of the fly which conveys that disease, and which has been found to abound in certain parts of the I'rotectorate. In Nyasaland, on the other hand, the medical officers who have been engaged in mapping out the distribution of the tsetse flies have failed to find the particular species which conveys the disease, and con- sequently, as their Lordships are aware, it has been possible to dispense with the appointment of additional medical officers for sleeping-sickness work and to save the Imperial Exchequer a considerable annual expenditure. Information of this kind is, of course, of value also in the selection of sites for Government buildings and the quarters of officials, of routes for roads and railways, &c.
15. But the collectors in the Colonies and Protectorates cannot be expected to determine accurately the specific names of the specimens which they collect. They have neither the necessary books of reference at their disposal nor the types of the great muscums at hand. It is in this respect that the co-operation of workers in this country is urgently needed, and, since the number of species of insects is pro digious, it is necessary to have recourse to several specialists, each of whom would undertake to deal with one family of insects or, it may be, with a single genus.
16. It was with a view to ascertaining whether he could count on this co- operation that Lord Crewe arranged the conference of specialists referred to above, and he is glad to be able to inform their Lordships that, with admirable public spirit, they have shown their readiness to give all possible assistance in return for a remuneration which can be little more than nominal.
17. Lord Crewe is not able to place before their Lordships precise details as to how the sum of £1,000 available for work in this country would be employed, as these can only be worked out in further conference with the experts. He can. however, give a general outline which their Lordships will probably consider sufficient for present purposes.
18. It is estimated that some 10 or 12 specialists will be willing to assist in the work of classification, and it is proposed that in some cases they should be given small retaining fees of (say) £20 or £30 a year, and a small fee (say 2s.) for each species determined, or for this latter might be substituted a further annual sum calculated, roughly, upon the amount of work done during the year. When it is considered that two or three days are sometimes required to determine a new species of insect, it will be seen that, as stated above, the proposed remuneration is little more than nominal.
19. In other cases, the money might perhaps be employed in providing assist- ance for the principal worker, but these are details which can only be settled when the matter has been further discussed with the experts themselves, and Lord Crewe would suggest that they might well be left to him to settle.
20. There would, further, be necessary a publication in which the results of the work done could be rendered accessible to those at work and to the public. This would not be of an expensive type, but it would require to be edited, and it is pro- posed that the editor should be paid a fee of (say) £50 a year.
21. Finally, an entomologist would be required to receive the collections, to sort them, and to send them to the several specialists, and it is proposed that some small remuneration should be given for this work.
22. An honorary Committee of Management, on which this Department would be represented, would be formed for the purpose of directing the work and of keeping in touch with what is being done in South Africa and Egypt (where a sound and efficient series of investigations of insect pests has been established) and also in the other countries of Africa.
15
23. Lord Crewe has now laid before their Lordships the main outline of the appear to scheme, and the arguments which he has already adduced in favour of him to be sufficiently strong to render it superfluous to enforce them by a reference to the advantages of the scheme from an Imperial point of view.
24. He would, however, point out that any measures which may be taken to increase our knowledge of the cause and cure of tropical disease are not without interest to the Navy and Army, and may, as in the case of the recent investigation of Malta fever, which was set on foot at the suggestion and with the assistance of this Office, result not only in the prevention of a vast amount of human suffering, but also in considerable economies in Imperial expenditure.
25. Moreover, a scheme of this kind cannot fail to enhance the scientific prestige of this country, to enrich the national collections, and, what is of equal importance, to furnish the material which is required for instructional or rcsearch purposes at the Schools of Tropical Medicine and elsewhere.
26. Finally, there is reason to hope that by the proposed arrangements a reserve of trained entomologists will be gradually formed, on which this country and the Colonies can draw for the entomological appointments which are now being created in increasing number. Owing to the dearth of suitable candidates in this country, it has been found necessary to obtain entomologists for some of the Colonial appoint ments from the United States, where the importance of this branch of science has ben for a long time recognised, and where ample funds are provided for its endowment.
27. In conclusion, Lord Crewe would ask their Lordships to sanction a con- tribution of £1,000 a year from Imperial funds towards the scheme; and he would. suggest that the contribution should be made in the first instance for five years, with a view to the question being reconsidered at the end of that period in the light of the experience gained.
11379
No. 8.
I am, &c.,
H. W. JUST.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNORS AND COMMISSIONER.
(Northern Nigeria. No. 216.) (Nyasaland. No. 94.)
(Uganda. No. 126.) (East Africa Protectorate. No. 219.)
(Somaliland. No. 38.)
Downing Street, 23 April, 1909. SIR,
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you, for your information, the accom- panying copy of a letter* which I have caused to be addressed to the Lords Com- missioners of the Treasury on the subject of entomological investigation in its relation to the diseases of men and other animals and of plants in the British Colonies and Protectorates in West and East Africa.
11379
SIR,
No. 9.
I have, &c..
CREWE.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNORS. [Answered by No. 11, and others not printed.]
(Gambia. No. 51.) (Sierra Leone. No. 155.)
(Gold Coast. No. 186.)
(Southern Nigeria. No. 366.)
Downing Street, 23 April, 1909.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter* which I have caused to be addressed to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury on the subject of ento- mological investigation in its relation to the discases of men and other animals and of plants in the British Colonies and Protectorates in West and East Africa.
• No. 7.