PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
EPEL C.O. 885
21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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No. 8.
RHODESIA.
THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR SOUTH AFRICA to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received 5 March, 1910.)
[Copy to Sleeping Sickness Bureau, April 1, 1910.]
(Rhodesia. No. 104.)
High Commissioner's Office, Johannesburg, MY LORD,
February 14th, 1910. WITH reference to your despatch, No. 425, of December 8th last,*. I have the honour to enclose, for your information, a copy of a despatch from the Acting Admin- istrator, North-Western Rhodesia, on the subject of the discovery of cases of sleep- ing sickness in Southern Rhodesia and in Nyasaland.
I have, &c.,
(No. 22.)
MY LORD,
Enclosure in No. 8.
SELBORNE,
High Commissioner.
Administrator's Office, Livingstone, North-Western Rhodesia,
22nd January, 1910. WITH reference to your despatch of January 7th, I have the honour to forward, for your Lordship's information, a copy of the Principal Medical Officer's report on his tour through the sleeping sickness areas of Northern Rhodesia.
I have, &c.,
L. A. WALLACE,
Acting Administrator.
His Excellency the High Commissioner the
Right Honourable the Earl of Selborne,
K.G., G.C.M.G., &c., &c., Johannesburg.
TANGANYIKA DIVISION.
Glossina Palpalis Distribution.
This has altered since reported on by Dr. Spillane and Mr. Neave.
In July this year the fly was found at a point on the Lovu River one and a quarter miles south of Katere; in 1908 it had been found by Mr. Neave at Mutete's, about 29 miles nearer the lake; the fly was also found on a small stream, the Mwensi, running into the Lovu from the east, where its existence had not previously been known.
In this division palpalis is now known to exist-
(1) On the lake shore.
(2) On the Lovu River as far south as Katere's, a distance of some 60 miles. (3) On the Mwensi Stream-a tributary of this river.
(4) On the Lunzua Stream to a point about 4-5 miles from where it flows into
Lake Tanganyika.
Movements of Villages.
In June and July, 1908, the villages on Lake Tanganyika were notified that they would have to remove into a fly-free area as soon as possible. As it was neces- sary that preparations for new gardens, &c., should be made before the rains com- mence very little time was available for the selection of suitable sites, and many villages were removed from the lake shore to sites west of the Lovu River where Glossina morsitans are in abundance; it was thought that the clearing necessary
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for the establishment of a village would cause these flies to disappear; this has not, up to the present, been found to be so. Morsitans have constantly been found in these villages though not in such abundance as in the neighbouring bush.
In consequence of the necessarily hasty removal of villages, and the consequent difficulties in the preparation of gardens, &c., a shortage of food has been found to have resulted. This has, to a certain extent, been met by allowing natives who are provided with passes after having been medically examined to proceed south of the boundary for the purpose of purchasing food; in other cases it has been issued by the Administration. All gardens, &c., at the time of my visit to this district were well in hand, and this shortage should disappear with the coming harvest. The site selected for one of the villages moved from the Lovu River, near its mouth, was on the Mwensi Stream; it was, unfortunately, found, after a considerable amount of work had been done in building the new villages, and the preparation of gardens, that Glossina palpalis existed in great numbers in a masito about three miles from the site.. A careful examination at the intermediate stream was made (in the dry season) with a negative result; since then, however, Mr. Miller reports that he has found the fly about a mile from the village. The stream has been cleared in the immediate neighbourhood; it is recommended that a new site be found for this village, and a further transfer made as soon as possible.
South of the Mporokoso-Katwe Road the river has twice been thoroughly searched during the last dry season with negative results. A further search will be made during the coming rains.
At the point at which this road crosses the river a clearing has been made extending for two miles in the direction of Katere's down stream. The original dimensions of this have been considerably increased, especially towards the east, where the road runs for some distance near the river. All the Lovu villages have been removed to a considerable distance from the river, the majority into the neighbouring hills. All fords and crossings have been closed with the exception of two, round each of which a thorough clearing has been made.
The question of the necessity for throwing the present boundary of the sleeping sickness area further south was discussed with the medical officer (Dr. Leach), Mr. Marshall, and Mr. Miller, and I recommended, for your Honour's approval, that pending a thorough examination during the coming rainy season of the Kalungwisi and Luangwa, no further extension should at present be made.
I based this recommendation on the following facts:-
(1) That no Glossina palpalis has been found south (up stream) from Katere.
(2) That there are now no villages in the vicinity of the river.
(3) That traffic across the river is restricted, and has always been inconsider-
able.
(4) That the river south of the ferry and the present closed area boundary flows for the most part through extensive plains, long stretches being almost free from bush, and probably not providing suitable conditions for harbouring the Glossina palpalis.
(5) That the rivers Loangwa, Kalungwisi, Chosi, and the Upper Kalambo will be examined during the coming wet season, when a review of the results of these examinations, together with that of a repeated exami- nation of the Lovu will give a clearer conception of what steps may be necessary, if any, towards extending the present closed area.
The segregation camp at Abercorn was inspected and found in every respect satisfactory. Fifteen patients were under treatment. No difficulties have been experienced in keeping the patients in camp; an ample supply of meat is procur- able; they grow a considerable quantity of their own grain and vegetables; a saw- pit has been constructed by which an opportunity for work is provided.
These patients seemed quite contented, and expressed no desire to return to their homes.
The old mission station, Neamcolo, on the shore of the lake, was visited. This has now been abandoned, and the inhabitants moved to a point about 12 miles Lunzua Stream. This stream carries palpalis at its mouth and to about a mile the up above the bridge on the road to the old mission station. The selection of a site on this stream, owing to the possibility of the extension of the fly, was not well advised, and it would be well if the mission could be given a suitable site, and be induced to move south of the closed area.
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