118
haunted areas I will state here that this should not, even if it could, be done. Our knowledge now is such that we can control trypanosomiasis, if undertaken in time and on proper lines, and it is now an almost obsolete policy to evacuate entirely fly- 'infested areas.
Besides, in Buruli there is an enormous fly area, and to evacuate the whole of it would be absurd.
13. This Government has paid for expensive commissions on sleeping sickness, and these commissions have shown us what to do, and it appears to me to be only reasonable that these few thousand pounds should be granted to carry out the work which these and other commissions have shown us to be absolutely necessary.
14. In conclusion, I would point out that the danger of T. rhodesiense is not confined to any one area. A human trypanosome other than gambiense, probably rhodesiense, has been found in the Eastern Province, in Buganda Kingdom, in Bunyoro and in Ankole. G. morsitans is very widely distributed throughout the Protectorate, so that we may, if this work is not undertaken at once, find that we are too late; in that case we shall lose more lives and have a far worse enemy to fight than we had in T. gambiense, and the expenditure now advocated is as nothing compared with what will have to be spent later.
15. (The cost of these measures might be met, I believe, by charging a fee of, say, 25 cents for the microscopical examination of each head of cattle. The cattle owners already recognise the value of these examinations, and I think the Lukiko would agree to such a tax. The export duty on buffalo and antelope hides would also help considerably.)
119
next year's Estimates for the clearing of the Masindi Port-Butiaba Road to render this safe for passengers, in addition to the sum already asked for.
2. The District Commissioner estimates the initial cost of clearing this at £120 a mile, quite apart from upkeep, and though a start is being made this year, over 40 miles will have to be cleared next year.
3. The need of this clearing is proved by Miss Robertson's report, and confirmed by a recent pamphlet by Professor F. K. Kleine and W. Fischer, entitled "Schlaf- krankheit und Tsetsefliegen," in which they state that under precisely parallel condi- tions G. morsitans (the cattle tsetse) is actually better adapted to transmit T. gambi ense (the sleeping sickness trypanosome) derived from human sources than is G. palpalis (the sleeping sickness tsetse fly). The danger of the road at present is, therefore, very great.
4. The need of the additional staff asked for in my letter, No. 497/7, is confirmed by a report just received from Dr. McConnell, who has discovered a large outbreak of sleeping sickness in Bwamba, where over 750 people have died from this disease in five months. He also reports that trypanosomiasis has wiped out herds of cattle on the hill next to Fort Portal Station.
5. If it is found that the population of the Bwamba country has to be moved, or clearing undertaken in that district, additional funds will be necessary for this.
I have, &c.,
C. A. WIGGINS, Acting Principal Medical Officer,
Uganda Protectorate.
The Chief Secretary,
I have, &c.,
Uganda Protectorate.
C. A. WIGGINS, Acting Principal Medical Officer, Uganda Protectorate.
42985
The Chief Secretary,
Uganda Protectorate.
Sleeping Sickness Extended Investigations.
Extra- Recur- ordinary.
£
rent.
£
No. 64.
THE BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA COMPANY to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received 15 December, 1913.)
SIR,
2, London Wall Buildings, London, E.C., 12th December, 1913.
I AM directed to forward, for the information of the Secretary of State, a copy of a report upon sleeping sickness in Northern Rhodesia by Dr. A. May, the Principal Medical Officer, covering the period from February, 1912, to October. 1913, and a memorandum dated the 10th November, 1913, by the Medical Director of Southern Rhodesia.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-. COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TQ
(a) Personal emoluments:
Five temporary Medical Officers at £400
2,000
(b) Other charges:
Tropical courses and training allowances (5 at £50)
250
I
Passages (5 at £75)
375
Travelling allowances (5 at £50)
250
Travelling investigation expenses (5 at £120)
600*
Porters and internal transport (5 at £100)
500
Microscopes (5 at £35)
175
Travelling outfits (5 at £10)
Medical and surgical stores
Tents and camp equipment (5 at £30)
Incidental expenses
Totals
50
+
SIR,
100+
150
550$
£1,000 £4,000
Enclosure 3 in No. 63.
4 November, 1913.
SIR,
IN continuation of my No. 497/7, of the 30th September, 1913, forwarding Miss Robertson's reports re the heavy infection of G. morsitans in certain areas, I have the honour to inform you that the sum of £5,000, at least, should be included in
• Miss Robertson found £10 just sufficient for her work in the country.
This is to provide for suitable cases to be fitted with the necessaries of a travelling laboratory. To allow for the purchase of the necessary chemicals, &c., as well as for additional medical and surgical stores.
It is hard to estimate the cost of any additional clearing or other measures which may be necessary at present, and more may be required.
Enclosure in No. 64.
I am, &c.,
D. E. BRODIE,
Secretary.
Dr. A. M. FLEMING to the ADMINISTRATOR, Northern Rhodesia.
10th November, 1913.
I HAVE the honour to forward. for his Honour's perusal, and for favour of return for record in this office, a copy of the sleeping sickness report of Northern Rhodesia for the period from February, 1912, to October, 1913, by the Principal Medical Officer, Northern Rhodesia.
This report is full of interest, and the observations and deductions have been most carefully made.
In an interesting report such as this is, it is difficult to say what are its special features, but some of the points of most practical interest to this Administration are as follows:-
93 169
(1) Remarks with regard to the scattered nature of the infection. This bears out what I referred to with regard to the occurrence of trypanosomiasis on the Busi River and the probability that even in large areas infested with the tsetse fly there may be only isolated foci of infection as far as man is concerned.
(2) Doctor May's remarks regarding the known spread of the disease since the last examination of natives in infected areas, and the fact that the disease appears not to be of recent origin, and its equilibrium has now been established, are of particular interest and importance.
ΠΑ