PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TTTTTC.O. 885
חייו
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TQ
22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
154
which I shall await with interest, should be forwarded to me as soon as they have been tabulated.] [To East Africa Protectorate and Uganda:—I am asking the 'Governor of Nyasaland to arrange for this examination to be carried out as soon as
possible in that Protectorate.]
4. In paragraph 50 the Committee point to the necessity of further investi- gation of such animals as the bush-pig, aardvark, &c., with a view to determining incriminated" in the sense whether or not these animals are to be regarded as that, like certain species of antelope, wart-hog, buffalo, and hyena, they harbour, apparently without suffering any harm themselves, trypanosomes which when con- veyed by tsetse-flies to domestic stock produce trypanosomiasis. I consider it desir- able that further investigations on the lines suggested should be put in hand as soon as practicable, and I should be glad to be informed what action you are able to take in this direction.
game
5. Paragraphs 85 to 100 deal with the suggested experiment of destruction" (i.e., the destruction of wild mammals) in a localised area, as to which there has been considerable discussion recently. The arguments on either side are very clearly set forth in the report, and a number of localities for the experiment proposed by witnesses are detailed. The Committee, after examining this question with great care, are unable to submit a definite scheme; but, as you will see from paragraph 134, they have come to the conclusion that there is sufficient evidence to justify an expectation of useful results from an experiment of this character, and they, therefore, recommend that it should be undertaken if a suitable locality can be found where it could be carried out at reasonable cost, always provided that the carrying out of such an experiment should not prejudice the other recommendations which they have submitted. There would, no doubt, he difficulty in defining the term reasonable cost," but it is understood that the Committee were inclined to think that not more than £5,000 should be expended. Apart from the doubts which exist as to the successful issue of an experiment, even if a suitable area can be selected and the cost strictly limited, there appear to be other matters of more pressing importance than this experiment, and it is questionable whether even for these the necessary funds can be provided. I am, therefore, disposed to let the proposed experiment remain in abeyance, at any rate for the present [To Nyasaland only but before arriving at a decision, I shall await any observations which you may have to offer on the subject, with special reference to the desirability and prac- ticability of carrying out an experiment within the limits of the Nyasaland Protec- torate. You will, however, note that in paragraph 90 (6) mention is made of a suggestion submitted by Mr. G. Garden. Veterinary Bacteriologist, that game should be destroyed on each side of the Zomba-Blantyre road, the game laws being relaxed for the purpose in this particular area, and that herds of cattle should be exposed at different places along this route to determine where, exactly, stock passing along the road contract infection. This would appear to be an experiment which, as no fencing is required, could he carried out at small cost, and which, if successful, would benefit the stock industry of the Protectorate by throwing open a very important road. I have to request that you will consider this proposal, and submit your views, together with an estimate of the cost involved.]
6. In paragraphs 101 to 120 the Committee deal fully with clearing operations, the importance of which is strongly urged in paragraph 136 as tending to check the spread of trypanosomiasis, and render life in settlements and travel by road safe both for men and stock. I entirely concur with the views expressed by the Com- mittee on this point, and I have to request that you will consider carefully to what extent it is possible for your Government to give effect to the recommendations of the Committee. I am aware that much is already being done in the way of clearing in the tropical African Colonies and Protectorates; but as this is certainly one of the most effective measures of a preventive nature which can be taken at present, every effort should, I think, be made to clear and to keep clear tracts of ground around settlements and alongside roads in fly country.
7. In paragraph 124 the Committee state that hasty and imperfectly con- sidered action of a drastic character, such as an attempt to effect a general destruc- tion of wild animals, is not justified by the evidence; but that until direct means of checking the fly have been discovered, the food supply of the fly and the chances of infection should be lessened in the vicinity of centres of population and trade routes by the removal of wild animals, and that for this purpose freedom should
D
155
be granted both to settlers and natives to hunt and destroy the animals within prescribed areas and subject to prescribed conditions. This recommendation is further referred to in the memorandum to the report appended by two of the members of the Committee. [To Nyasaland only:-I have already approved in my despatch of the 6th of September, 1912,* of the natives][To East Africa Protectorate and Uganda:—I had already approved in September, 1912, of the natives in a certain part of Nyasaland] being allowed to use the weapons in their possession in killing game in infected, i.e., tsetse-fly, areas; and, in view of the fact that the Committee unanimously recommend an extension of this principle, I am prepared to approve of action being taken by your Government as recommended in this paragraph of the report. At the same time, I consider that the hunting and destruction of wild animals will need very strict watching. An annual report, on lines which will be indicated in a later despatch, should be furnished showing the results of this action, and in the meantime I should wish to receive a statement (with map) showing (1) the areas where such destruction is being allowed, and (2) any conditions which your Government may think fit to prescribe."
As
8. You will observe that in paragraphs 127 to 130 the Committee lay stress upon the importance which they attach to further entomological research. appears from the report, a certain amount of information has been collected as to Glossina palpalis, but comparatively little is known of the bionomics of Glossina morsitans, and it is probably not too much to say that next to nothing is known of the bionomics of the numerous other species of tsetse flies. Yet it is clear that the whole family of tsetse flies should be investigated, if for no other reason, at least because the stock diseases caused by trypanosomes occur in Africa" practically wherever tsetse flies of any species are found" (paragraph 45). Moreover, even if Glossina palpalis and Glossina morsitans are of primary importance as carriers of trypanosomes, there would seem to be no doubt that the investigation of the other less known species would assist in the acquisition of information as to these two species.
As
As regards the organisation of the entomological work, I shall address you later when I have been able to go into the matter more fully; but it may be useful if I summarise here the present position. So far as the mapping of the distribution of tsetse flies in Africa is concerned, the Imperial Bureau of Entomology will doubt- less continue the collecting and collating of the information, which is already fairly extensive, and no further provision for this side of the work is necessary. regards the study of the bionomics of tsetse flies, the two Travelling Entomologists of the Bureau have been detailed for investigations connected with Glossina, Dr. Lamborn (who is succeeding Mr. Neave, on the appointment of the latter as Assistant Director of the Bureau) in East Africa, and Dr. Simpson in West Africa; there are also two officers engaged on special Glossina investigations in Uganda, viz., Dr. Carpenter and Mr. Fiske, both of whom are working under the direction of the Royal Society. Thus, in the East African Protectorates there will be three entomo- logical experts employed on tsetse-fly investigations, and one in West Africa. should also be stated that in Rhodesia Mr. Lloyd and other experts in the employ- ment of the British South Africa Company are doing valuable work; but I must here confine my observations to the Colonies or Protectorates which are adminis- tered by this Department.
It
Under present conditions it is, perhaps, impracticable to detail more oflicers solely for tsetse-fly investigation in the East African Protectorates, although I hope that Dr. McConnell, in Uganda, will be able to devote part of his time to work on Glossina morsitans in that Protectorate, and that it may soon be possible to utilise the services of the Entomologist or Assistant Entomologist in the East Africa Protectorate for tsetse-lly investigation, at any rate temporarily. In West Africa, on the other hand, more investigators seem to be needed, and I am inviting the Governors of the West African Colonies and Protectorates to consider the advisa- bility of making further provision to this end.
9.
As regards medical research, much yet remains to be done; but I shall be in a better position to address you on this subject when the Royal Society have had an opportunity of discussing with Sir David Bruce in what way the work of the Royal Society's Commission in Nyasaland can be most satisfactorily continued; and at the
* See p. 54 of [Cd. 6671].