PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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and the maintenance or spread of trypanosome diseases of man and stock. Copies of the minutes of evidence, &c., will be forwarded to you as soon as they are available.
2. The report is being sent out to the Governors of the Tropical African Colonies and Protectorates for consideration, and Mr. Harcourt is inviting their attention to certain points of special importance. He is also arranging for copies to be sent to the Government of the Union of South Africa and [to the Government of the Sudan] [to the British South Africa Company], and he trusts that he will be able to enlist the sympathy and co-operation of [your Board and of these Govern- ments] [the South African, Rhodesian, and Sudan Governments] in the work which is being undertaken in the tropical African possessions.
3. In paragraphs 41 and 42, and again in paragraph 126 of the report, the Committee emphasise the importance of ascertaining definitely whether man does or does not form a reservoir of the human trypanosome in the case of the Nyasa- land and Rhodesia form of the disease. They state that it is desirable, as a step in the direction of acquiring this knowledge, that a large number (not less than 500) of apparently healthy natives living in Nyasaland in proclaimed morsitans areas should be carefully examined both by the direct method and by the inoculation of their blood into susceptible animals. Mr. Harcourt is advised that this examination should not be difficult of accomplishment if the Medical Officers entrusted with the work handle the matter tactfully, and he is asking the Governor of Nyasaland to arrange for the examination to be carried out as soon as possible in that Protectorate. [To British South Africa Company:-It occurs to him that there would be great advantages to be gained if a similar experiment were made in Rhodesia, and I am to suggest, for the consideration of your Directors, that they might arrange for an examination of natives on these lines in the territories under their administration.]
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 whether or not these animals are to be regarded as “incriminated" in the sense that, like certain species of antelope, wart-hog, buffalo, and hyena, they harbour, appa- rently without harm to themselves, trypanosomes pathogenic to domestic stock. Mr. Harcourt is asking the Governors of the East African Protectorates what action they are able to take in this direction, and he has no doubt that the [British South Africa Company][Sudan Government] will consider the possibility of arrang- ing for similar investigations in [Rhodesia] [the Sudan).
5. Paragraphs 85 to 100 deal with the suggested experiment of “game destruc- tion" (ie., 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 pro- posed by witnesses are detailed. The Committee, after examining this question with great care, are unable to submit a definite scheme, but, as will be seen 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, be 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. Mr. Harcourt is therefore disposed to let the proposed experiment remain in abeyance, at any rate for the present.
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 to render life in settlements and travel by road safe for man and stock. Mr. Harcourt concurs with the views expressed by the Committee, and he is asking the Governors to consider carefully to what extent it is possible to give effect to the recommendations of the Committee.
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
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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 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. Mr. Harcourt 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 areas; and, in view of the fact that the Committee unanimously recommend an extension of this principle, he has informed the Governors of the East African Protectorates that he is prepared to approve of action being taken as recommended in this paragraph of the report. At the same time, he has expressed the opinion that the hunting and destruction of wild animals will need careful watching, and an annual report is to be furnished (on lines not yet laid down) showing the results of this action; and in the meantime he is asking for a statement (with map) showing (1) the areas where such destruction is being allowed, and (2) any conditions which the local Government may think fit to prescribe.
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8. It will be observed 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.
9. Mr. Harcourt has now under consideration the organisation necessary for carrying on both entomological and medical research work. When the general lines have been laid down for the future conduct of these two sides of the investigation, time will be necessary for testing the efficacy of the arrangements made; but Mr. Harcourt trusts that it will be possible within a reasonable period to extend widely the range of the enquiry, and to organise a scientific campaign against the trypanosome diseases in which all the British possessions interested will join forces.
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SIR,
No. 82.
I am, &c..
H. J. READ.
for the Under-Secretary of State.
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE. [Answered by No. 98.]
Downing Street, 5th June, 1914.
I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to transmit to you ten copies of the report* of the Interdepartmental Committee on Sleeping Sickness, and to request that Secretary Sir E. Grey will arrange for two copies to be forwarded through the usual official channels to the French, German, Belgian, Spanish and Portuguese Governments. Copies of the minutes of evidence, &c., will be sent to you for transmission to these foreign Governments as soon as the volume is published. 2. I am to add that complimentary copies of the report have already been sent direct by the Chairman of the Committee to Dr. G. Bouffard, Professor F. Mesnil, M. E. Roubaud, Dr. M. Taute, and Dr. Ayres Kopke, who were good enough to write papers for the use of the Committee.
I am, &c.,
H. J. READ, for the Under-Secretary of State.
• [Cd. 7349], May, 1914.
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