PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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Reference :-
www.im C.O. 885
22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC. COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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Cases of trypanosomiasis have been discovered in several places in the Northern Provinces, e.g., in the Kaduna country at Kabba, Mashiwashi, Abinsi, Ibi, and Wukari, and as many as 336 have been discovered in the old Eastern Province of Southern Nigeria, principally in the Eket country, during the past two years.
I have drawn attention to the above fact mainly to show that in Nigeria there
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is ample scope to extend the range of enquiry and to organise a scientific campaign against the trypanosome diseases."
It
It is difficult to obtain any reliable history of this disease from native sources it is traditionally supposed to have created great havoc in days done by, and, although apparently endemic throughout Nigeria, there cannot be said to be a heavy mortality as a result of the infection even in that area (Eket) where many cases have been observed. It is estimated that only per cent. of those infected die of the disease, and so far as one can tell the treatment adopted is most beneficial. is possible that the natives of Nigeria have acquired some immunity for the parti- cular trypanosome with which they are infected, and that the disease would assume an epidemic character should a different kind of trypanosome be introduced. The trypanosome rhodesiense has not been found in Nigeria, and in all probability the Glossina submorsitans, so common in the Northern Provinces, would be capable of transmitting this trypanosome.
The whole subject is so vast, and its potentialities so great, that it is impossible to ignore it. To make clearings" round villages and in the neighbourhood of roads and fords is most desirable, but to be effective I think it would be necessary to legislate. Little, I fear, can be done in this direction in a country cut up with creeks and rivers where the inhabitants exist on the fishing industry and the collection of palm kernels-they live a great portion of their lives on water or in close proximity to it. In addition to enforcing clearing operations in the neigh- bourhood of towns, villages, roads, and fords it is essential, in my opinion, to extend medical and entomological research, and that investigators should work in conjunc- tion one with another. There should certainly be continuity in these investigations, involving a separate staff of officers.
I agree with Professor Alcock as to the instructions that should be given to such officers so far as the Entomologists are concerned (ride last paragraph on page 141 of the Minutes of Evidence*), and in regard to Medical Officers detailed for these investigations, a well-equipped laboratory should be provided in a neighbour- hood where cases of sleeping sickness can be studied on the spot. The fact that the confidence of the natives has been gained at Ikotobu, in the Eket District, where there are about 100 patients living by their own consent in a sleeping sickness camp, suggests the site for the erection of a laboratory.
If it is decided to establish a laboratory at Ikotobu I am prepared to provide a Medical Officer from the staff to work in conjunction with a Medical Officer who has been specially trained in research work. Dr. Gallagher, of the Southern Pro- vinces Medical Staff, has been in charge of the Ikotobu Camp during his last tour, and, although not highly trained, has had the advantage of working with Dr. Macfie for three months, and has gained an insight of the work that would prove useful should developments in extending investigations be decided upon.
2 September, 1914.
SIR,
(Ref. No. 74/79/1914.)
T. HOOD,
Director of Medical and Sanitary Services.
Medical Research Institute,
Yaba (near Lagos, West Africa), 18th July, 1914.
I HAVE the honour to enclose some observations on Colonial Office despatch, No. 881, of 4th June, 1914.
2. With reference to paragraph 2, a certain amount of clearing can be accom- plished, I should think, in the neighbourhood of settlements and roads where tsetse flies have been proved to exist.
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[Cd. 7330], June, 1914.
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3. With reference to paragraph 3, there is need for the investigation of trypanosome diseases in Nigeria.
4. The Medical Officers in the various stations have done, and will, no doubt, continue to do, useful work, which, however, is necessarily of an intermittent character. The published results by members of the West African Medical Staff in the Bulletin of Entomological Research and in other scientific journals show that the subject has aroused their interest.
5. There is, nevertheless, ample scope for several special investigators devoting their whole time to the various questions in trypanosomiasis.
6. I do not think that the work should be confined to the bionomics of the tsetse fly. It should extend from the insect host to actual cases of the disease in man and the lower animals, and include the reservoir hosts.
7. Further, I think that more intelligent and more useful results will be obtained if the duties be assigned to medical men, whose training will enable them to detect general signs and indications which might easily escape the observer who is only an entomologist.
The Director,
Medical and Sanitary Services, Lagos.
Northern Provinces
I have, &c.,
A. CONNAL,
Director, Medical Research Institute.
Glossina submorsitans.
Near Zaria (Sokoto Province, S.W.), Kontagora, Kabba.
Near Banaga (Sokoto Province, S.E.).
Illorin Province, Eastern Division, near Zumbor.
Pategi.
Zungeru, and also near Paiko.
Baro.
Kano Province, near Dogaria. Hadeija. Bauchi Province, near Tuli.
Yola.
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Bornu Province, near Kaba. Geidam.
Between Ibi and Wukari, and between Wukari and Donga (Muri Province).
Northern Provinces :-
Glossina palpalis, ·
Kaoge (Sokoto Province, south-west). Bussa (Borgu Province). Jebba.
Illorin Province, all over.
Kulfa (Kontagora Province). Kontagora.
Zungeru.
Near Bida.
Near Pategi (Illorin Province).
Kabba Province, all over southern part.
Lokoja.
Dekina, Lafia, Akwacha, Bagana (Bassa Province).
Nassarawa Province, south border.
Niger Province, Lafia and south, Zungeru.
Zaria Province, near Kateri.
Munchi district, near Iyaha.
Southern Provinces :-
Yewa River.
Lagos. A gege.
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