14461
(No. 210.)
SIR,
19
No. 9.
SIERRA LEONE.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 20th April, 1914.) [Answered by L.F. transmitting copy of No. 14.]
Government House, Sierra Leone,
7th April, 1914. IN continuation of my despatch, No. 180 of the 31st ultimo,* and with reference to paragraph 3 of Mr. Hollis's despatch, No. 18 of the 8th January last,† I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a plant of the area of the Cape Peninsula, which the Principal Medical Officer suggests as a suitable area for the establishment of a camp for the accommodation, isolation, and treatment of persons suffering from sleeping sickness.
2. I have already pointed out in paragraph 5 of my despatch, No. 180 of the 31st ultimo,* that, in view of Dr. Young's report on the prevalence of the tsetse fly in and near this area, it is doubtful whether it could be used for the purpose indicated by Dr. Rice.
I have, &c.,
14843
No. 10.
E. M. MEREWETHER,
Governor.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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།༴།།
Reference :-
FCO 885
23 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
SIR,
GOLD COAST.
TROPICAL DISEASES BUREAU to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received 23rd April, 1914.)
[Copy to Imperial Bureau of Entomology, 18th November, 1914. L.F.]
Tropical Diseases Bureau, Imperial Institute, London, S.W.,
22nd April, 1914.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 9th April (11622/1914),§ forwarding a copy of a despatch from the Governor of the Gold Coast.
2. The Governor states that in many villages in Ashanti the natives are not numerous enough to be able, without hardship, to make and maintain efficient clear- ings, and that in the case of certain tribes a patch of bush on the windward side has to be left as a protection against fire. These appear to me to be valid objec- tions to compulsory clearing, at least, as regards such villages. If the matter were sufficiently urgent, it might be suggested that the Administration should assist when the villages are small. There does not, however, appear to be urgency, and since such clearings as are suggested in my letter of 21st March, though certainly of value, would not lead to the disappearance of the disease as long as natives are being bitten by G. palpalis elsewhere, one must needs acquiesce in the Governor's decision. Having regard, however, to Dr. Wade's hypothesis, and the number of infected persons found by him in the four zongos, or north country native settle- ments, in the Province, I think that, unless equally sound objections apply to clear- ing in the neighbourhood of these and of their water supplies, such clearing should be undertaken where necessary. Two appear to be surrounded by cultivation.
3. I do not know that more can be done at present than to maintain a watchful attitude. I note that an additional Medical Officer cannot be appointed for the Western Province of Ashanti, and presume that it is not possible to detail one of the present staff for the duties stated in paragraph 8 of the Governor's despatch." Failing this, the areas examined by Dr. Kinghorn and Dr. Wade should be visited at definite intervals, I suggest two years, to ascertain whether the disease is increas- ing or diminishing, and careful inquiry should be made as to the lineage of all persons found infected.
* No. 8.
↑ No. 2.
Not reproduced.
$ No. 7.
|| No. 5.
No. 0.
c 2