377
196
1916-23, to be 13-5. Reference, however, to Dr. Kinghorn's Report on "Human Trypanosomiasis in the Western Province and in the Banda District of the Northern Province of Ashanti," shows that between March and September, 1910, in the Western Province alone, among 16,654 natives examined, Dr. Kinghorn found 97 cases, or more than seven times the average number noted in the whole country in later years. Dr. Kinghorn wrote: "The general percentage of infection for the (Western) Province as a whole may be put down as being about 0-75." Doubtless another ad hoc investigation would reveal similar figures. Although it is clear that Sleeping Sickness is not an urgent problem in the Gold Coast, the Director would urge that the complete survey referred to should be undertaken as soon as staff is available, not only to obtain accurate information for the benefit of the Colony but also as the contribution of the Gold Coast to the solution of the tsetse problem as it concerns the whole of Tropical Africa.
The Director of the Imperial Bureau of Entomology observes that while the undertaking of a general survey of the tsetse fly areas in the Gold Coast would be useful from several points of view, the difficulties in the way of such a survey pointed out by the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services seem to render it impracticable at the present time.
It would appear, however, that the original suggestions as to the lines of investigation that seemed desirable in the Gold Coast have been partly lost sight of. In the Duke of Devonshire's despatch No. 38 of the 12th January, 1923, it was pointed out that, while the incidence of human trypanosomiasis was so small as to be negligible (as Dr. O'Dea's recent figures sufficiently indicate), yet the losses of cattle from the disease appear to be heavy; and it was suggested that a preliminary inquiry should be made in order to ascertain the precise extent of these losses and the fly-areas that are responsible for them.
In the Annual Report of the Veterinary Department for the year 1915, Dr. O'Dea recorded that of the cattle entering Kumasi no less than 90 per cent, bad trypanosomes in their blood. In the same year Dr. J. W. S. Mache stated that 92 per cent. of the hump-backed cattle examined in Accra were infected with trypanosomes, and this he attributed to their having been driven through fly-belts on their way to the Coast.
There does not appear to be any reason to suppose that there has been any appreciable diminution of tsetse flies in recent years, and these statements indicate the existence of a problem that would appear worthy of a fuller investigation.
3. I concur generally in the remarks made by Dr. Bagshawe and Dr. Marshall; and while I recognize that the complete survey referred to is not in present circum- stances practicable. I should be glad to receive any further observations which, after consulting your advisers, you may have to offer, more particularly in regard to a preliminary inquiry, such as Dr. Marshall indicates, to ascertain the precise extent of the losses of cattle from trypanosomiasis and the fly-areas that are responsible
for these losses.
47203
I have, &c..
J. H. THOMAS.
No. 64.
UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA.
THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(No. 507.) SIR,
(Received 6th October, 1924.)
Governor-General's Office, Pretoria, 17th September, 1924.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith, with reference to the Duke of Devonshire's despatch No. 117 of the 12th May. 1923, and your despatch No. 166 of the 5th June, 1924,† Minute No. 744 from Ministers, on the subject of the tsetse- fly investigations in South Africa.
I have, &c...
ATHLONE,
Governor-General.
(Minute No. 744.)
197
Enclosure in No. 64.
Prime Minister's Office, 16th September, 1924. WITH reference to Minutes Nos, 33/1422 and 33/1507 of the 7th June, 1923, and 26th June, 1924, forwarding respectively despatches Nos. 117 of the 12th May. 1923, and 166 of the 5th June, 1924, from the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Ministers have the honour to recommend that His Excellency the Governor-General may be pleased to inform the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies that this Government wishes to express its appreciation for the despatches and for the Memorandum of the Imperial Bureau of Entomology, and to state that the various suggestions of the Glossina Sub-Committee will be carefully studied. The Union Government is continuing to devote considerable expense to investigations which, it is hoped, will in time disclose means whereby the present losses of stock may be circumvented, and the Chief of the Division of Entomology has been directed to acquaint the Imperial Bureau of Entomology from time to time with the progress of these investigations.
J. B. M. HERTZOG.
55941
No. 65.
IMPERIAL BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY. MINUTES OF THE FORTY-FIRST GENERAL MEETING OF THE MANAGING COMMITTEE, HELD AT 3 P.M., ON THURSDAY, 20TH OF NOVEMBER, 1924
Presentat
EARL BUXTON (Chairman). MAJOR AUSTEN.
DR. BAGSHAWE,
MR. FRYER.
SIR SIDNEY Harmer.
DR. MACDougall.
PROFESSOR Newstead.
PROFESSOR Nuttall. DR. SCOTT,
SIR ARTHUR SHIPLEY.
MR. THEOBALD.
DR. MARSHALL (Director).
DR. NEAVE (Assistant Director).
MR. SEEL (Assistant Secretary).
.J
1 THE Chairman announced that Sir Daniel Morris, Sir David Prain,
Sir E. Lucas, Mr. Murray and Mr. Warburton had intimated that they were unfor- tunately prevented from attending.the meeting,
2. The Chairman referred to the appointment of Sir Herbert Read as Governor of Mauritius, He felt assured that the Committee would wish to place on record their appreciation of the valuable services which Sir Herbert Read had rendered for so many years as a Member of the Committee, and he proposed, with the assent of the meeting, to write to Sir Herbert Read expressing their appreciation.
3. The Chairman also mentioned that the Secretary to the Committee, Mr. Parkinson, had had the misfortune to break his leg whilst on a holiday in Spain.
The He understood that Mr. Parkinson was progressing favourably. Committee expressed their sympathy with Mr. Parkinson in his accident.
4.
The Minutes of the Fortieth General Meeting were then discussed. The following points were mentioned' :-
(a) Paragraph 2 (a) of Minutes.-Dr. Marshall explained that no action had yet been taken as to filling the appointments of Senior Assistant, as the future attitude of the Government of India to the Bureau had not been definitely ascertained,
* No. 47.
Nos. 53 and 62.
* No. 61,
co
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