CO885-(18-19) — Page 540

FURTHER -CORRESPONDENCE

SLEEPING

RELATING TO

SICKNESS,

&c.

J

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O.885

Reference :-

19 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

508

(No. 197.)

MY LORD,

.I.--SLEEPING SICKNESS.

No. 1.

UGANDA.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received January 6, 1908.)

[Answered by No. 6.]

Government House, Uganda, December 9, 1907

I HAVE the honour to submit a short report showing what progress has been made, so far, in carrying out the proposals indicated in my despatch, No. 218, of 23rd November, 1906,* for dealing with sleeping sickness in Uganda. For facility of reference, a copy of the despatch quoted is annexed,

2 It will be remembered that, with the concurrence of my medical advisers, I recommended that the whole population of the fly-infested shores of the Victoria Nyanza should be moved inland to fly-free areas, and that all persons found suffering from sleeping sickness should be interned in " segregation camps" where they would be medically treated. The use of atoxyl was to be given a special and exhaustive

trial.

3. The whole project may, I think, be suitably divided into two heads:-

(1) Administrative measures, intended to prevent the spread of the disease; (2) Medical measures to cure those already afflicted.

4. Relying on the opinions of the medical experts, to the effect that the disease cannot be spread by infected persons in localities where the tsetse fly (Glossina palpalis) is not to be found, all natives, whether infected or not, have been cleared out of a two-mile belt all round the lake shore, and have been allowed to settle inland in fly-free districts.

5. I am happy to be able to report that this step, which might possibly have caused much trouble, has been carried into effect without the slightest difficulty. The chiefs, to whom the raison d'être of the whole scheme had been carefully explained, gave very loyal assistance, and on being assured that the tenants on their lake-shore estates would not be irretrievably dispersed, they put no obstacles what- over to the execution of the plan. All along the whole of the border of the lake- from Buddu to the Ripon Falls-the peasants have evacuated their holdings, and have been moved to suitable properties owned by the chiefs further in the interior of the territory. Their huts have been burnt, and their plantations of bananas have gone to waste. Only the seriousness of the whole situation could have warranted such drastic measures, and the docility with which our orders have been carried out speaks volumes for the respect in which the authority of the Government is held. A small amount of pecuniary compensation is being given in respect of cach homestead destroyed, and I have reason to believe that no serious animosity has been aroused by our action in this connection. The lower classes in Uganda

No. 100 in Miscellaneous No. 178.

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