CO885-(18-19) — Page 541

2

have always been so thoroughly under the control of their chiefs that the idea of resistance to the wishes of the Government in this matter doubtless never entered into their minds. The chiefs, whose opposition might perhaps have been almost insuperable, have, as I have already stated, loyally helped us even in cases where the necessary measures entailed on them some pecuniary loss.

6. If the experts on "sleeping sickness" be correct in their belief that a tsetse fly only retains the power of transmitting infection during a period of 48 hours, we may, therefore, now assume that every fly along the lake shore that has been unable to acquire fresh infection, is to-day as innocuous as it may have been before the introduction of sleeping sickness into Uganda. So long as infected persons can be kept away from fly-infested areas, the fly will presumably remain harmless, and it therefore now remains for us to take such measures as will ensure the continu. ance of their freedom from infection.

7. The situation in the Sesse Islands and in Buvuma is far less satisfactory. The islands are small, their shores are densely wooded, and tsetse flies are terribly abundant. The people live largely on fish, and it will be almost impossible to keep them away from the water side. Dr. Van Someren estimates that, out of the six or seven thousand persons now remaining on Buvuma, 95 per cent. are infected with trypanosomiasis, and it is believed that the proportion in the Sesse Islands is about the same.

8. The chief danger of finding nullified the measures which we have taken on the lake shore of the Kingdom of Uganda lies in the constant communication that exists between the islands and the mainland. The islanders have always been in the habit of bringing their fish, pottery, and other products to the mainland of Uganda and Usoga, and their canoes are constantly plying to and fro. Most of these canoemen being infected, it would follow, in the absence of proper arrange- ments, that the flies on the shore of the mainland would be constantly able to find fresh sources of infection, and their newly-gained harmlessness would be open to much doubt.

9. I find it impracticable to order the rigid quarantine of the islands, and so as to minimise the risks referred to above, we have forbidden all traffic between the islands and the mainland, save at two or three properly defined places on the lake shore. These landing places are being thoroughly cleared of all trees and bush, and will thus be completely freed from tsetse fly. The clearings are of con- siderable width, and persons will be able to attend the markets held there without risk of being infected by the afflicted islanders.

10. The efficacy of these measures will depend very largely on their rigid and consistent observance, and I have detailed a special officer to see that they are thoroughly carried out. He will constantly travel through the belt which has been cleared of natives, and will assure himself that the old holdings and planta- tions are not reoccupied. He will also strictly supervise the traffic between the islands and the mainland, and will see that the authorised landing places and markets are kept perfectly frce of fly. One of the Assistant Collectors. Mr. Haddon, has volunteered for this duty, and the necessity for taking proper precautions with regard to his own safety has been duly impressed upon him.

11. The collection of rubber in the two-mile belt has been prohibited, and it is possible that some small claims for compensation may be made by one or two persons who hold permits for this industry. The matter, however, is not of much importance.

12. The measures taken with regard to the fly-infested shores of Usoga are not so far advanced as they are in Uganda proper, but very satisfactory progress is being made there, and we hope that, in a few weeks, the border of the lake will be entirely free of people.

13. I am happy to be able to state that the measures adopted to drive the tsetse fly away from the townships of Entebbe and Jinja have proved entirely successful. The belts of citronella grass that have been planted along the shores of the lake at those places are evidently very distasteful to the Glossina palpalis, and a fly is hardly ever seen in their vicinity. I may add that these plantations of citronella show promise of giving a remunerative yield of essential oil, and a distilling apparatus is now being procured.

14. It may, I think, be considered that, with the removal of the population from the lake shore, and with the maintenance of proper regulations for preventing the re-infection of the tsetse flies in the prohibited belt, the purely administration

3

side of the problem has been, in some measure, satisfactorily dealt with. The medical side now remains for consideration.

15. The scheme for the suppression of sleeping sickness, which I ventured to propose in my despatch, No. 218, of 23rd November, 1906,* was submitted to a committee of medical experts in London, and in July last it was decided that my recommendations should be adopted. On the 4th of July the Acting Commissioner was authorized to proceed with the projected camps in Chagwe and Usoga, and the final sanction for the whole scheme was telegraphed to him on the 15th August. I had, however, assumed the personal responsibility of commencing repressive measures as far back as November, 1906, and the Busiro Segregation Camp (since known as the "Buwanuka Camp") was opened in December on a tentative and experimental scale. The removal of the people from the lake shore was also commenced at about the same time.

16. Dr. Wiggins was placed in charge of the Buwanuka Camp, and by the end of April, over 300 souls were sent there for treatment. Dr. Wiggins went on leave and was replaced by Dr. Densham. On the 1st of June that officer was killed by a buffalo, and was replaced by Dr. Van Someren who, in August, was relieved by Dr. Collyns. It is a matter for regret that such frequent changes in the medical staff should have been unavoidable, and I hope that, in future, it will be possible to leave the patients under the continued care of the same doctor.

17. At the end of July a segregation camp was established at Bussu, in Usoga, and Doctor Baker was placed in charge of it. In October he was joined by Lieutenant Archibald, R.A.M.C. This camp seems to be a popular one among the natives, and the admissions of sick people at the present date amount to 328. The death-roll up to the end of October showed 23 deaths.

18. Owing to the lack of medical officers the camp at Kyetume, in Chagwe, was not opened until August. This camp is under the charge of Doctors Van Someren and Bayon, and is also proving popular. The admissions during the last four months number 326, of whom only 18 have, so far, died.

19. A fortnight ago, a fourth camp was started on the largest island in the Sesse group, and Dr. Goodliffe has been placed in charge of it. It is in the neigh- bourhood of the spot on which the German Commission under Professor Koch worked, and great numbers of the people there have already been under a variety of treatments.

20. I attach a copy of a report by Captain Gray, R.A.M.C., giving details of the work done at the various camps up to the 30th November last. Captain Gray has been in charge of the medical side of the scheme for the suppression of sleeping sickness since 21st May last, when Dr. Hodges, the Senior Medical Officer, went to England on leave of absence.

21. In the original project it was proposed that all persons suffering from sleeping sickness should, on removal from the lake shore, be compelled to go to one of the segregation camps, and Your Lordship will see, by a reference to para- graphs 34-38 of my despatch quoted above, the nature of the measures which we proposed to take in that connection. Dr. Hodges, however, subsequently recom- mended to me, very strongly, that the forcible detention of the patients in the camps should not be insisted on. He believed that any measure of rigid restraint would make the camps very unpopular, and that there would be frequent escapes. He considered it probable that the sick people would willingly come to the camps of their own accord, and that our main difficulty would be found in coping with the great numbers who would flock to us for treatment by atoxyl. It should be stated that, at that time, the reputation of the beneficial effects of atoxyl had spread through the land and that the natives were full of hope as to its results.

22. I agreed with the views expressed by Dr. Hodges. The sick have been allowed to go to the camps of their own free will, together with their relatives, and those who declined to avail themselves of our proffered help have been per- mitted to settle anywhere they liked, provided they did not go to districts wherein the tsetse-fly might possibly exist.

23. This permissive arrangement has, I think, resulted in the treatment of a far smaller number of sick persons than we had counted on. It is already evident that the natives are losing hope as regards the results of treatment by atoxyl. The camp at Buwanuka, having been in existence far longer than any of the others, has, through its long death-roll, gained a specially sinister reputation, and there is increasing difficulty in inducing the sick to go there. Only those in a very advanced stage of the disease are taken to Buwanuka by their relatives, and the

No. 100 in Miscellaneous No. 178.

82655

A 3

π l l l l l l l l

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

TRE

19

Reference :-

C.O.885

19 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

www i wil

Reference :-

C.O.885

19 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

3

been, in some measure, satisfactorily dealt with. The

for consideration.

the suppression of sleeping sickness, which I ventured h, No. 218, of 23rd November, 1906,* was submitted to perts in London, and in July last it was decided that my è adopted. On the 4th of July the Acting Commissioner with the projected camps in Chagwe and Usoga, and the le scheme was telegraphed to him on the 15th August. the personal responsibility of commencing repressive Jovember, 1906, and the Busiro Segregation Camp (since 1 Camp") was opened in December on a tentative and removal of the people from the lake shore was also ame time.

s placed in charge of the Buwanuka Camp, and by the

ils were sent there for treatment. Dr. Wiggins went on Dr. Densham. On the 1st of June that officer was killed aced by Dr. Van Someren who, in August, was relieved itter for regret that such frequent changes in the medical voidable, and I hope that, in future, it will be possible r the continued care of the same doctor.

July a segregation camp was established at Bussu, in was placed in charge of it. In October he was joined R.A.M.C. This camp seems to be a popular one among ssions of sick people at the present date amount to 328. id of October showed 23 deaths.

ck of medical officers the camp at Kyetume, in Chagwe, gust. This camp is under the charge of Doctors Van is also proving popular. The admissions during the last of whom only 18 have, so far, died.

a fourth camp was started on the largest island in the liffe has been placed in charge of it. It is in the neigh-

which the German Commission under Professor Koch 's of the people there have already been under a variety

of a report by Captain Gray, R.A.M.C., giving details rious camps up to the 30th November last. Captain Gray nedical side of the scheme for the suppression of sleeping ast, when Dr. Hodges, the Senior Medical Officer, went

¡ence.

project it was proposed that all persons suffering from

n removal from the lake shore, be compelled to go to one and Your Lordship will see, by a reference to para- tch quoted above, the nature of the measures which we connection. Dr. Hodges, however, subsequently recom- gly, that the forcible detention of the patients in the ed on.

He believed that any measure of rigid restraint ry unpopular, and that there would be frequent escapes. that the sick people would willingly come to the camps that our main difficulty would be found in coping with ould flock to us for treatment by atoxyl. It should be

e reputation of the beneficial effects of atoxyl had spread

the natives were full of hope as to its results.

e views expressed by Dr. Hodges. The sick have been

s of their own free will, together with their relatives,

› avail themselves of our proffered help have been per- they liked, provided they did not go to districts wherein y exist.

arrangement has, I think, resulted in the treatment of

k

persons than we had counted on. It is already evident hope as regards the results of treatment by atoxyl. The ig been in existence far longer than any of the others. h-roll, gained a specially sinister reputation, and there inducing the sick to go there. Only those in a very ease are taken to Buwanuka by their relatives, and the

• No. 100 in Miscellaneous No. 178.

A 2