CO885-(18-19) — Page 563

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| PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference:-

།།།།། unimutimi C.O.885

19 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

Lake Tan- ganyika.

Lake Mweru.

Luapula river.

Nyasaland.

Iganda.

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Information received up to date is as follows:- The position here is unaltered.

31st December, 1907.

Fly. From Mpweto at the north-west of Lake Mweru a continuous belt of G. palpalis is now found to extend all along the northern and eastern shores of the lake as far as the mouth of the Kalungwisi, and up this river into the most densely populated part of the district.

Sleeping Sickness is endemic at Kilwa, Lukonzolwa, Luanza, and as far north as Mpweto, on the western (Congolese) shore of the lake, having extended to the last-named point from Kiambi, in Belgian territory, along the Luvua River.

Fly-From the south end of Lake Mweru to Chilolo, which is 54 miles distant from Madona, there is no fly on the British (N.E.R.) bank of the river, the general G. palpalis is, how- features of the intervening country being inimical to tsetse. ever, found on both banks of the Luapula, above and below Madona; at Kawila 13 miles, Johnston Falls 22 miles, and Kasiwa 29 miles north of Madona. G. pal- palis is again met with all along the Luapula from Madona to Kapepwe, where It is also observed on the Mansa River, five miles from the fly apparently ceases. its junction with the Luapula; and on the Lufulo River, on the Belgian side, seven miles from the Luapula.

Sleeping Sickness.-Two cases of sleeping sickness are found on the Mansa River, one on the Lower and one on the Upper Mansa. The two villages in which these cases occurred are moved five miles away from the fly area, and the infected natives are sent to Madona and segregated there under the care of the medical officer at this post. The percentage of enlarged cervical glands is higher among natives in the neighbourhood of the Mansa River than elsewhere, indicating that many of these are early cases of trypanosomiasis. The danger of spread of infection here is regarded as less urgent than in the Lake Mweru region, owing to the inter- position of a plateau between endemic areas in the Congo and the Luapula.

Preventive Measures.-In addition to various local measures too numerous to detail, and the establishment of special medical posts, the following general measures, directed mainly towards preventing the movement of natives from the Mweru and Luapula Districts into others, are enforced:-

The system of "passes" is inaugurated, whereby natives are prevented from leaving one district for another without having passes in their possession, which, however, expire after the termination of one month. No pass is issued to natives residing in proclaimed sleeping sickness areas unless the applicant has a medical certificate stating that he is free of the disease.

Native chiefs and headmen are warned that they are to report to the Native Commissioner of the district in which they reside the arrival of natives from villages in other districts. Failure to comply with this regulation is made a punishable offence.

To prevent the movement of natives between west and east, caravans are prohibited from crossing the Abercorn-Kasama-Mpika line of road to Serenje, which is generally in high country, and, therefore, probably free of fly. Goods from the east are to cross the road at one of these stations, and to be then handed over to carriers from the western side, and vice versa. Fines are imposed on natives crossing the line in quest of work, on employers of labour sending or taking men across, and on prospectors; but Native Commissioners have discretionary powers to waive this restriction in favour of natives inhabiting villages on opposite sides of the prescribed line of road.

Natives from German East Africa are prohibited from crossing into North- Eastern Rhodesia, and this restriction applies with special force to Swahili traders, who are mostly engaged in an illicit traffic in rubber and ivory with natives from the Congo Free State.

The precautionary measures already outlined are being enforced at the Govern- ment médical post at Karonga.

Further investigations have been made in the direction of Mirongo, on the main road between Kasama and Karonga, the results of which will be recorded next month.

Natives are, as far as possible, only allowed to travel by the Uganda Railway from Uganda to the East Africa Protectorate, after medical inspection.

In the Entebbe Peninsula G. palpalis has been successfully driven away by

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clearing the foreshore. The extent of country thus rendered free of fly is, how- ever, inconsiderable, and has entailed a large expenditure.

The Governor has submitted a plan for the removal of natives from infected districts, and the segregation of infected persons in isolated camps, where sick natives can be treated by doctors appointed for this purpose. This scheme, with certain modifications, is now Eeing carried out in its entirety.

508

(No. 46.)

SIR,

H. HEARSEY,

Principal Medical Officer, Nyasaland.

No. 6. UGANDA.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.

Downing Street, 24 February, 1908. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 197, of the 9th of December,* reporting upon the steps which have so far been taken for dealing with sleeping sickness in Uganda.

I have read your despatch and its enclosures with great interest, and I am glad to take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation of the energy with which you and the medical officers and the other officials of the administration are grappling with this serious and difficult question. I trust that the hope expressed in the concluding paragraphs of your despatch will be realised.

6468

SIR,

No. 7.

NYASALAND PROTECTORATE.

have, &c.,

ELGIN.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE ACTING GOVERNOR. (No. 65.)

Downing Street, 11th March, 1908.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 16, of the 17th January, and to inform you that I approve of the arrangements which you have made for the circulation of monthly reports containing the most recent infor-

I have, &c., mation with regard to sleeping sickness.

9594

No. 8.

ELGIN.

THE LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received 18 March, 1908.)

[Copy to Royal Society, Dr. Manson, Foreign Office, London School of Tropical Medicine, and Governor, Nyasaland (No. 83), 31 March, 1908, and to Governor, Uganda (No. 87), 3 April, 1908. L.F.]

SIR,

B 10, Exchange Buildings, Liverpool, 17 March, 1908. Sleeping Sickness Expedition of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

I HAVE the honour to enclose the accompanying copy of letter and enclosure received from Dr. Allan Kinghorn, of the alove-named expedition.

• No. 1.

I am, &c.,

† No. 5.

A. H. MILNE.