CO885-(18-19) — Page 569

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.885

19 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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Kasenga were most probably introduced in this manner, and with Glossina palpalis on the Luapula the disease is likely to have spread.

3. At the time of my visit to Kambove there were 435 natives from North- Eastern Rhodesia in the uninfected mining area whose term of contract had not expired. I was assured that everything was being done to protect them from infection, and they were all expected to return to North-Eastern Rhodesia by December. I have since heard from the medical officer at Madona that up to the end of Septemler, 301 had already returned showing no signs of sleeping sickness. The two cases of sleeping sickness among the natives of North-Eastern Rhodesia I asked Dr. Neave to keep until they had received a course of treatment with atoxyl, and then returned to the medical officer at Madona. One of them seems to have settled in the Congo, and is not likely to return.

4. By adopting a new route from Kambore to Madona I was of opinion that transport between these places could be safely conducted. In this opinion I am supported Loth by Dr. Neave and Dr. Pearson. Principal Medical Officer to the Union Minière. I also considered it safer that such transport should be conducted by natives from North-Eastern Rhodesia rather than run the risk of natives from the endemic areas in the Congo being sent down to further infect the Luapula.

III. The Systematic Examination of the Anglo-Congolese Border.

On September 29th I began a systematic examination of the whole Anglo- Congolese Lorder first working up the Luapula from Madona. I went from village to village palpating the cervical glands of every man, woman, and child 1 could find, and at the same time searching the banks of the rivers and lakes for Glossina palpalis. On October 1st I found a case of sleeping sickness in an outlying col- lection of huts (Mitanda), on the Mansa River, near its junction with the Luapula. It was an advanced case of a woman who, it was said, had never left the district. I can account for the infection Leing found here in no other way than by its having been taken there some years ago by some natives who had been in the endemic areas in the Congo (see Case 1, Appendix). Glossina palpalis was found to extend in a continuous belt along the banks of the Luapula gradually thinning out as one prò- ceeded south until the last specimen was found 94 miles south of Madona, and two miles above the Kapwepwe crossing to North-Western Rhodesia. I travelled 12 miles further up the river, as far as the Luera, and examined the river at four crossed to the places, but failed to find it either on the Luapula or the Luera. Belgian side, and found it on the Lufubo River, at Chinyama's, about seven miles from the Luapula. In the village on the bank of this river (Lufubo), where Glossina palpatis was plentiful. I found no cases of sleeping sickness. Crossing again to the British side I found the fly on the Mansa River, about five miles from the Luapula. I followed the Mansa River to Fort Rosebery, but did not find it again. In an out- lying collection of huts on the Mansa River a few miles from where the first case was found, I found another case of sleeping sickness (Case 2). Returning to Madona I then proceeded north along the Luapula to Lake Mweru. Glossina palpalis was found as far as Kasiwa's village, 29 miles north of Madona. Beyond this village the river bank on the east side widens out into low-lying swampy land, which gradu- ally broadens as one proceeds north. The villages are two to three miles from the river, and no fly is found here, though it is said to be present on the Belgian side of the river at Kasenga, where the bank forms well defined cliffs covered with dense. foliage. It would seem very probable that Glossina palpalis is to be found there. At Chilolo's, 54 miles north of Madona, the swamps cease for a distance of a few miles, and the villages are again situated on the banks of the river, which are grass- grown and well defined, with a few trees here and there. There is no Glossina palpalis. North of this the east bank of the Luapula again opens out into marshy land, which broadens towards Mworu, where it is about 20 miles wide, and is inter- sected by a chain of shallow lakes, from south to north, Lake Kaombi, Lake Chit- ulwe, Lake l'embe, and Lake Mofwe, which last communicates with Lake Mweru. The whole of this area is absolutely flat and without a single shade tree with the exception of a few palms which fringe its border. Such country does not support (ilossina palpalis. There are a few villages situated on this marshy land who support themselves entirely by fishing. I visited about 75 villages on this section of the Luapula, examined 3.700 natives, and found no cases of sleeping sickness. I arrived at Kalungwisi, Lake Mweru, on October 26th, and on the 27th rossed the

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lake to Lukonzolwa.. Major Wangermée again placed the steamer at my disposal, and on the following day I visited Kilwa Island and the south end of the lake. On Kilwa Island the shore literally swarms with Glossina palpalis, and in a short journey made in a canoe round the coast their bites became intolerable. I examined 188 natives, and found 23 per cent, with enlarged glands. The high glandular index, with sleeping sickness only a few miles away on the mainland, and Glossina palpalis freely distributed along its shores, make it certain that the island is heavily infected. Unfortunately the short time at any disposal on the island (six working hours) did not allow of many cases being punctured, and those I did proved negative. On the following day I visited the villages at the south-east corner of the lake, and examined 315 natives. There was no infection among them neither was Glossina palpalis present on the lake shore. I returned by the East Coast to Kalungwisi Station, and found Glossina palpalis on the lake shore near the mouth of the Kalungwisi River.

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I now gave my attention to Kalungwisi Station. The station is situated on the Kalungwisi River, 34 miles from the lake, and on my former visit, two months previously, I found Glossina palpalis there. There is a considerable fall in the river by the station, and the rapids thus formed are intercepted by numerous small islands covered with dense vegetation and large trees. The trees and vegetation, both on the banks of the river and the islands, were so thick that I expressed the opinion that they could not be cleared sufficiently to rid the river of its fly. The experiment, however, was tried, and on my return to the station in October all the trees and vegetation were cut down and lying in the river. I not only found "fly: in abundance on the river, but caught two specimens while sitting on the verandah of the Native Commissioner's house. Moreover, the dense population on the Kalungwisi River, with sleeping sickness only 15 miles away, render it almost certain that the infection will shortly appear there, if it has not already. I, there- fore, considered the station to be in a highly dangerous position, and as it is to be rebuilt next year, it would be folly to build on the same site. The Kalungwisi River has since been placed in the sleeping sickness area, where it would be impossible to have an administrative station; therefore I have advised its removal to a remote part of the district.

I followed the Kalungwisi River for 15 miles from the station and found Glossina palpalis stopped at the Luntonfwe Stream, about 6 miles above the station and 10 miles from the lake. There was no infection in any of the villages as far as Nkosya, but, a large proportion of the male population being away at the The glandular time of my visit, it cannot be definitely stated that there is none. index was certainly relatively low and does not indicate infection, but there might be some imported cases there which have not, as yet, infected the population. The Kalungwisi River, infected or not, is certainly in a position of great danger, and unless very thorough methods are adopted at once in clearing the river either of the population or the fly, infection is certain to appear there and travel through the villages with alarming rapidity. From Kalungwisi I followed the lake shore to Chiengi and Pweto. Here I found cases of sleeping sickness both on the east and north shores of the lake at Kalembwe, Chiengi, Mtoa, Mao, Musoma, Muanga, Shiwere, and Kachinda-10 cases in all. Glossina palpalis was found all along the lake shore and up the Lunchinda River at the north end of the lake. I returned to Chiengi and went along the northern border to Tanganyika examining all villages en route. There was no Palpalis anywhere, and but one case of sleeping sickness. found at Kaputa's village near the border, about half-way between Mweru and Tanganyika. The infection of this case came from Lake Tanganyika. I arrived on Tanganyika at Sumbu, and the following day went along the lake shore to the Belgian frontier near Moliro. I found sleeping sickness at Sumbu, Kalimba, and Sikapali, 12 cases in all-the two latter villages near the Belgian border being heavily infected. I also found Glossina palpalis all along the lake shore. I then visited the Lofu River and Kambole Mission Station, finding neither Palpalis nor sleeping sickness. I returned to the south-west corner of the lake, where Palpalis was again found, and followed the south shore of the lake to Niamkolo Mission Station. Glossina palpalis is found all along the south shore of the lake and another case of sleeping sickness was found at Kasakalawe. Having completed the examination of the border I reported myself at Abercorn on December 1st.

On looking at the tables which accompany this report it will be noticed that a glandular index of over 10 means sleeping sickness. These tables lay no claim

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