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despatch of July 26th, 1907, transmitting a copy of a despatch from the Commis- sioner of Uganda on the subject of sleeping sickness in that Protectorate, together. with a copy of the Sub-Committee's report on the despatch.

2. I have referred these documents to the Principal Medical Officer, by whom I am advised that the measures recommended for the suppression of sleeping sickness in Uganda are at present inapplicable to those portions of this Protectorate in which the disease has so far been found. Up to the present practically all the cases met with have occurred in the Bassa and Munchi countries, districts not yet under sufficient control to admit of health regulations being enforced. The instructions, however, will be borne in mind, and will be put in force as and when practicable.

3. In accordance with your Lordship's instructions in the last line of the despatch under consideration, the Principal Medical Officer reports that eight boxes of specimens of tsetse flies and mosquitoes were forwarded for identification to the London School of Tropical Medicine by the mail which left here yesterday.

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I have, &c.,

No. 47.

RIIODESIA.

E. P. C. GIROUARD,

High Commissioner.

THE LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

SIR,

(Received January 1, 1908.)

B 10, Exchange Buildings,

Liverpool, December 31, 1907. I HAVE pleasure in enclosing herewith, for the information of His Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, copy of latest report received from the Sleeping. Sickness Expedition of the School, at present in Rhodesia.

DEAR MR. MILNE,

Enclosure in No. 47.

I am &c.,

A. H. MILNE. .

THE LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE.

Expedition to the Zambesi, 1907.

Madona, November 5, 1907.

As you probably know, Montgomery left Broken Hill at the beginning of October and expects to reach Madona about the middle of December. As we want to write up the work as far as we have gone, I shall occupy the interim in visiting some of the villages in this neighbourhood

With regard to fly, Glossina palpalis is found along both banks of the Luapula from a point near Kapwepwi's village to this place. I have not been farther down the river yet, but I hear that it is also found in that direction. They are not very plentiful, but still they can be found without very much difficulty. Glossina mor- sitans (possibly other species) is found scattered over practically the whole of the Luapula division. In a few days I shall be forwarding to Mr. Newstead a box of flies for identification.

I have found only one case of human trypanosomiasis as yet. This is a young man who was working at Kambove some five years ago. Since that time he has not been across the Luapula. His neck glands are very decidedly enlarged and trypanosomes are present in fairly large numbers in the gland juice.

He presents

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no symptoms of the disease whatever. It is interesting to note that this case is the only one in the village, a fairly large one, although G. morsitans is found plentifully in the village and surrounding country.

As I have said in other letters, a fair percentage of the natives whom I have seen have distinctly palpable neck glands in Dutton and Todd's classification- but on puncture these are found not to harbour trypanosomes. Of course, this means that the recognition of the disease by palpation one which a medical man alone can apply satisfactorily.

With exception of the Government ferry at Madona, there is now supposed to be no place at which the Luapula can be crossed. This, however, is not the case, for in a short trip up the river I found that it was quite possible to be taken across at any of the villages, and, in fact, natives are crossing almost constantly. To obviate this, it will be necessary, 1 consider, for the Administration to confiscate all the canoes, This measure, however, will only become wholly effective with the co-operation of the Congo Free State, for unless they are willing to do the same on their side it will manifestly be almost useless for the British South Africa Company to do so. It must also be remembered that the river can be forded during the dry season at several places-the Johnston Falls, here at Madona, and a few hundred yards above the Mombatuta Falls. It may eventually be found necessary to place patrols at these spots.

In view of the facts cited above that a fair proportion of the natives have enlarged neck glands and that cases of the disease have been found, the British South Africa Company must consider the advisability of appointing special travelling medical officers, whose duty it will be to travel constantly through the threatened districts, at least, ie., along the Luapula and along the Northern border, looking for cases. I am convinced that the case I have found is not the only one in the country, and the only way to find the others will be by some such method as I suggest. With regard to the case I saw, I may say that Dr. Spillane examined the people at this village, but did not find this case owing to the fact that the man was away at the time. From this it will be seen that a single visit to a village is not sufficient.

cases.

The villages along the river might with advantage be moved inland in many No hardship would be entailed on the natives by this procedure as they are not dependent on the river for food supplies and the huts are easily built. More- over, as they move the villages from time to time of their own accord, they would not object very strongly to doing so at the instance of the authorities. In case the villages are not moved, the river front should be cleared for a considerable distance, at least 300 yards, on either side of the huts.

If vigorous measures are adopted, I see no reason why the spread of the disease should not be prevented and the district preserved free from infection for an indefinite period.

When Montgomery gets here, we shall send in a fuller report.

Is there any possibility of an Expedition going out to try the atoxyl and mercury treatment? I ask because if such is the case something might also be done in the way of finding out definitely whether other species of tsetse flies than palpalis can carry the infection. It is hardly necessary to point out what a very important bearing this has on the question of prophylaxis. If it can be shown that G. palpalis alone is capable of infecting, the measures to be adopted in preventing the spread of the disease would be comparatively simple and the cost only a fraction of that required as long as this point is in doubt. Possibly the various Governments interested in the question might assist an Expedition to this end.

Yours, &c.,

ALLAN KINGHORN.

P.S.I have sent a copy of this letter to the Secretary, Fort Jameson.

A. II. Milne, Esq.,

Liverpool.

•

No. 40.

28167

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.885

18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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