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Reference :-

C.O. 885

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Sheep and goate.

Treatment.

Clinical

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the disease, and similar points, which I have not been able to undertake during this survey.

29. What has been said of cattle applies with little difference as regards trypanosomiasis to sheep and goats. Progressive emaciation is the outstanding symptom in sheep. Post-mortems on sheep and goats have not been obtainable, as when these animals get very sick they are either slaughtered or hidden away by their owners.

30. The corrosive sublimate and methylene-blue treatment of trypanosomiasis was experimented with at the Government farm at Akpaka. Three Government bovines were placed at my disposal. These are noted in the table appended as experimental animals Nos. 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Their peripheral blood was examined twice prior to the experimental inoculation, and was found to be free No. 1, a from trypanosomes and (the blood) healthy with hæmoglobin normal. small-sized native-bred bull, one year old, was inoculated intra-venously on the 21st October, 1907, with three cubic centimetres of undiluted blood from an ox No. 2 was a small native-bred suffering from well-advanced trypanosomiasis. heifer, 2 years 3 months, and No. 3 was also a small-sized native heifer, 2 years and 6 months old. All three were first inoculated on the 1st October, 1907, with undiluted blood from an ox suffering from certified advanced trypanosomiasis. No. 1 received 3 cubic, centimetres Intra-venously, No. 2 was inoculated sub- cutaneously with 5 cubic centimetres, and No. 3 intra-venously with 6 cubic centi- metres. No opportunity occurred of examining, the animals again until the 26th October, as other operations were being attended to at Idah meanwhile. After the first inoculation the native attendant at the farm was instructed as to taking I am afraid, the animals' temperatures as soon as they appeared to him to be sick. however, from what I observed on my return, that the temperatures could not have been accurately taken, as the results shown were in every case sub-normal. This, however, is of little consequence, save as regards determining more accurately the incubation period. The observations of the three animals from the date of my return are given on charts attached (Nos. 6, 7, and 8), on which the temperatures, state of blood, and hæmoglobin may be followed from day to day. It will be noticed that the incubation period in the case of No. 1 was, roughly, 24 to 25 days. Hæmo- globin was in a low state before treatment, being 70 on the 26th October. On the 26th, treatment of No. 1 was commenced with 8 cubic centimetres of the methylene blue and corrosive sublimate mixture injected daily intra-venously. Three more similar doses were given, and on the 29th October the amount was increased to 10 cubic centimetres, of which two doses were injected. On the 31st the dose was increased to 12 cubic centimetres, of which four were given. On the 4th November the dose was increased to 14 cubic centimetres, of which five injections were made. On the 8th November treatment ceased. The disappearance of the parasites from the blood, and the improvement in the state of hæmoglobin with treatment should be noticed, as well as the fall of hæmoglobin and the re-appearance of parasites when the treatment ceased.

31. On the 31st October the animal's superficial lymphatic glands were noticed symptoms. to be distinctly enlarged and firmer than normal. On the 22nd November he was operated upon, and two of the inguinal glands were removed, which were micro- scopically examined, with negative results, no parasites being found. On the 3rd a papulo-eruption appeared round the muzzle and eyes, the hair falling out in small patches from the shoulders, brisket, and belly, leaving small superficial weeping sores. Anemia was pronounced on this date, although the appetite still remained good. By the 6th the papulo-eruption had extended to the coronets, the eruption around the muzzle and eyes had become greatly aggravated, several of the small areas had become confluent leaving larger weeping surfaces devoid of hair. The animal had a dejected appearance, was very anæmic, with slight swellings of the sub-cutaneous tissue of the belly. On the 13th November a whitish non-purulent discharge from the nostrils appeared, and the animal was found dead on the morning of the 14th.

Post-

mortem.

32. The post-mortem lesions were: flesh soft, pale and watery, pericardium The thoracic, lumbar, contained about 5 ozs. of slightly blood-coloured fluid. inguinal, intestinal, and, in fact, all the lymphatic glands were noticed to be Spleen was slightly enlarged, firmer than normal, and yellowish on section. enlarged and firmer than normal. The brain and spinal cord were highly congested, with a considerable amount of blood-coloured fluid in the cranium and spinal cana!

The blood was well separated into a dark, firin clot and a black, very liquid Huid. Preparations from the cerebro-spinal fluids, the lymphatic glands, and the fluid from the pericardium all gave negative results.

33. The incubation period of the disease in No. 2 experimental animal was practically the same as in No. 1. The treatment also was similar, and as the varia- tions in temperature and hæmoglobin are detailed in the chart, no useful purpose would be served by reviewing them here, as they correspond in the main features with the case of No. 1. This animal, however, did not die under my observation, but after leaving Onitsha information was received that she had died on the 16th December. "From the progressive nature of the symptoms observed before my departure from Onitsha, which were in every way practically identical with those of No. 1, I have no hesitation in saying that this animal died of trypano- somiasis. The conclusion of this experiment goes to confirm the opinion formed from the case of No. 1, viz., that the intra-venous injection of methylene blue is useless as a treatment for bovines.

No. 3 was treated in a similar manner to No. 1 and No. 2. There was a slight temperature reaction shown in this case, as also clinical symptoms in common with Nos. 1 and 2, although milder. The great difference here was that parasites were never found at all in peripheral or jugular blood preparations from this animal. The beast did not die; and the conclusion indicated is that she possessed a certain degree of immunity.

From No. 2 a dog was inoculated sub-cutaneously with 3 cubic centimetres of undiluted blood on the 24th November, and became experimental animal No. 4. Experimental animal No. 5, again, was inoculated sub-cutaneously with 5 cubic centimetres of undiluted blood from No. 3 on the same date. The blood of No. 2 proved non-pathogenic to No. 4, and the blood of No. 3 was ditto to No. 5.

34. This concludes the experiments upon cattle as far as results can be detailed

at present. Should any further enlightenment accrue from future examination of the material obtained and taken home from these animals, the substance thereof will be communicated for insertion in its proper place in this report.

35. Taking a general summary of the animals examined, I find that the percentage infected with trypanosomiasis is, roughly, as follows:-

Horses

Cattle

Sheep

Goats

Central Province. Western Province,

Per cent.

Per cent.

25

15

17

8

20

18

Nil. Nil.

36. It is fairly well recognised nowadays that the tsetse fly transmit trypano- Trans- somiasis, but there are also several other insects which may be suspected, at least, of mitting being agents. Of the genus Glossina I have reason to believe that Glossina palpalis causes.

I found it at both Warri and Onitsha, in the Central is widely distributed. Province, and consequently surmise that it exists all along the Niger River. From history obtained it also seems likely that it exists along all the small watercourses as well. A good many specimens of different biting flies, which at present I am unable to classify, have been collected for taking home. At Onitsha I found one or two specimens of Morsitans. At Ilesha and Oshogbo, again, I saw the Glossina palpalis. In the other districts visited, information was obtained whenever possible from the natives, but the season was not propitious for obtaining specimens. Although I have never heard of ticks being known to transmit trypanosomiasis, yet they must be regarded as possibly doing so, judging from other blood diseases which they are known to transmit, and this is a point which would well bear further investigation. Here is worthy of note the wide distribution of Rhipicephalus Evertsi in Southern Nigeria. At every place visited this tick has been found in abundance. Besides this, there are the Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and the Rhipicephalus simus. The two latter are not very common in Lagos, but they have been found on the trade routes between Northern and Southern Nigeria and along the transport roads.

230

$

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TABLE No. 6.

OBSERVATION CHART.-EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL, No. 1.

Temperatures Registered in Degrees Fahrenheit.