CO885-(20-21) — Page 368

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.885

21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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of Broken Hill. European evidence, however, although that [not] very definite, goes to show that he has recently visited North-Eastern Rhodesia, Luapula, or Serenji District.

8. Chisako, Mchampa's village, Malamba District, North-Western Rhodesia, admits having been in the Alala country between Serenji and the Luapula; further evidence as to actual whereabouts will soon be obtainable.

9. Mawembi, Kasama District, North-Eastern Rhodesia, recently discovered at Hartley, Southern Rhodesia, to be suffering from sleeping sickness, arrived there with infected European previously mentioned.

The responsibility for the infection of three of these cases, namely, Mr. l'hillips and the two Mombera natives, is equally shared by Nyasaland and North-Eastern Rhodesia until such time as it becomes possible in one or other of these territories or elsewhere in the case of Mr. Phillips to point to the probable source of infection; meanwhile every effort is being made in North-Eastern Rhodesia to find signs of the disease or possibilities of infection outside those areas already known to contain them.

Mr. Phillips.

Some points in the clinical history of this case would seem to point to the possibility of infection having occurred previous to the date of his arrival at Hargreaves.

During convalescence from the blackwater attack, two to four or five weeks after his arrival on the Luangwa, he suffered from enlarged glands, so marked as to be noticed by himself. Oedema at the feet and pain in the knees, frequent feverish attacks unaccompanied by rigors. These were all probably manifestations of a trypanosome infection which, if it took place on the Luangwa, demonstrated itself very much more rapidly than is generally the case.

The subsequent course of the disease was also unusually rapid, presuming that infection took place on the Luangwa.

The two natives, cases 1 and 2, come from the district Mombera, in Nyasaland, which district during 1907 supplied a very large proportion of the carriers required by the Tanganyika Concessions, Limited, for the transport of some 22,000 loads to Madona, on the Luapula. It is possible, therefore, that there may be in their villages amongst those who were engaged in this work an occasional unrecognised case of the disease, and as pointed out by Dr. Bagshaw in Bulletin No. 72, Sleeping Sickness Bureau, contact with cases of the disease may possibly be a factor in its production due probably to accidental infection.

Both these natives were well advanced in the disease on their arrival at Broken Hill.

Serenji District, North-Eastern Rhodesia,

Cases 3, 4, 5, and 6 are all natives of the district. In the case of 3 and 6 the probable source of their infection is indicated in their previous histories.

Cases 4 and 5 do not at the present admit of a satisfactory explanation as to the source of infection. The Muchinga Plateau, on which the Serenji District is, owing to its altitude, 4,500 feet, does not seem to provide suitable conditions for the occurrence of Glossina palpalis, and it is unlikely that infection took place in that part of the district which is situated on the plateau. This plateau is between the Luangwa River on the west and the Luangwa on the east; in connection with case No. 3. a thorough search was made in the vicinity of the Lulumala River last June and July for anything at all suspicious of sleeping sickness. Dr. Master reported on the absence of all such signs, and on the unsuitability of the river for harbouring. Glossina palpalis. A reasonable presumption is that infection took place on the Luapula, and that these natives are concealing the fact of a previous visit to that

river.

North-Western Rhodesia Natives.

Cases Nos. 7 and 8. Further information as to the actual movements of these natives is required; is difficult to procure. No. 7 is supposed to have been sent by a sub-contractor on the railway construction to recruit labour in the Serenji District (the torm Serenji District is very loosely used by the natives of North-Western Rhodesia); it is unlikely, owing to the well-known scarcity of labour in this district, that it should be selected for the purpose of recruiting. The Southern Luapula area would be much more likely to be visited for this purpose. Case No. 8 states

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that he accompanied a hunting party to the Alala country. The actual route followed will soon be obtainable from one of the Europeans of this party.

European cases Nos. 1 and 2 and native cases Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 9 all tend to throw suspicions on the Luangwa River.

Dr. Kinghorn examined this river in 1907 for about five miles above and below Hargreaves, and for about the same distance above and below Chewandas he found no Glossina palpalis, and then expressed the opinion that the river was not favour- able for the occurrence of this fly. It was, I think, also examined by Mr. Neave, with a negative result. Dr. Wallace and myself have again recently examined the neighbourhood of Hargreaves and found nothing suspicious of the presence of the disease. A new road which ran along the western bank, built by the Rhodesian Native Labour Bureau, has been condemned and is now disused. Morsitans is very plentiful all along the river, and two Glossina fusca were found; one about eight miles north of Hargreaves.

Dr. Leach is now examining this river and all villages in its proximity working south from Luambe. It is expected that he will shortly be joined by an entomo- logist, when they will, in conjunction, complete the examination of this river and that part of the Zambesi in British territory down stream from the Batoka Gorge.

The Chambesi River has been examined by Mr. Neave, with a negative result; it will be re-examined this season by Dr. Brunton.

Dr. Chisholm, who has done a considerable amount of work in the neighbour- hood of Chinsali, has failed [? to trace] any signs of the disease there. Appended to this report are maps* of the Abercorn, Luapula, and part of Mweru Districts, show- ing the distribution of Glossina palpalis; also records* of gland palpation carried out during the year.

It has been pointed out by Dr. Bagshawe in a memorandum addressed to the Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, that the line of the Luapula is the limit of Glossina palpalis in Northern Rhodesia, and consequently the limit of endemic and epidemic sleeping sickness beyond which, however, many infected cases may be introduced.

The results of all searches made up to the present confirm these statements, and it seems probable that all such cases will be found to be imported or due to accidental infection.

In the same memorandum, Dr. Bagshawe points out that Sir A. Hardinge suggests that a conference between the Rhodesian and Belgian officials is the only satisfactory way of deciding the form which preventive measures with regard to the Luapula and Lake Mweru should take: Agreement on the spot on common

measures to be reciprocally supported and enforced."

A conference held in April between Dr. Leach, Mr. Marshall, and Mr. Millar, and the German officials on Lake Tanganyika has been productive of much good, and I would suggest for your Honour's consideration that something similar might

be arranged with the Belgian officials on Lake Mweru and the Luapula.

Tanganyika Division,

Total number of cases since disease discovered, 18. Admitted during 1909, 3.

Total deaths, 4.

Now in segregation camp, 14.

Both Dr. Bagshawe and Dr. Spillane have recently drawn attention to the possibility of Glossina palpalis and sleeping sickness extending to the valley of the Zambesi by means of increased traffic and railway communication from the north, mainly as a result of the northern extension of the railways.

Dr. Pearson, Principal Medical Officer of the Tanganyika Concessions, Limited, states in a letter previously referred to that "there is good reason to believe that at no place on the railway route to the Star of the Congo will the line be within less than 50 miles of Glossina palpalis, whilst it may actually prove that the distance is greater."

It seems, however, that although it is extremely unlikely that this species will be found between Ndola and the Star, the information at present available as to this part of the new line is not complete beyond the Star. Should the railway be con- tinued to Lobito Bay, there is no information on the subject available. Dr. Pearson

Not received in Colonial Office,