CO885-(21-23) — Page 572

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

JCO. 885

22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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124

Luano Valley District.

Examined by Dr. D. S. MacKnight during September, 1913. disease was found.

Mpika.

One case of the

The Mpika portion of the Luangwa closed area was examined by Dr. Kinghorn in May and June, 1913. All villages in this area were visited and all available natives examined.

The examination of this district was carefully controlled by the census returns, to which Dr. Kinghorn applied the requisite corrections for death, numbers working elsewhere, families who had left the district either temporarily or permanently, &c.. and it is estimated that 91 per cent. of the total adult population were palpated. The death-rate for the district is estimated from the figures available at 378 per 1,000.

The chief causes of death mentioned were:-

Accidental: (Snakes, lions, crocodiles)

Intestinal

Chest

Leprosy

Old age

Sleeping sickness (diagnosed)

Unknown

Dr. Kinghorn states:-

12

30

4

20+222)

47

"In only one village, Kapitis, was the statement definitely made that two of the three deaths there had been due to Chilotera.' In a few instances the symptoms mentioned-emaciation, cedemata, headache--were suspicious of sleeping sickness, but from the meagre amount of detail available no definite conclusion could be drawn. The large number of deaths due to intestinal disorders was, to a very large extent, attributed directly to the lack of proper food the result of last year's drought."

In discussing the discrepancy which exists between the censused population and the members examined, Dr. Kinghorn remarks: While I regret this discrepancy, I think that the results are sufficiently exhaustive to afford a fair index of the pre- valence of sleeping sickness in this portion of the valley at the present time."

The total number palpated was 2,613. Details are given in the following

table :-

Men

Women

Children

Totals

Per cent.

X

X-

X-

Totale.

3

266

342

613

1

242

75

998

0

1

533

468

1,002

+

3

1,041

1,565

2,613

0.15

0.11

39.83

59.89

99.98

All those with X and X - glands were punctured and trypanosomes were found in the gland juice of two.

These two positive cases were found in Kapampa's and Msoko's villages, the first of which lies seven miles to the north of the old Nawalia Boma, and the other on the Mwalezi River which forms the Mpika Chinsali boundary.

So far as it is possible to judge, therefore, the outlook is distinctly encouraging. The villages in this portion of the sleeping sickness area were visited at periods varying from eighteen to twenty-four months previous to the present occasion, and whereas eight cases were then diagnosed only two have been isolated this year. Strong support is afforded, accordingly, to the view that the disease is of old standing in the Luangwa Valley and that it has now reached a state of comparative equilibrium; were this not the case it might have been expected that the disease would have made more pronounced strides in two years, more particularly in view of the general lowering of vitality which must have occurred in the natives during the period of semi- starvation which existed last year.

"The general health of the community now appears to be satisfactory."

125

Lundazi.

The southern third of the Lundazi sub-district was examined by Dr. Kinghorn during July and August, 1913.

Six thousand three hundred and seventy-four natives were seen, and five cases of trypanosomiasis found.

These results are identical for this part of the division with the condition found by Dr. Wallace, who made a similar examination during December, 1911, and January, 1912 (vide last report, page 16). Details of this examination are not yet to hand.

Luano Valley.

This area was examined by Dr. D. S. MacKnight during September of this year. One thousand six hundred and fifty-three natives were examined, of whom 21 had puncturable glands, and from 77 others fresh blood films were taken and examined.

One case of trypanosomiasis was found. (Matowera, of Mwanna's Village, near the Mwapula Stream.)

Previous History of the Disease in this Area.-During July and August of this year a series of deaths were reported, the cause for which was obscure,

A blood smear taken by the Native Commissioner (Mr. E. K. Jordan) from one

of these cases was found by Dr. Wallace to contain trypanosomes.

An examination was recently made by Dr. D. S. MacKnight, of the natives living

in this valley. Every village was visited, and all the inhabitants palpated. A few villages on the Luensemfwa, to the south of the Luano, were examined, also a few villages on the plateau to the west.

Dr. MacKnight reports:—

Glossina morsitans is by no means numerous in any part of the area, but more plentiful near the Mwapula Stream than elsewhere.

The natives state that the fly is always most numerous and most troublesome just before the rains (October and November); they think that during the past year tsetse has been inore numerous than usual; as far as can be ascertained these flies disappear at certain times, and do not make the valley their habitat.

Game. Is not by any means plentiful except on the Mwapula, near its junction with the Lunsemfwa. Fly at this point was particularly scarce.

Domestic animals.-In the Mwapula area there were very few dogs, and no goats; elsewhere throughout the valley healthy dogs and goats were found in the villages.

Previous History of the Disease.--The natives state that the disease is not by any means a new one, they have known it since they were children. They have never seen or heard of so many cases as have occurred lately. Only two cases have been noticed by them in the five years preceding the one on record. They recognise the disease by the oedema in the legs, and talk of it as "the disease in which the legs swell." They have no name for the disease. Many years ago a name was given to it; this has, however, been dropped. They do not believe that small children ever get the disease. The sickness may be looked for just when the crops begin to grow, Somnolence is not recognised as a symptom of the that is, with the first rains.

disease.

The number of people who have recently died of the swollen leg sickness is said to be about twenty.

Fundu Medical Examination and Detention Camp.-This Medical Station was established in January, 1912, with the object of :-

(1) Providing a medical examination and detention for all natives passing south to Southern Rhodesia from the Luangwa closed area and Nyasa- land, and so preventing the spread of trypanosomiasis into that territory.

(2) Providing a medical station for the southern part of the Luangwa closed area from which the population of the surrounding district could be periodically examined.

(3) To provide medical assistance and hospital treatment for the natives of

the surrounding districts.

The station was opened by Dr. Leach, who remained in charge, pending his trans- fer to Fort Jameson, until April, 1912. Since that date Dr. R. S. White has been in charge, assisted by Dr. F. O. Stohr, and subsequently by Dr. A. D. Edington.

Each native passing through detained for a minimum of ten days. Daily observations as to temperature are taken, all are carefully palpated. All enlarged