CO885-(25-26) — Page 42

40

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

गय 'ग

19

59433

62

No. 37.

NIGERIA.

THE ACTING GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(No. 724.)

60038

(Received 9th December, 1918.)

Government House, Nigeria, 8th November, 1918. [Printed as No. 69 in African No. 1081.]

No. 38.

GERMAN EAST AFRICA.

THE ADMINISTRATOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 11th December, 1918.)

(No. 132.)

7957

Administrator's Office, Wilhelmstal, 10th October, 1918. Printed as No. 70 in African No. 1081.]

No. 39. UGANDA.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 8.5 p.m., 5th February, 1919.)

TELEGRAM.

4TH FEBRUARY. My telegram 21st January,* sleeping sickness. Carpenter reports tsetse on Sesse Islands greatly increased numbers and infectivity. Pro- posal has been made to exterminate fly and game on islands by use of poison gas, as used in Western Front, perhaps in connexion with seaplane. valuable. Fiske should consider it.-CORYNDON.

68

5. The outbreak of war, amongst other reasons, interrupted the investigations which I was carrying out on this point before the important test of inoculation into the higher apes could be performed. We are thus in ignorance as to whether or not the organism now present in fly and antelope on the islands is capable of survival in man.

6. Certain important general considerations advanced by Mr. Fiske, as a result of a careful review of all available facts, point to the possibility that the mere association of fly, trypanosome, antelope, and man does not necessarily, per se, entail the recurrence of the disease in anything like epidemic form.

7. Another point that requires careful investigation is the degree of variation, permanent or temporary, shown by a given trypanosome strain when perpetuated by successive mechanical transmissions and successive cyclical passages through the insect host, respectively. In this way valuable light will be cast on the relative importance of these two methods of trypanosome transmission in the causation of an epidemic.

8. The above is a superficial statement of the line of research which I am anxious to pursue in the laboratory concurrently with Mr. Fiske's field work. The importance of the work is great, both to the areas concerned and to science.

9. The Entebbe site for the laboratory was chosen, among other reasons, because of the proximity of the islands and the consequent facilities for carrying on trypanosome work when required. I have had considerable experience of this line of work, and this ensures a minimum waste of time in carrying out the experi- ments can be undertaken at once while the machinery of the laboratory is being with the ordinary routine.

I therefore request, sir, that you will submit these skeleton proposals to the expert advisers of the Colonial Office, in order that their true value may be repre- sented to the authorities concerned, so that a proper place be assigned to this line of research on my return to Uganda.

In view of the co-operation which I shall receive from Mr. Fiske it will not be necessary for me to spend much time away from the laboratory, and the experi- ments. The majority of the work can be done at the laboratory without interfering put in motion.

I have, &c.,

H. L. DUKE, Bacteriologist, Uganda Protectorate.

Proposal may be

20123

C.O.

Reference :-

885/25

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

18448

SIR,

No. 40.

UGANDA.

DR. H. L. DUKE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received 25th March, 1919.)

24, Marloes Road, Kensington, 24th March, 1919. I HAVE the honour to bring before your notice the following considerations: 1. Mr. Fiske is at present in England making preparations to return to Uganda to complete his investigations and to test certain important conclusions relating to the possibility of repopulating the abandoned fly areas of Victoria Nyanza.

2. I have discussed matters in detail with him and Dr. Wiggins, Deputy Prin- cipal Medical Officer, Uganda, with a view to ensuring the co-ordination of field and laboratory work, which is essential to the handling of so big a problem.

3. We are of the opinion that certain laboratory investigations into the affinities of the polymorphic trypanosome at present occurring in the Glossina palpalis and Situtunga antelope of the riparian and island zone of the lake are imperative.

4. The evidence accumulated by past experimental work in Uganda points to the conclusion that the reactions of this trypanosome are those of the T. gambiense which was responsible for the recent Uganda epidemic.

* 4847.

No. 41.

MEMORANDUM CONCERNING PROCEDURE FOR RECLAMATION OF DEPOPULATED REGION BORDERING VICTORIA NYANZA IN UGANDA, AND ITS SANITATION AGAINST SLEEPING SICKNESS. MEASURES adopted by Uganda in 1907 for extermination of sleeping sick- ness in the region of Victoria Nyanza have succeeded in practically extirpating the disease, but have failed to eliminate danger of its recurrence.

To prevent recurrence in sporadic or endemic form, completely, would probably require indefinite continuation of these measures, and indefinite exclusion of populations from fishing grounds and riparian lands, equivalent to complete destruction of large property values. Indefinite continuation of them is, moreover, impossible, for their success has been due to whole-hearted support from Europeans and natives alike, and this was only given on the distinct understanding that they were only temporary and not to be indefinitely prolonged.

It is necessary to deal with "a condition" and not "a theory." The question is not whether exterminative measures shall be indefinitely continued. This has heen decisively and negatively answered. The question is whether measures shall now be taken to meet the situation created by the failure of exterminative measures, and to find means for the most effectual sanitation of the riparian region, which will aid rather than retard its repopulation and economic development.

The following procedure is proposed :-

(a) That provision be made immediately for adequate inspection of the riparian zone and islands, and for the enforcement of the Sleeping Sickness Ordinance and Regulations.