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fatally, elicited no evidence in favour of the existence of such a parasite, after an observation period of two months.

Evans, A. M. The Occurrence of Xenopsylla astia, Roths, in West Africa.

Ann. Trop. Med. & Parasit., Vol. XVI, No. 4, p. 449. Evans, A. M.

A New Species and a New Variety of Culex from the Belgian Congo.

Ann. Trop. Med. & Parasit., Vol. XVII, No. 1, p. 89.

This paper points out that there is considerable variation in the colour pattern of Anopheles punctimacula, D. and K., and that A. benezuela is specifically identical with the former. Descriptions of two new species and the morphological characters of other mosqui- toes are dealt with.

Evans, A. M. A New Species and a New Variety of Culex from the Belgian Congo.

Ann. Trop. Med. & Parasit., Vol. XVII, No. 1, p. 89.

Gordon, R. M. Notes on the Bionomics of Stegomyia calopus, Meigen, in Brazil,

Part II.

Ann. Trop. Med. & Parasit., Vol. XVI, No. 4, p. 425. Southwell, T. Cestodes from Indian Birds, with a Note on Ligula intestinalîs.

Ann. Trop. Med. & Parasit., Vol. XVI, No. 4, p. 383. Stephens, J. W. W. A New Malaria Parasite in Man.

Stephens, J. W. and Yorke W.

Ann. Trop. Med. & Parasit., Vol. XVI, No. 4, p. 383. W.

A Case of Sleeping Sickness (T. gambiense) Treated by "Bayer 205." Ann. Trop. Med. & Parasit., Vol. XVI, No. 4, p. 421.

The patient was presumably infected in Northern Nigeria in August, 1921, and had no treatment prior to his arrival in England in March, 1922, although trypanosomes had been found in his blood in January. When first seen in Liverpool on 9th March, trypanosomes were found both in the blood and gland juice. He was given subcu- taneous injections of 045 gramme Atoxyl on 10th and 13th March, and intravenous injections of Novarsenobillon 06 gramme and 0.9 gramme on 17th and 20th March respectively. These injections were attended by considerable rises of temperature, which lasted up to 23rd March. As a result of this treatment, the general condition of the patient rapidly improved, the rashes disappeared, the enlargement of the lymphatic glands almost completely subsided, the weight steadily increased, and the trypanosomes could no longer be found in the blood. The pulse, however, remained frequent. Except for two rises to 100°F. on 27th March and 9th April, the temperature remained normal until 14th May, when it rose to 103°F. Frequent examinations of the blood during this period were negative. On 28th May the tempera- ture rose to 101°F., and trypanosomes were found in the blood. On 30th May an intravenous injection of "Bayer 205," 0-5 gramme was given, a second injection of 1 gramme on 1st June, and a third of 15 gramme on 3rd June: the temperature fell to normal after the first injection, and has since remained normal. The blood was negative on 31st May and also on 3rd; 8th and 27th June, and the general condition of the patient remained good. No albuminuria developed. On 27th June an intravenous injection of "Bayer 205," 1 gramme. was given as a "prophylactic" measure, and since then he has remained in good health.

Sierra Leone Research Laboratory.

Professor Blacklock's Report 31st April, 1923.

Tsetse-fly Investigation.-As a result of the investigation of the Cape Light- house Peninsula fly area, a report was sent to the Government containing certain recommendations as to clearing and planting a portion of the area.

It has now been decided by the Government to proceed with this scheme over the experimental area suggested. This work is to commence now and is to be carried on in a systematic manner. The plan involves clearing, followed by planting a crop and laying down the area in grass. The grass which will at first be used is that sug- gested by Mr. Dawe, Commissioner of Lands and Forests. It is called Efwatakala

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Grass, and has been found by him to grow in this Colony in the neighbourhood of Kent village. The grass is considered by him to be of especial value for such an experiment as this because not only is it excellent fodder grass for stock, but it possesses qualities such as stickiness and peculiar odour which, in his opinion, might render it inimical to the fly. Although experiments made with the fly on grass which Mr. Dawe kindly supplied have not proved that the fly are repelled by it, there is the value of the grass as a fodder to be considered. It may be that in nature the effect of the grass on the fly will be more definite: The experiment which has now begun will show this and will also show whether the fly can find in this grass sufficient shelter for breeding purposes.

Beriberi. Reference was made in a previous report to the existence of beriberi and to the fact that an investigation into the disease was being carried out. Dr. Thompson and I have carried out experimental observations upon the effect of feed- ing fowls on various diets. The recommendations made have been carried into effect by the authorities. A Committee has since been formed to investigate and report on the high death-rate among long-sentence prisoners in the Freetown Prison. This Committee has now submitted the report of their findings to the Government.

Rat Investigation.-Dr. Thompson has studied the parasites of rats in Free- town with especial reference to the occurrence on rats here of fleas capable of trans- mitting plague. Dr. Thompson found that the fleas which are most common on Freetown rats were first Xenopsylla braziliensis, next Xenopsylla cheopis, and a few Ctenocephalus canis. Of these the second is, so far as is known, the chief carrier of plague. The difficulty which will lie before the Sanitary Department here in deal- ing with rats is referred to more fully below. It is sufficient to say here that in view of the overcrowding in the lower native quarters, the prevalence of rats and the considerable infestation with plague-transmitting fleas, there is good reason to anticipate that an outbreak of plague in Freetown would present a serious and difficult problem to deal with.

The Tumbu Fly.-This fly Cordylobia anthropophaga is well known in Sierra Leone from the fact that its larvæ are capable of penetrating the skin of animals and human beings and of causing there lesions of the nature of boils. These lesions correspond somewhat to those produced in the skin of cattle and stock by the Warble fly larvæ. Considerable time has been spent by us in studying the morphology of the fly in all its stages. The bionomics of this fly and the character of the lesions produced have also been studied. The French investigator Roubaud published an extensive account of the fly as it occurred in Senegal. The present investigation has, however, been able to add very considerably to the knowledge of the structure and habits of this fly, especially in regard to its first instar and its host in nature. While Roubaud concluded that the dog was the animal which was the important host of the larvæ, the present investigation has led to the conclusion that the impor- tant animal in this connexion is the wild rat. The point which requires accentua tion is that while Roubaud considered the problem of eradication of the fly, a relatively simple matter, the work carried out here shows that it will be a matter of the greatest difficulty. Roubaud's finding that careful attention to dogs would be sufficient to produce a notable effect in diminishing the fly; greater attention, it appears from the present inquiry, would have to be devoted to wild rats, to produce any appreciable effect. The wild rat problem here presents the difficulty which is well known to the Sanitary Authorities, namely, that owing to the stony character of the ground at the river front, the rats appear to have no need to excavate proper burrows, but simply live in the crevices of the rocks and stone walls. This consti- tutes also the difficulty referred to above under plague. The whole area is so much a natural shelter for rats that the task of reducing their numbers appears to be beset with even greater difficulties here than in many other places.

An important fact with regard to the Tumbu fly larvæ is that in man and animals an immunity to further infection has been produced experimentally. To what extent this will be applicable to the prevention of infection will require to be worked out in detail at a later period, as will also its bearing on the question of the production of a similar immunity in cattle against the warble flies. A natural immunity to warbles is known to exist in certain breeds of cattle in South America. The Antioquia breed is considered to have a definite immunity. The Com- missioner of Lands and Forests, Mr. Dawe, has been kind enough to supply a series of photographs of this breed taken by himself.