CO885-9 — Page 289

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

9 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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and at least one for the Nile. It is here that some of the six additional medical officers could be usefully employed. Each would take his district and organise in it a thorough system of research, in which he would be assisted by our officials and the resident missionaries; all reports from the district would, in the first instance, be made to him; he would sift the native reports, and being constantly on the move in his charge he would visit the different parts in accordance with the information he receives and would, in time, complete a correct map of the fly area of the district. He would, moreover, be in touch with the medical officer in charge of the investiga- tions and the laboratory, and be able to study the conditions of the disease and pursue other lines of research during his investigations into the fly area.

7. With regard to the study of sleeping sickness amongst isolated communities on the islands, two islands of the Sesse group might be selected for this important part of the operations. It would be necessary to locate two medical officers on each island, for in the event of one falling sick there might be a serious break in the con- tinuity of the experiments, and the work would probably be more than one medical officer could manage. But it is thought that, perhaps, one island would suffice; the different courses of treatment being carried on simultaneously with different sections of the community.

8. Both Major Will and Dr. Moffat are strongly of opinion, in which I fully concur, that we should no longer keep the infected animals, now used in the laboratory, in the midst of the large European community in Entebbe and adjoining as they are the European hospital. The laboratory was located at Entebbe at the commencement of the investigations, when we knew little about the disease and when the question of Europeans becoming affected with this deadly malady was but little thought of. It is now thoroughly established that Europeans are susceptible to the disease there have been several cases in the Congo, and at least three cases of infection in this Protectorate. I do not consider that any further risk should be run by keeping the laboratory and its cases of infection, both human and animal, any longer in Entebbe. The island selected for investigation would be an excellent place in which to place the laboratory. The purely scientific and other researches would proceed concurrently on their various lines, and the island chosen would become the headquarters of the investigations carried on throughout the Protectorate. Moreover, this would at once solve the difficulty the laboratory have always experienced in observing early cases of the disease.

9. If, as perhaps may be the case, the Egyptian Government may wish to depute two medical officers from the Egyptian service to study the disease in Uganda, in addition to the share they will bear of the cost of the general investigation, then these two officers might well be employed at first on the island studying the scientific aspect of the question in the laboratory and taking up the treatment of the inhabitants referred to in paragraph 7. This would release two of our medical officers for the work in the districts alluded to in paragraph 6, and after the medical officers from Egypt have acquired the necessary knowledge on the island, they would be available for district work in the Nile Province with the special view of the prevention of the extension of the disease to Egypt. It may also be thought desirable that British Central Africa should depute two of its medical officers for a similar purpose, it being understood that sleeping sickness is steadily advancing from the west towards that Protectorate.

10. I have already, in my telegram of the 1st June,* laid stress on importance I attach to the whole scheme of investigation, both purely scientific and otherwise, being under the guidance and superintendence of one recognised head. This is essential in order that there may be proper co-ordination of the various lines of research, with the maximum of efficiency and minimum of cost. Moreover, it would be hardly fair to Dr. Moffat, the Senior Medical Officer of this Protectorate, who is himself a member of the Royal Society's Tropical Disease Committee, that the scientific research under the supervision of the Royal Society should rest with two young officers paid by the Protectorate and on the staff of the Medical Department, whilst he is left to the local investigations work not less important to the main issue, but which will hardly receive the same recognition in the profession.

11. To carry out this scheme we should require to erect a laboratory, slightly larger than our present one, on the island. This would be fitted with the instruments

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and furniture now in the Entebbe laboratory, and would be supplied with a wire cage enclosure to keep the animals free from any possible contact with the fly. Two houses would be required for the medical officers, to accommodate two each, and there should be a post-mortem house, and quarters for native assistants and outhouses. All these would be built of wood, with iron roofs and matchboard ceilings and cement floors. The present laboratory, which adjoins the European hospital, should be left intact; there will be plenty of use for the building after the new laboratory is com- pleted. Communication with the island, which would be about 18 miles from Entebbe, would be constantly kept up by the s.s. Sir William Mackinnon." Camp equipage, porterage, and travelling allowance would be required for the six medical officers, and provision would have to be made for interpreters and local staff, as well as for instru- ments, contingencies, and unforeseen expenditure. It has been suggested to me that some extra remuneration should be given to the officers employed on the island in consideration of the conditions under which they will work, and I would this should be at the rate of £100 a year each. Finally, I would recommend that propose that Dr. Moffat receive an increase of salary of £250 in consideration of the importance of the work he will be undertaking.

12. The probable cost of the extended scheme of investigation, if the lines I have sketched above are approved, may then be set down for the present financial year as follows:-

3. Two houses for medical officers

1. Laboratory

£500

2. Hospital and observation house

300 700

4. Post-mortem house, wired enclosure, houses for assis-

tants, outhouses and furniture

400

300

£2,200

5. Allowances to officers on island for 8 months

Total

6. Salaries of six additional medical officers for 8 months £1,600

7. Travelling allowances for 8 months

480

8. Porters

9. Interpreters and local staff

400 500

10. Instruments, contingencies, and unforeseen expenditure

500

500

12. Passages and transport of material by rail

520 250

11. Investigations east of the lake

13. Increase of salary to Dr. Moffat ...

Total Expenditure, £6,950.

£4,750

13. Of the above items, 1-4, amounting to £1,900, would be, and a part of items 10 and 12 would be, initial and non-recurring. The rest of the expenditure, with an increase of a half in items 6 and 7 would continue as long as the extended scheme of investigation lasts. Whether next year an increase of expenditure under items 9 and 10 will be required or not will depend on the experience gained during the present year after the scheme has been put into operation. The figures of esti- mated expenditure noted above have been carefully considered in communication with the Principal Medical Officer, the Treasurer, and the departments concerned.

I have, &c.,

26622

SIR,

No. 22.

J. HAYES SADLER.

SIR V. E. H. CORBETT to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received July 28, 1905.)

[Answered by No. 24.]

Travellers' Club, Pall Mall, July 27, 1905. COPIES of the correspondence which has passed between your department and