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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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The people submitted readily to medical examination and partook of such medicine as I distributed with avidity.

In a few cases I found it advisable to make cervical punctures in order to obtain glandular juice films, but in no case did I obtain any but negative informa- tion from such preparations.

Varieties of the tsetse fly.

The tsetse fly captured by me were of two varieties, of which the first was by far the most common.

These were :-

(a) The Ordinary Glossina Morsitans (the carrier of Nagana disease).

(b) A variety of tsetse resembling in many respects the Glossina Palpalis of South Africa and elsewhere, but differing from it by the colouration of its legs.

This variety was scarce. I am sending the twelve specimens of it which I captured to Doctor Balfour for identification.

Distribution.

With the exception of the country in the immediate neighbourhood of Wau and other stations, the districts bounded by the Wau, Chak Chak-Kossinger Deim Zubeir road are swarming with tsetse fly, most of which belong to the variety "Glossina Morsitans."

The northern limit of the fly belt appears to coincide with the road to Kossinger from Wau via Chak Chak, and according to native report, cattle which are unable to live south of this line, thrive exceedingly well a few miles to the north. An exception is, however, to be made as regards the River Pongo.

According to El Kaim Percival Bey tsetse fly are found on this river as far

north as Kondi.

In no case are these fly found in any numbers in the immediate vicinity of human habitations.

Mules and other transport animals do exceedingly well in the transport lines at Chak Chak and Deim Zubeir as long as they are not required to go out and graze in the neighbouring forests and khors.

Animals which, however, are sent out with their coats efficiently protected by a mixture of native tobacco and fat appear to be able to graze in these localities with relative immunity.

Remarks about the habit of the tsetse fly in these districts.

(a) The fly in these districts bite men and animals indiscriminately both day and night. I have captured several score in the act of biting my own person an hour or so before sunrise.

(b) Persons marching at the head of a column in these districts appear to be more liable to the attack than those at the rear of the column.

(c) Flies of both sexes both bite men and beasts.

(d) In some places where game was abundant fly was scarce, in others the contrary appears to be the case.

(e) All domestic animals appear to acquire Nagana from the result of these flies biting them.

(f) Goats and Abyssinian mules appear to be, however, comparatively the least liable to this disease.

I am making a collection of blood films obtained from game and birds in these districts, and with the assistance of Bimbashi Vaughan, from the neighbourhood of Wau.

I will forward them at an early date to Doctor Balfour, together with my collection of tsetse flies. I return to Wau on 15th December, 1905, and will start for the Meridi and Mvolo districts within a few days.

G. DANSEY-BROWNING,

To the Secretary,

Sleeping Sickness Commission,

Khartoum.

Wau, December 19, 1905.

Bimb: M.C.

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REPORT by Major G. Dansey-Browning, R.A.M.C., on journey from Wau to

Rumbek-Bahr-el-Ghazal.

SOUDAN GOVERNMENT SLEEPING SICKNESS EXPEDITION, 1905-1906.

Rumbek, January 3, 1906.

I left Wau on the 22nd December, 1905, and proceeded viâ Tonj, in the vicinity of which I stayed four days. I arrived at Rumbek on the 2nd January, 1906.

The information obtained on this journey was practically identical to that collected on my previous march on the Chak Chak road, viz., the "Glossina Morsi- tans" variety of tsetse is met with all along the road from Wau as far as the River Gell, animals working on this road suffer considerably from the "Nagana" disease, but the "Glossina Palpalis" and diseases allied to sleeping sickness are unknown, and, according to the oldest inhabitants, have never been heard of in this district.

I am sending specimens of the flies captured to Doctor Balfour as well as some blood-film preparations obtained from transport animals and wild game met with during the journey.

I propose proceeding south in a couple of days and will march by Mvolo to Meridi, from which post, if circumstances permit, I shall travel by Mangis to Yambio.

I expect to be back in time to return to Khartoum by the steamer leaving Shambe' either on the 2nd March or the 2nd of April.

I attach a rough statement of accounts connected with the expedition.

G. DANSEY-BROWNING,

To the Secretary,

Sleeping Sickness Commission,

Khartoum.

Bimb M.C.

From Bimbashi G. DANSEY-BROWNING to the SECRETARY, Sleeping Sickness Committee, Khartoum.

Zungumbia, February 11, 1906.

I have to report that I have reached Zungumbia, and propose returning viâ Meridi and Rumbek to Shambe' in time to return to Khartoum by the boat leaving Shambe' on the 2nd or 3rd of April, 1906. I have received no instructions from you up to date, so I trust this will be in accordance with your wishes. I found Glossina Palpalis" in fairly large numbers south of the 6th Latitude N., in the districts between Mvolo and this post. I also found, but in fewer numbers, a certain number of " Glossina Morsitans."

'Nagana" is met with at practically every post in these districts, but, so far, I have not come across trypanosomiasis.

The Officer Commanding the Congo Free State Troops in this region has kindly allowed me to examine most of his men, but, so far, I have only obtained negative results as to the existence of "Sleeping Sickness" amongst them. One or two suspected cases have been placed under observation and will be re-examined on my return journey.

From Meridi Post I propose returning by a new road to Rumbek, so as to report as to the existence of tsetse in the regions between these posts. The road is that used by natives travelling north from the Niam Niam country. It follows the Meridi River north as far as the region marked on the map as the site of Armstrong Bey's Tomb, and thence goes off to the north-east in the direction of Rumbek. It is said to be a good road and much shorter than the old road from Meridi to Rumbek viâ Mvolo.

The country south of 6° Latitude N. appears to be very healthy at this time of year.

There is hardly any malaria, and all the officers, both British and Egyptian, appear to be in good health. The Congo Free State Troops are suffering a good deal from dysentery in these districts, but so far as I am aware we have only had one case of this disease amongst our own men.

& DANSEY-BROWNING,

20876

Bimb: M.C.

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