84 



known geographical distribution of T. brucei to suggest that it is a 

 cause of sleeping sickness in man ; and even if it were found to produce 

 disease in man, this would of itself constitute no greater argument 

 in favour of its identity wdth the Nyasaland strain than with 

 T. gambiense. The author therefore concludes that there is very little 

 scientific evidence to support the contention that T. brucei and the 

 trypanosome causmg sleeping sickness in Nyasaland are the same 

 species, w^hile there are some very valid reasons for regarding them as 

 distinct. On the supposition that they are probably distinct species, 

 several alternative hypotheses are put forward as to the derivation 

 of the human strain. 



In conclusion it is pointed out that, unless an mimodilied game 

 strain be the cause of human trypanosomiasis, the human carrier is 

 of much greater importance than the wild animal, and consequently 

 the recommendations of the Commission cannot, unless considerably 

 modified, be considered as a satisfactory solution. The wholesale 

 destruction of the big game of Africa cannot be accomplished without 

 profoundly affecting the economic position on this Continent, nor, 

 even if it could be satisfactorily carried out, can any positive guarantee 

 be given at present that the situation in respect of sleeping sickness 

 would be improved. 



OTHBTbi MannpiMHbix-b 3KcneflMuiM 1904 m 1905 rr. [The Reports oi 

 the Malaria Expeditions in 1904 and 1905.] — « Tpyflbl KoMMHCCiM 

 no HSyHeHJH) Ma/inpiH B"b PocciM.» [The Work of the Conmais- 

 sion for the Studv of Malaria in Russia], Moscow, 1915, 

 pp. 17-218, 5 tables of figs. [Received 30th April 1917.] 



The Institute of Experimental Medicine assigned in 1904 a grant 

 of about £1,000 for an expedition to Gagri to study malaria on the 

 Black Sea coast of Caucasia. This expedition was organised by the 

 Malaria Commission of the Pirogov Society of Surgeons and took place 

 in 1904, while another expedition was undertaken the next year to 

 some localities adjoining Gagri ; both expeditions were imder the 

 leadership of the late Dr. N. M. Berestnev. For various reasons the 

 publication of the full reports could not take place before, although 

 notes dealing with the mosquitos observed by A. S. Skornikov appeared 

 in 1906 in Nos. 3 and 4 of the Revue Russe d'Entomologie. 



Two species of Anophelines, Anopheles maculipennis Meig., and 

 A. bififrcatus, L., were present, though in small numbers. Species of 

 Cvlex were more numerous. The mosquito larvae were found in 

 stagnant or slow-moving waters, but, whereas larvae of C'ulex were 

 found indiscriminately in all these, those of A. bifurcatus were present 

 in more or less cool water, while those of A. maculipennis were only 

 found in warmer water. Contrary to the usual statements, the Ano- 

 ])helines were found breeding in comparatively clean ditch-water, 

 containing water-plants, and showed a marked preference for the water 

 of reservoirs. The water in these reservoirs contained examples of the 

 beetles, AciUvs sulcalus, L., and Eretes sticticalis, L., which were 

 found by experiment to devour the larvae of Culex, but not those of 

 Anopheles. Though Gagri is a malarial locaUty, the number of 

 mosquitos present is relatively small, owing to the limited breeding 

 areas. The prevalence of malaria is due to the presence of a great 



