15 



in a position to state definitely that the work carried out has yielded 

 the best of results, in spite of the expectations of many who thought 

 it impossible to eliminate the scourge from the island. This is 

 especially the case on estates owned by Europeans. The disease 

 diminished as if by magic, and Glossina jxdpalis no longer appeared 

 on the roads and cultivated portions of the island, except in 

 very reduced numbers, and even then very seldom. The general 

 mortality on some properties fell by 50 per cent., and in others by 

 70 and 80 per cent. The methods adopted by the planters, under the 

 instruction of the Commission, were briefly as follows : Swamps were 

 drained and timber felled in all places where Glossina took shelter ; 

 wild pigs were killed, scrub jungle was cleared, flies were caught by 

 means of tanglefoot traps, and the like, and all affected domestic 

 animals were slaughtered. Human beings attacked were segregated 

 until the trypanosomes had disappeared from the circulation, and 

 injections of atoxyl were given immediately after the bite of the fly. 

 In some cases the drainage of the swamps involved the sacrifice of the 

 plantations. At first some of the planters showed great unwillingness 

 to comply with the law, but now all are carrying out the measures 

 prescribed more thoroughly, and some even with great vigour. 

 If these operations are efficiently and continuously carried on, the 

 author believes that the total eradication of sleeping sickness would 

 be quite possible within a short period. Special complaint is made 

 with regard to the properties owned by natives, for though there is a 

 Native League, it has done nothing to assist the Commission by im- 

 pressing its less intelligent members with the necessity for stamping 

 out sleeping sickness, and the natives are for the most part afflicted 

 with " sickly fatalism." They do not maintain cleanliness, and let 

 their properties go to ruin, except for little patches used for growing 

 manioc and millet. Every native hut sheltered a dozen dogs, running 

 wild, as if for the feeding of the Glossina, and the natives attacked with 

 sleeping sickness could with difficulty be got to submit to segregation 

 and treatment. The author complains that the expenses of the Brigade 

 are borne by Europeans, some of whom are not in any better financial 

 position than many natives. The fly is known to take refuge in damp 

 shady places, frequented by animals, chiefly pigs, which are insensible 

 to the bite of the insect, and allow it to settle on them in large 

 numbers. They carry the fly about from place to place, thus 

 not only acting as vehicles, but also providing it with a liberal 

 food supply. The author says that he has seen as many as thirty 

 Glossina gorged with blood hanging on the dead body of one pig. It 

 has been noticed that in places forming foci for the fly, when the land 

 is cleared, the wild pigs killed and the swamps drained, Glossina 

 disappears in a wonderfully short space of time and never re-appears 

 so long as cleanliness is maintained. The Commission has, therefore, 

 insisted upon keeping the borders of the marshes and brooks free from 

 all vegetation. Whilst the brigade was engaged in this work it took 

 with it a number of labourers dressed in black clothes smeared with 

 bird-lime, so as to catch the flies. In order to protect these men, they 

 were given injections of atoxyl as soon as bitten, but in four cases out 

 of 120 examined, trypanosomes were found. These men were bitten 

 several hours' journey away from the camp, and hence the injection 

 was delayed, but the author considers that on the whole, the Commission 



