121 



Dift'erent views are taken as to the prospect of dealing with the fly, 

 but it was, as the Committee think truly, said by more than one of 

 the witnesses that in this form of research there is a large element of 

 chance — that accident may at any time lay bare a secret which may 

 lead to the solution of the problem — and that the multiplication of 

 workers is the multiphcation of those chances. 



The Committee think, therefore, that, within reason, there should 

 be devoted to thii form of inquiry a considerable portion of such funds 

 as may be available in British Possessions, and that endeavours 

 should be made to obtain the co-operation in this w^ork of Foreign 

 Powers in their African Possessions, the results of the work being from 

 time to time collected and tabulated. 



Research will, no doubt, be continued as to the nature of the different 

 trypanosomes, and the part they play in the infection of man or of 

 domestic stock. 



The proposed experiment of removal of wild animals from a selected 

 area may produce valuable results, both as regards knowledge of the 

 habits of the fly, and as to the extent to which the infectivity of the 

 fly, and subsequently the infection of man or stock, is derived from the 

 wild animals. 



As has been pointcvd out, the result of this experiment cannot be 

 confidently anticipated. There are possible fallacies and uncertainties 

 involved from the very nature of the problem, and in dealing with 

 natural conditions there is always the possibility of unknown factors 

 vitiating or defeating action based on the apparent results of any such 

 experiment. 



Nevertheless, the Committee think that there is sufficient to justify 

 an expectation of useful results and they recommend that if a suitable 

 locality can be found where an experiment can be carried out at a 

 reasonable cost, it should be undertaken. They are, however, of the 

 opinion that the carrying out of the other measures recommended 

 .should not be delayed pending the results of the experiment which 

 cannot be expected to emerge for two or three years. 



The Committee further express the hope that medical research as 

 to treatment of the disease and the production of immunity will be 

 continued. 



The above recommendations relate mainly to the acquisition of 

 knowledge on which further action may be based. As regards immed- 

 iate action, the Committee strongly recommend that measures of 

 clearing should be undertaken where they are practicable and would 

 tend to check the spread of the disease and render life in settlements 

 and travel by road safe for men and stock. 



DA CosTA (B. G. B.). Report on the Sleeping Sickness Mission in 

 Principe, Oct. and Nov. 1913, embodied in Report of Consul- 

 General Hail to Sir Edward Grey. [Received 22nd April 19U.] 



Dr. da Costa, the head of the Sleeping Sickness Mission in Principe 

 makes the following report for the months of October and November 

 1913. In a report recently presented on his 10 months' residence in 

 the island, the good results obtained by the destruction of Glossina, 

 the isolation of the sick, the killing of animals infected wdth trypano- 

 somiasis, and the use of the preventive injections of atoxyl immediately 



(C56) A 2 



