326 EASTERN ETHIOPIA xxvi 



blood. It is an unpleasant remedy, but at the present 

 time it is the only reliable drug available against this 

 deadly disease. 



The medical profession has long realised that the use 

 of drugs in many diseases is really drawing a bow at a 

 venture. Certainly so far as contagious diseases are 

 concerned prevention is better than cure. To avoid 

 bites from the tsetse fly becomes an injunction fairly 

 easily obeyed in the case of Europeans w r ho wear clothes, 

 and especially if they will remember that Glossina palpalis 

 can bite through thin coverings, especially the stockings 

 of ladies. The case of the naked natives is different, for 

 they are ignorant and indifferent. The fishermen on 

 the shores of the Victoria Nyanza allow the flies to 

 rest on their skin in dozens, and they take no trouble to 

 disturb them. When the matter is explained to these 

 folk, they reply that the flies had always been on the 

 lake shore in their time and during the life-time of their 

 fathers, and were harmless. A cheap and effective 

 method of suppressing and exterminating the fly is 

 needed. Vigorous steps in this direction are being 

 taken. The Uganda shores of the lake have been cleared 

 of natives ; the narrow strips of land where tsetse flies 

 abound have been cleared of jungle and rushes, especially 

 bear landing-stages, ferries, roads, and wells, with 

 encouraging results. The old motto which runs : 

 " Oppose a distemper at its first approach, " must be 

 replaced by one probably as ancient " Prevention is 

 better than cure." 



Tsetse Fly (natural size). 



