CHAPTER LXXIV 



MICROBE OF THE SLEEPING SICKNESS 



THIS disease is endemic in Africa, and is prac- 

 tically confined to that country. It is caused by a 

 microbe which, no doubt, is also confined to that 

 country. 



Infection takes place by inoculation. The germ 

 enters the circulation by the bite of a certain fly. 

 The fly with its proboscis, in biting, deposits the 

 germ. 



Once in the circulation, the germ slowly multi- 

 plies, slowly generates the sleep-producing poison. 



The period of incubation is about four years; or, 

 at least, it takes about this time from the bite of 

 the fly to bring the onset of the disease. The pa- 

 tient then begins to sleep, is inclined to sleep on 

 and on, until he sleeps the eternal sleep. 



From this disease no one ever recovers. Thou- 

 sands upon thousands die of it annually. 



For the disease no antitoxine is yet known. 



The one thing to do, therefore, is to prevent the 

 disease. First, the native should protect his per- 

 son against the bite of the fly. Second, the govern- 

 ment should make war upon the fly, and extermi- 

 nate it. 



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