150 



Swynnerton (145), in Portuguese East Africa, was unable to make 

 " any experiments in the matter of spraying or wiping animals with 

 paraffin or other deterrent liquids," but it is pointed out by this author 

 that " Against brevipalpis the animals' lower surface should be 

 sprayed." He also makes the interesting suggestion that " an internal 

 tsetsefuge," if such can be found, might possibly prove both effective 

 in the case of cattle and of value as a preventive of sleeping sickness. 

 " An internal tsetsefuge," writes Swynnerton, "might .... be 

 experimented for and be used where the number of cattle was not too 

 large for treatment. During our first epizootic of African Coast fever, 

 in 1900, when I was already losing stock seriously, I tried dosing the 

 surviving cattle each morning with a double handful each of garlic, 

 crushed and given in a bottle of water as we had then no dipping 

 tanks. I am inclined to attribute the fact that I saved a much larger 

 percentage of our small herd than did any of our neighbours (who lost 

 nearly everything) in part to the deterrent effect of the garlic on the 

 ticks. I do not know its effect in relation to biting flies, but it might 

 be tested, and if it were successful, garlic-eating might become a useful 

 if obnoxious habit in sleeping sickness areas." 



OTHER PRECAUTIONS FOR THE PROTECTION OF STOCK. When 

 cattle have to be transported by rail through a zone infested by Tsetse- 

 fly, they should be conveyed in screened wagons, as is stated by Bouet 

 (12) to be the case on the Ivory Coast railway. 



For the protection of a mob of cattle moving on foot through fly, 

 Swynnerton (145) suggests the placing of animals of lesser value a 

 short distance in front of the others. Experience gained by this 

 author, when passing with cattle through country infested by G. 

 brevipalpis, goes to show that by the adoption of this plan the leading 

 animals draw off all the fly, those that come after getting few or none. 



PERSONAL PROTECTION OF HUMAN BEINGS. " When shooting or 

 working in a tsetse-fly country," writes Sir David Bruce (19), " some 

 protection from the bites of these poisonous insects is necessary. It 

 must be borne in mind that a single bite from an infected tsetse-fly 

 will almost certainly give rise to sleeping sickness. It is evident, then, 

 that shorts are not permissible. Their place must be taken by strong 

 drill khaki breeches, with boots and gaiters or puttees. It is best to 

 wear a coat over the shirt in order to protect the body and arms. The 

 neck and face are favourite places of attack, and anything in the way 

 of a net veil or covering attached to the brim of the helmet is apt to 

 be hot and stuffy, and, further, is constantly being; caught and torn 

 by the thorns with which all the trees in the fly-country are plentifully 

 supplied. Moreover, the veil interferes with vision, and is in the way 

 when shooting. 



" To remedy this a headpiece [figured by the author in his paper] 

 was invented, which was found to be practical, fairly cool and safe. 

 Knitting-needles, about one-third of an inch in thickness, were made of 

 hard wood. With these a head-covering was knitted, similar in 

 appearance to a Crusader's headpiece of chain-mail. Native string, 

 which is stiff and hard like whipcord, was used. The result was a 

 close-fitting cap, extending well down on the chest and back, and 

 leaving only a small opening for the eyes, nose and mouth. It was 

 found that the tsetse-flies seldom attacked this opening, and, if they 

 did, were seen and driven away. The string made a layer about one- 

 third of an inch thick like chain-mail, full of spaces and interstices, 



