SLEEPING SICKNESS. 333 



flies do not on sight attack every human being ov domestic animal 

 they perceiv-e ; but once let them be reduced to small animals 

 for their normal supply of blood, it is certain that on the first 

 appearance of any domestic animal or human being they would 

 instantly precipitate themselves on it. This would mean that many 

 more would be bitten than at present, and many more cases of 

 the disease would occur. I am sure if the game is exterminated, 

 the fly will not be ; and, on the contrary, the disease will be 

 increased and not diminished. 



Yours sincerel}?^. 

 Zoological Museum, (Signed) WALTER EOTHSCHILD. 



Tnng, 

 Herts, England. 



March 15th, 1913. 



Letter from SiE HENRY SETON-KARB, K.CM.G., F.Z.S. 



Dear Dr. Chalmers Mitchell, 



I am exceedingly sorry I cannot attend the meeting to- 

 night to hear Dr. Yorke's paper on the relation of Big Game in 

 Africa in spreading Sleeping Sickness, and the discussion thereon. 



The subject is one of deep interest and importance, to which I 

 gave considerable attention during my travels in South and East 

 Africa in 1911. So far as my own information and ob.sei-vation 

 go, I am entirely opposed to any proposed destruction of Big 

 Game, or any relaxation of the I'estrictions on the shooting of 

 game until the case against them as spreaders of Sleeping Sickness 

 has been fully and clearly established, which is far from being 

 the case at present. 



The subject was fully discussed in the South-African press a 

 few years ago by many well-known authorities, and I would 

 suggest that the letters on this subject be, if possible, obtained, 

 printed, and circulated, 



The main difficulties of the problem, as I understand them, 

 are : — 



1. That there would appear to be other agencies, ajDart from 



Big Game, that spread this dreadful scourge, and that 

 some of these agencies have yet to be ascertained. 



2. That inasmuch as there are Sleeping Sickness areas where 



Big Game are not plentiful, and Big Game areas where 

 there is no Sleeping Sickness, the direct" connection 

 between the two has yet to be fully established. 



3. That other causes exist for the spread of the disease, such 



as, for example, the greater freedom of intercourse 

 among native tribes under white protection. 



4. That the destruction of Big Game in any given areas is 



a task of immense difticultj^ which, if attempted, might 

 not have the desired effect. Some game would merel}" 

 be driven elsewhere, and the smaller mammals and 

 game be left, which are also a possible spreading agency 

 of the disease. 



