﻿RESEARCH IN BRITISH WEST AFRICA. 187 



there been anything like an epidemic. One European, however, contracted this 

 disease in the Cross Biver region. It might be well to remember, however, that, 

 should any cases be found and it be considered necessary to isolate them, no 

 region could be more favourable for such a camp than in the northern part of 

 the Western Province near Shaki, because from this region no G. palpalis has 

 been recorded nor is it likely that it exists there. 



Elephantiasis. 



This malady is not infrequent in the Colony, but what insect or insects are 

 implicated in its transmission is entirely unknown. 



Calabar Swelling. 



This disease was first described from Southern Nigeria and, though not fatal, 

 causes very great suffering. Several Europeans, especially those in the coast 

 region, have become infected, but by what species of insect is as yet unknown. 



Trypanosomiasis of Stock. 



This is everywhere to be found. Except in a very few places, and then only 

 by careful supervision, is it possible to keep horses in Southern Nigeria ; sooner 

 or later they succumb. Cattle do not die off so quickly, but it is hardly 

 possible to find an animal not infected with trypanosomes. The mortality from 

 the disease itself is practically nil, as the natives kill and eat all animals as soon 

 as they show very advanced symptoms. Interesting in this connection is the 

 fact that in a very few districts there is a small breed of cattle, mentioned 

 elsewhere in the report, which is said to be immune to this disease. 



Piroplasmosis. 



This disease, so far as I could learn, is almost entirely confined to dogs. 



Plague. 



Though occurring both sporadically and in endemic form in the Gold Coast, 

 plague has not yet been recorded from Southern Nigeria. It is interesting to 

 note, however, that the writer obtained a plague flea {Xenopsylla clieopis) from a 

 rat (Mms rattus) captured at Lagos. This fact should not be overlooked, and it 

 is desirable that measures for the wholesale destruction of rats should be 

 encouraged, because, in the event of the disease being once introduced, there is 

 reason to believe that the factors exist for its distribution. 



VI. — The Distribution of Glossina. 



Altogether nine species of Glossina have been recorded from Southern 

 Nigeria, the largest number found in any one British colony. These belong to 

 all the four groups described by Austen in his " Handbook of the Tsetse Flies." 

 The following notes will serve to illustrate the main points in the distribution of 

 the various species, though it must be remembered that the records at present 

 available are far from exhaustive. The accompanying map will show in a more 

 concrete form the general trend of the distribution. 



