﻿AGAINST SLEEPING SICKNESS IN THE WESTERN PROVINCE OF ASHANTI. 229 



water, if not actually drying it up altogether during the dry season, and infinite 

 harm might be done thereby to a large extent of country watered by a particular 

 stream. In Jaman and Berekum, water in the dry season is very scarce, water-holes 

 being mostly used as village supplies. These holes are situated in shady places 

 and to remove this shade might mean the end of the supply and consequent 

 water famines during the dry season. Clearings round water-supplies should 

 therefore be undertaken, I think, with great care, and the supply should be 

 examined by an expert before clearing operations are definitely ordered and 

 enforced. 



River-crossings. 



To maintain an effective clearing at river-crossings on forest roads, situated as 

 many are at considerable distances from the nearest village, I consider, however 

 desirable, to be altogether impracticable, unless undertaken at great expense 

 by Government labour. In the neighbourhood of rivers vegetable growth is 

 especially rapid, and a non-effective clearing would possibly create a forest 

 condition more favourable to Glossina. I venture to think that at the present 

 time the limited occurrence of sleeping sickness in the Province would not 

 warrant large expenditure in this direction. 



Sleeping* Sickness. 



From medical reports and from native evidence, sleeping sickness appears 

 to be a disease of great antiquity in the locality. I can find no record or 

 tradition of an epidemic, and it would appear unlikely that there is any great 

 danger, at the present moment or in the near future, of an outbreak in epidemic 

 form. From recent statistics the percentage of infection (not a very large one) 

 appears to be in a condition of equilibrium. There is no native panic, and from 

 my own experience of seven years of being constantly bitten by Glossina in 

 infected areas, the risk of infection cannot be very great. There is no evidence 

 to show that the disease is any more prevalent at the present time than it has 

 been for a long period, and several years of medical statistics will be necessary 

 to enable any correct opinion on this point to be formed. In the present 

 condition of the disease the object of enforcing clearings would not be understood 

 by the natives, and with such a small percentage of infection no great object 

 lesson would be conveyed by results. It is possible that the natives would 

 conceal cases of the disease (and there is nothing easier for them to do) and let 

 the Government know as little about it as possible, with a view to avoiding 

 labour the cause of which they do not appreciate. Were there a panic or a much 

 larger percentage of infection, conditions would be different. Three years ago 

 the natives were willing and anxious, as I think has been testified by Dr. King- 

 horn, to aid the cause of science by giving all information in their power. 

 Already, I regret to say, I see signs of attempted concealment and a desire 

 to avoid answering questions as to the disease. 



Glossina longipalpis. 



According to medical reports, Jaman, Berekum and Wenchi are the neighbour- 

 hoods most heavily infected with sleeping sickness. In these areas Glossina 



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