﻿230 T. E. FELL — NOTES ON TSETSE-FLIES AND ON PROPHYLACTIC MEASURES 



longipalpis, in the grass country, is equally prevalent with G. palpalis in the bush, 

 yet in other parts where palpalis occurs and longipalpis does not, the percentage 

 of infection appears to be less. G. morsitans has been proved to be a carrier 

 in Rhodesia of a form of trypanosomiasis extremely similar to sleeping sickness 

 and it is more than probable that G. longipalpis may equally be a carrier in the 

 Western Province of Ashanti. Till this point is definitely settled one way 

 or the other by scientific experiment, it would appear premature to direct 

 compulsory and expensive prophylactic measures against G. palpalis alone, 

 whose habitat differs so much from that of G. longipalpis. 



Conclusions. 



To sum up my observations and conclusions, I would urge : — 



1. That the native should be encouraged to report cases of sleeping sickness 

 for diagnosis and treatment, and to give evidence, and should not be frightened 

 by excessive compulsory work into concealment of the disease. 



2. That the population is not sufficiently large to maintain extensive effective 

 clearings. 



3. That a non-effective clearing of forest produces a condition probably more 

 dangerous than no clearing at all. 



4. That clearing round water supplies should only be undertaken with the 

 greatest caution. 



5. That clearings at river crossings in forest are impracticable unless under- 

 taken with Government-paid labour, and that the cost of clearing and maintenance 

 is not at present warranted, owing to the limited occurrence of sleeping sickness. 



6. That the point as to whether Glossina longipalpis is or is not a carrier 

 of human trypanosomiasis should be definitely settled as soon as possible by 

 transmission experiments. 



If the scientific investigation referred to in the last paragraph be undertaken in 

 the locality, I do not consider that at present any steps are required from the 

 Administration beyond : — 



1. Treatment of cases and obtaining of statistics as to sleeping sickness. 



2. Instruction of the native as to causes of the disease ; my own experience 

 is that if one tells a native the same thing for a sufficient number of years 

 he will end by believing it. 



3. Improvements in general sanitation and in the native methods of living. 



4. Object lessons of extensive effective clearings round European stations. 



5. Up-keep of village clearings of such extent only as can be effectively main- 

 tained by the population without interfering with their farming and industrial 

 pursuits. The extent of these clearings must be largely left to the discretion of 

 the administrative officers, who would, of course, take the medical officer into 

 consultation. 



During this period I presume the medical authorities would obtain statistics 

 with regard to the disease, which in a few years would yield definite data to 

 proceed upon, and further steps could be taken by the Administration should any 

 marked increase of sleeping sickness be demonstrated. 



