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" Muhinyo," a Disease of Natives in Uganda. 



By Colonel Sir David Bruce, C.B., F.R.S., Army Medical Service ; Captains 

 A. E. Hamerton, D.S.O., and H. R. Bateman, Eoyal Army Medical 

 Corps ; and Captain F. P. Mackie, Indian Medical Servdce. (Sleeping 

 Sickness Commission of the Eoyal Society, 1908-10.) 



(Received June 7, — Read June 30, 1910.) 



When the Sleeping Sickness Commission passed through Kampala, the 

 native capital of Uganda, at the end of October, 1908, on their way to their 

 camp at Mpumu, they were informed by Sir Apolo Kagwa, K.C.M.G., the 

 Prime Minister, that a new disease had broken out in the province of Ankole, 

 and that many people were sick. 



This is probably the same disease which was described by Dr. A. Gr. Bag- 

 shawe in 1906. He gives the history and symptoms of nine cases which he 

 saw in Ankole. He concluded that the disease was beri-beri, and states that 

 at one village 25 per cent, of the inhabitants were suffering from a more or 

 less severe form of the disease. 



In the same year Dr. L. D. Lowsley also described " Muhinyo," but was of 

 opinion that it might possibly be dengue with persistent joint pains. 



Nothing more seems to have been written about " Muhinyo " until the 

 beginning of 1909, when Dr. A. C. Rendle reported its presence in large 

 numbers in the country round Lake Albert Edward. He says that all classes 

 suffer, and that he has no hesitation in saying that " the disease is closely 

 allied to kala-azar, the black death of India." 



Thanks to the kindness of Sir Apolo Kagwa and Chief Saulo Mayanja 

 Lumama, the Commission had an opportunity of seeing a case of " Muhinyo," 

 which was sent to Mpumu from Ankole in January, 1909. This patient, 

 who was said to have been ill for three months, was extremely weak and 

 thin, but otherwise he showed no symptoms which pointed to any special 

 disease. 



As no other cases could be sent such a long journey as to Mpumu, it was 

 decided that a member of the Commission should proceed to the district, in 

 order to examine sick natives whom A. H. Watson, Esq., the District Com- 

 missioner, had kindly undertaken to have collected there. 



On May 23, 1909, Dr. A. D. P. Hodges, the Principal Medical Officer, 

 Uganda Protectorate, accompanied by Colonel Sir David Bruce, Director of 

 the Commission, went to Masaka on the borders of Ankole, where they found 

 some 50 sufferers from this disease awaiting them. 



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