NATIVES OF BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA 473 
APPENDIX 
DISEASES OF THE NATIVES OF BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA 
By DR. D. KERR CROSS, M.B . 1 
DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 
These are very prevalent, owing to the want of cleanliness, etc. 
I. Eczema. —Mostly brought on by excessive scratching. 
II. Urticaria. —Very common amongst the natives. It is like a nettle rash. 
Characterized by great itchiness and evanescence. Due to errors in diet. Some people 
cannot eat certain seeds. 
III. Boils and Carbuncles. —Caused by micro-organisms. Very common amongst 
the natives. Boils appear in the arm-pit and groin. They say if they have boils they 
have no fever. 
IV. Tropical Sloughing Phagedtena.- —Caused by micro-organisms. The same 
as Mozambique Ulcer, etc., etc.—a sloughing ulcer, due to bad food, etc. 
V. Pemphigus Contagiosus.- —Caused by micro-organisms. Seen in damp 
tropical countries. Begins as a bulla, or even a papule, then becomes a contagious 
sore. 
Diseases of the Skin due to Animal Parasites. 
Lice (i) on the body, (2) head, (3) pubis. 
Jigger or sand flea. 
House-bug (. Aca?ithia leclularia). 
Ifwingire .—Not mentioned in any book. It is from the word “ Ingira,” to enter. It 
is due to maggots in the tissues. Native children suffer greatly. I have seen the whole 
side of a child riddled with holes. These maggots are common in dogs and antelopes. 
The /&•//.—Native name, Pere. Most common. Due to the female Acarus Scabiei 
burrowing in the skin, and laying her eggs. 
Mosquitoes .—There are very many varieties. They are so bad during the wet season 
that the Awanyakyusa work all night and sleep all day. Their tissues afford the second 
stage in the life history of the three low forms of life found in the blood of man—the 
Filaria sanguinis homininis diurnus; Do. do. nodurnus , and Do. do. perstans. This 
leads to 
(1) Elephantiasis of Scrotum and leg and breast. One year I removed at the north 
end of Lake Nyasa eleven tumours of this disease weighing from 52 lbs. to 7 lbs. 
This disease is very common amongst the Wanyakyusa. These filarial worms have 
a remarkable periodicity. 
(2) Orchitis. —This is also very common. Almost every man has abnormally large 
testicles due to this. I have removed two weighing 3 lbs. and 2|lbs. respectively. 
(3) Chyluria. —It is a white urine. 
(4) Varicose groin glands.—The glands in the groin are like walnuts or small crab- 
apples. 
(5) Lymph scrotum. 
Ticks are troublesome before the rains. 
Leeches. —In marshes. 
1 For ten years a medical missionary in North Nyasaland. 
