SLEEPING SICKNESS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1263, 19 October 1911, Page 5

SLEEPING SICKNESS.

ARE BIG GAME RESPONSIBLE? Ev TelecraDh—Press Aesor'ition -Copyright (Rec. October 18, 9.15 p.m.) London, October 18. Tho Sleeping Sickness Commission recently appointed under t'ho auspices of tho Government and tho lloyal Society with -Sir David Bruce. F.R.S., the Director of tho Royal Society's previous expeditions, as leader, is proceeding to Nyasaland with a view to inquiring if tho existence of the fly responsible for tho disease depend* upon the presenco of big game. If this is found to be M>, it may involve tho wholesale destruction of African big game. Lady Bruce is accompanying her husband.

In the course of corrcspondenco between tho British Government and the Governments of t'ho African protectorates, tho suggestion was raised that the common tsclso fly (glossina morsitans) may prove to bo a carrier of sleeping sickness, and to the farther suggestion that this fly might' be eliminated by the destruction of game. The note of warning on tho subject of Bleeping sickness came from missionaries and others in Nyasnland, where tho discaso has at present reached its southernmost limit. It was referred in the course of last March to the Sleeping Sickness Bureau of the Royal Society, which expressed the opinion that it was very desirable lo investigate, in more complete fashion than had hitherto been possible, tho whole question of tho relation of t'iie African fauna to the maintenance and spread of human trypanosomiasis. Tho Colonial Office thereupon intimated its decision to carry out such an inquiry for a period of three year 3at a cost not exceeding .£SOOO a year. It was proposed that the members of the Commission should include Sir D. Bruce (president), Captain Hamcrton, Professor Newstcad, Mr. W. Jowott, and "Dr. J. Davey (of the Nyasaland Medical Department).