The Sleeping Sickness.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 11998, 21 February 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Sleeping Sickness.

A good deal has been heard from time to time of the terrible ravages caused by the " sleeping sickness" in Uganda, but until recently little was known in the scientific world regarding the nature of the malady. During the past few months, however, a Commission of the Royal Societies, sent out to Uganda by the British Government, has been investigating the disease, and it is believed that as a result, of their labours the germ which causes the sleeping sickness has been discovered and separated. Dr Low, the leader of the Commission, who returned to London a few weeks ago, has supplied the Press with some interesting information regarding the nature and the spread of the malady. The enquiries of the Commission tend to show that the sleeping sickness is one of the most fatal illnesses known to mankind. It belongs to the group of diseases known as meningitis, or inflammation of the brain. The victim becomes stupid and listless, and gradually sinks into a state of coma, which , almost invariably ends in death. SomeI times the victim dies within a month, some- || times he lingers for six or more. The > ij disease is contagious, and in the over-

crowded huts of the native villages spreads with terrible rapidity. Up to the present date it is estimated Jx> have killed be tween twenty and thirty thousand people in Uganda, although making its appearance in the Protectorate only a few years ago. Large tracts of country have been depopulated one after the other, and the disease, .so far from showing any signs of dying out, is spreading with increasing virulence. It constitutes, indeed, a serious menace not only to the whole protectorate, but also to Egypt via the Nile, and should the disease spread to the coast, the question of its transmission to India will also have to be considered. " The terrible mortality and rapid advance of the malady," says " The Times," " make it essential that something should be done immediately to prevent its further spread, and Colonel Sadler, H.M. Commissioner in Uganda, recognising this, has sanctioned a scheme forthe isolation of fresli cases occurring in new districts, to prevent as much as possible any further extension. This prompt action, it is hoped, will limit the'disease to the areas already infected, and further schemes for dealing with the latter are also under consideiation." It is asserted, .however, that unless some action is taken immediately the outlook must be regarded as a very gloomy one.