The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-22
Uganda Sleep
Death Sickness
Special to The Globe.

Special to The Globe.
LONDON, Feb. 21.-No sooner has
the Boer war been well settled than
England has to face another difficult
problem in her African empire. The
sleeping sickness in Uganda has
reached such proportions that 1t is
feared 1T will be impossible to prevent
it's spread into British East Africa,
and possibly into Egypt. thence on to
India and throughout the world. Some
Of the worst diseases known to history
have originated in similarly remote
spots, and did not stop until they had
claimed their tribute of millions Of
lives, among civilized people, In fact,
they have not stopped yet.
Although observed for the first time
by medical men few years ago, the
sleeping sickness has now extended
| over a large area in Uganda, killing at
least 10000 people.
The situation proved so serious that
it was made subject of investigation
by the British government, who sent
DR.. Low, of the London School of Trop-
ical Medicine, to make an investigation.
DR.. Low has returned to London and
his report is in the hands of the Royal
society.
In an interview DR.. Low stated that
the disease instead of showing signs
OF diminishing, was, on the contrary,
spreading into new areas, and its vir-
ulence was apparently on the increase.
The first cases appeared in Usoga, one
of the large provinces of Uganda, and
at the present time it had spread from
there through Chagwe into Uganda
proper, and now had reached the north
corner of Buddu, the province lying
to the west of the lake. To the south
all the islands Of the lake adjacent to
the coast had become heavily infect
ed, and to the east it had advanced
through Kavirondo as far Kisumu, the
terminus OF the Uganda railway on the
lake, census made by Mr.. Bobby, the
sub commissioner at Kisumu, in the
beginning Of November, showing that
there were seventy cases within a
distance Of two miles from the rail
head. In July this area was entirely
free. The Importance of this east
ward spread could not be overestimat-
ed, because, with railway communica-
ton now existing between the lake
and the coast, the disease might readily
at any time be carried there and find
a suitable field for its spread, and
then the question Of transmission to
India would have to be considered.
It's extension north might be a menace
I
the Nile was now becoming a more
frequent one. {4
The Commission made their head
quarters at Entebbe, the seat Of H. M.
government, and studied the disease
there, hospitals and laboratory being
supplied by the government Col Sad
Ter, H. M. commissioner, took a keen
PERSONAL interest in all the work, and
DR.. MOffat, c.. M. G., the principal
medical officer, and all his subordinate
officers rendered SO much valuable as
sistance that the work of the commits
sion was very greatly lightened. The
Church Missionary society and the Ro-
man Catholic mission also gave every
help and assistance in their power. The
scientific reports Of the commission.
the property Of the Royal society, will
be published in due course, but in the
| meantime 1t might be stated that the
commission believed they had separat-
| ed the germ that causes the disease,
and upon this knowledge had made
| suggestions for controlling it's spread,
Sleeping sickness, a complaint re-
ferable to that group of diseases