The sun., 1908-08-09

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proved and the prospect of saving them
was favorable, =, ="
The evil is brought close homo to the
white race by the fact that II b by no
means immune. A considerable num-
Der Of white men are among the victims,
some of whom have died after their re-
turn to Europe IT is exceedingly graft
flying to hear from DR.. BREuER, leader
OF one OF the medical parties In German
East Africa, that the European there
who was reported a. suffering from the
disease has. been entirely cured by. the
atoxyi treatment, Similar reports COM
ing from stations Of the Congo State
seem TO justify the announcement that
has been sent from Africa that atoxyl
may now be hailed as curative % well
as palliative. This Ii great step for
ward in our equipment for effectively
combating the disease. The patient Ia
no longer irrevocably doomed.
The question has been raised this
year whether the atoxyl and mercury
treatment might make patients immune
from further attacks Of the disease.
The experiments Of a COMMITTEES Of
the Royal Society Of London seem
to settle this question in the mega
tive. Rats inoculated with the dis
ease were cured by the atoxyl treat
ment. They were then reinoculated and
four days later trypanosomes were pres
ent In numbers. Treated again, the try
panosomes disappeared This seems to
show that no immunity IL conferred.
The extension of tho medical work has
been enormous during the past year.
The police Of every Colonial Government
is to collect the patients, a. far as pos
sible, at central lazarets and to keep all
healthy natives away from them. Some
twenty Of these places are now scattered
over Katanga, the extreme southeastern
province Of the Congo State, where moth
ing was done for tho sufferers before this
year. These posts are being augmented,
especially along the eastern frontier of
the State, as fast as Colonial physicians
can be sent out. Along the Congo
steam vessels engaged In no other ser
vice than hospital work are constantly
carrying patients to the laxarets. some
OF which In few weeks after their OPEN
ing have reported % many as 600 pa
hents. The sick are brought by river
to Leopoldville from 900 miles up tho
Congo The natives unfortunately make
this work Of segregation very diff
cult. In the frat stages Of the disease
no black will admit that he 10 sick and
he objects to being treated. All the
Congo hospitals are now guarded by
soldiers to prevent oonvalesoents from
escaping. Ujui was the central point
Of the work on the German coast Of
Tanganyika, but a. soon 40 1,soo suf-
ferers were collected there another large
station was established at Urundi.
Everywhere along with the work Of
saving the afflicted the colossal task Of
diminishing II not obliterating the dam
ger is going forward Instructions have
been sent to all the infected districts 70
cut the brentwood within 1900 feet OF
water, the breeding places Of the tsetse
fly. This IL declared to be impossible
along the Congo, bot The work has d.
ready been done along the north coast
and northern islands Of Victoria Nyanza,
and the Germans are carrying ON the
same work In the basin Of the Russusi
River and along the Rushuji, centres Of
the profuse propagation OF the Glossini
palpalis. Although this variety Of the
tsetse is the only one yet known to be
capable Of transmitting this disease, the
general warning has gone out from
Europe and is emphasized in the instruc-
tions Of the French Colonial Ministry,
to hold all singing insects under sus-
picion until the question has been more
thoroughly studied.
Nothing apparently is now left undone
that may help to save life and to re-
move the menace. Information il now
scattered broadcast among Europeans as
to, what must be done to protect them
selves and safeguard the natives. The
pamphlet issued by the French Govern
ment is especially voluminous. The British
Government in May established q bureau
in London for the sole purpose OF collect
ing and distributing information, and
committee Of the bureau, with Sir j.
WEsT-RIDaEwAY as chairman. Is now
compiling a map Of tropical Africa show
ing the distribution Of the disease and
the various species Of blood sucking in
sects that may have a part In it's con-
veyance. Undoubtedly wide areas are
still uncovered for lack Of men, but it is
cause for worldwide rejoicing that this
great work Of humanity now extends
across Africa, that it 10 making substan-
tial gains IN its fight for the life Of the
blacks and that its hopes Of ultimate
success appear well founded.
Doing the stage Good.
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