Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-16

Mr.. Austen, of the British museum,
identified the insect as one of the seven
species Of tsetse fly found only in Afri-
ca. BY careful observations, it was
learned that the disease was confined to
distinct "fly-areas" or belts. In these
areas the flies flourish-not in swampy
ground-but by the side or steep banks
of running brooks, which are we'll shad>
ed. With the removal of the shade-pro-
ducing vegetation, the flies disappeared.
They were not exterminated, they simply
moved on.
Native boys we're hired to collect the
pests from certain spot, and for several
years thousands were caught per day.
But the swarms showed not the slightest
diminution in number. On the contrary
they seemed to have increased. Ordlnar-
! lily the fly is not found over fifty yards
away from his natural haunt, even when
| following a victim. But occasionally.
protected by a large hat or an umbrella,
| one has been found at a distance of two
| miles.
| Another movement was in the line of
experimental study on animals. The or
ganism can flourish in the blood of sheep,
goats, oxen and guinea-pigs, but these
ANIMALS refuse to be affected by the dis
ease. Rats and dogs are partially sus-
ceptible. And once more man requires
the monkey TO help him supply the miss
ing link, since both are similarly affect
ed by the troublesome trypanosome.
Various drugs were tried on our ape
friends and other animals, with the re-
suit that arsenic seemed most effective.
! Two physicians from the Liverpool
school announced that "atoxyl," an ar
senical aniline proved to be a cure. Dr.
Robert Koch, of Berlin, who at that time
had an experimental camp on one of the
Sese islands, confirmed their belief. I'm
fortunately later experiments have not
borne out the theory There is almost a
! certainty that atoxyl does not cure, and
| there is a fear that 1t carries blindness
| in it's wake. In some sections the ma
tives have lost all confidence in it's Gu
| rative power.
Probably the preventive measures are
doing more to stamp out the disease than.
any drug employed. Many villages have
been removed beyond the fly range. The
establishment of posts along the trade
routes for the surveillance of travellers
] and traders coming from infected dis
| tricts is another preventive factor. Most
/ effective work is being done in the seq
regation camps which are situated on
high ground, as far from water as pos
! sible; that is, beyond the fly range. The
ground is cleared of all underbrush; and
straw huts, that can be easily ourneU.
/ are erected. In some places, citronella
grass, which is distasteful to the tsetse
+ fly, has been sown. The chief difficulty
is to provide food. Banana and sweet
: potato plantations are being cultivated
! to relieve the situation. A craving for
: meat is one of the symptoms of the dis
ease, and the bullock per, month allot-
! ted to each camp, does not satisfy.
Although science is fighting game
battle against a stubborn enemy, the
natives cannot understand why the white
| man does not cure. His carpenters and
engineers perform miracles, why not the
! medicine MANI" AS month after
! month. the victims borne into the camps
are taken out again dead, the poor peo-
Pile become discouraged. The long death
roll frightens them, as well it may. Inc
whole world is waiting and hoping thaI
the white medicine man" will overcome
fly, even as they mastered the mosquito,
and thereby deprive death of another or
J its agents.-CCopyright 1909, by Fred
eric ]. Haskin).