| RefNo | NLB/28/183 |
| AltRefNo | NLB/28 p97-98 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Copy letter from Archibald Geikie, to the Superintendent of African Protectorates, Foreign Office, S.W. |
| Date | 26 January 1904 |
| Description | The Tropical Disease Committee have considered the Superintendent's letter of 30 December and its enclosures from Sir C Eliot and Dr Moffat regarding Sleeping Sickness, and Geikie has been directed to respond.
The Committee cannot make any conclusions in the absence of detailed accounts of Dr Wiggins' experiments at Nairobi, but they do make observations on the basis of questions posed by Dr Moffat, namely that although evidence for trypanosoma being the cause of Sleeping Sickness is increasing, they do not yet have 'complete and exact proof'. There are additional questions, particularly regarding the species of fly which acts as a carrier and the conditions under which they act, which underline the importance of repeating experiments like Wiggins' until certainty has been achieved.
The strength of evidence does however justify preventive measures being taken on the understanding that tsetse flies are the cause, although the Committee do not themselves possess sufficient knowledge of circumstances in the Protectorate to suggest practical and effective preventive measures. However, they may make the general suggestion to avoid men from infected areas being employed in non-infected areas, especially those infested with flies suspected to be carriers, and similarly to avoid employment from non-infected areas in infected areas when the men may return.
The Report by Captain Greig and Dr David Nabarro, of work done since Colonel David Bruce's departure from Uganda, is being considered by the Committee, and any suggestions made on the basis of this and future such reports will be made known to the Superintendent immediately. |
| Extent | 2p |
| Format | Carbon |
| PhysicalDescription | Typescript |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA6174 | Geikie; Sir; Archibald (1835 - 1924); geologist and historian | 1835 - 1924 |