Medical and sanitary report / Government of the Gold Coast.

  • Gold Coast. Medical Department
Date:
[1917]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical and sanitary report / Government of the Gold Coast. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    53/56 (page 53)
    The following is the distribution of the various species in the three divisions of the Colony taken from the Fly Record Book in the Laboratory:— Colony proper Ashanti Northern Territories S. fasciata, s. luteocephala, s. metallica, s. simpsoni, s. sugens, s. unilineata. . S. africana, s. apicoargenteci, s. argenteoventralis, s. fasciata, s. simpsoni, s. sugens. S. apicoargentea, s. fasciata, s. luteocephala, s. sugens. APPENDICES. By J. F. Corson. I.—UNIDENTIFIED ORGANISM IN MULES. In two mules an unidentified organism something like a giant trypanosome was present. It appeared to be the same in each case, though in only one was it seen moving in fresh preparations. In the other one it was found in a thick film preparation. The organism measured 108-110 p in length by 10 p in width and was binuoleated. Unfortunately subsequent examinations failed to show the organism. II.—INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTION OF TARTAR EMETIC IN A MULE SUFFERING FROM TRYPANOSOMIASIS. A mule belonging to the Sanitary Department was brought to the Laboratory on the 4th September, 1917. The history given was that it was noticed to be dull and unfit for work during the preceding five days. Trypanosomes of t. pecaudi (t. hrucei) type were present in fair numbers in the blood from the ear. Two rats inoculated subcutaneously showed numerous trypanosomes within ten days. Antimony tartrate in 1 per cent, and 2 per cent, solutions, made up with carbolic acid and glycerine, as recommended by Castellani (“ B.M.J.,” 20th October, 1916) was injected into the shoulder muscles as follows :— 18th September 21st 25 th ,, 1st October 8th )} lOcc. of 1 per cent, solution. 20cc. of 2 15cc. of 2 20cc. of 2 40cc. of 2 „ „ (20co. into each shoulder). The injections were followed by apparent clearing of the peripheral blood of trypanosomes, which reappeared in small numbers after a few days. There was no real sign of improvement and on the 13th October the mule became so weak that it was shot. A post-mortem examination of each shoulder region showed a little yellowish staining of the deep fuscia over the muscle at the points of inoculation and a slight change of colour for about A- inch into tlie muscle. No intestinal lesions were found. The injections appeared to be followed by no swelling or discomfort and on two or three occasions the mule walked three or four miles after injection. In several cases of rats with experimental trypanosomiasis, injections of tartar emetic were made into the thigh muscles and no case of abscess or necrosis was found post-mortem— merely slight staining of tissues at the site of inoculation.