Sleeping Sickness

In the twenty-first century, sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis) remains a grave threat to both adults and children, as well as a risk for tourists exploring the game parks of East Africa. This deadly disease is caused by a protozoan parasite transmitted through the bite of the tsetse fly, an insect with striking reddish eyes and a formidable proboscis. Back in 1912, when this poignant monograph was penned, British Empire physicians recognized the disastrous impact of trans-continental expeditions led by infected African porters, which ignited an epidemic that claimed the lives of half a million individuals. Dr. Sandwith, a firsthand witness to this tragedy, intricately weaves a narrative that spans the legacy of imperialism‚Aîfrom traders who shunned slaves with swollen glands to Stanleys harrowing treks in search of Dr. Livingstone and Emin Pasha. He offers a vivid clinical portrayal of the afflicted, highlighting the agonies of a tremulous patient, whose relentless suffering eventually succumbs to an unyielding stupor from which he cannot awaken. (Pamela Nagami, M.D.)