Segment 1 A lecturer in the present day explains the history of research into trypanosomes and African sleeping sickness to a class of students. London in 1900 is seen. Louis Sambon of the London School of Tropical Medicine is seen. He receives an urgent phone call from Patrick Manson, founder of the school. He has a blood sample from a colonial soldier that contains blood parasites. They go to the soldier's club to find him. Time start: 00:00:00:00 Time end: 00:08:08:17 Length: 00:08:08:17
Segment 2 The soldier is making a drunken scene at the club. The doctors find him but he runs away. Sambon and Manson discuss Drs Ford and Dutton, two doctors also researching trypanosomes in Africa. Dr Dutton died at a young age after identifying trypanosomes in the blood. Dutton and Ford are seen, discussing their case; they are the first to find trypanosomes in the blood of a white man (someone of European origin). Time start: 00:08:08:17 Time end: 00:16:51:11 Length: 00:08:42:19
Segment 3 Sambon and Manson continue their discussion of research into trypanosomes. Manson had a female patient who fell ill after being bitten by a tsetse fly on the leg. Her symptoms are the same as Dutton's patient. In 1902, there is a serious outbreak of sleeping sickness in Uganda. The Royal Society call a meeting, which is shown, to discuss the crisis. Time start: 00:16:51:11 Time end: 00:24:31:14 Length: 00:07:40:03
Segment 4 The Royal Society meeting discusses who should be on the commission to deal with the sleeping sickness outbreak. A group of doctors and bacteriologists are sent to Uganda. Dr Castellani is seen conducting field work in Uganda. Time start: 00:24:31:14 Time end: 00:32:19:02 Length: 00:07:47:13
Segment 5 Castellani is informed that Dr David Bruce will be joining them in Uganda. Castellani is working hard on his own research into sleeping sickness. Time start: 00:32:19:02 Time end: 00:39:38:02 Length: 00:07:19:00
Segment 6 Dr Castellani realises that trypanosomes may be the cause of sleeping sickness. Dr Bruce has also conducted research in this area. Castellani wants his research to be published first. Dr and Mrs Bruce arrive. Time start: 00:39:38:02 Time end: 00:48:35:18 Length: 00:08:57:16
Segment 7 Castellani and Bruce discuss Castellani's research. They discuss future research plans and the government's plans to tackle sleeping sickness. Time start: 00:48:35:18 Time end: 00:55:33:22 Length: 00:06:58:04
Segment 8 Sambon and Manson are seen again. Manson's female patient who was bitten on the leg dies of sleeping sickness. The present-day lecture is seen again. The lecturer explains that trypanosomes are still causing disease in Africa, and that control measures are extremely difficult. End credits. Time start: 00:55:33:22 Time end: 01:02:17:24 Length: 00:06:44:02