Henpuye, or dog nose, is a disease frequently met with in the Gold Coast
Colony and in certain portions of its Hinterland. The hideous deformity
of the face which it causes is very striking to anyone who has lived in
this part of West Africa. It is also known on the French Ivory Coast
under the name of “goundu” or “anakhre,” but “henpuye” is the native
name (Appolonian) for the disease on the Gold Coast. The peculiar nature
of the disease and the fact that, as far as I could find, very little
was known as to its nature led me to make the inquiries which are now
embodied in this report. I regret very much that I am unable to refer to
original papers on the subject or to be certain that I have the full
literature, but my excuse is that libraries do not exist in West Africa.
The only references which I have met with are those mentioned in Dr.
Patrick Manson’s work on “Tropical Diseases” (p. 594), and they are
those of (1) Professor Alexander Macalister (Royal Irish Academy, 1882),
(2) Surgeon J. J. Lamprey, A. M. S. (_Brit. Med. Jour._, vol. ii.,
1887), (3) Dr. Henry Strachan (_Brit. Med. Jour._, vol. i., 1894), and
(4) Dr. Maclaud (Archives de Médecine Navale, 1895). It is by the kind
permission of the Governor of this colony, Sir Frederick Hodgson, K. C.
M. G., that I am allowed to publish this report. I am much indebted to
Captain Armitage for his kindness in giving me information with regard
to the different places in which he has noticed this disease in his
travels, for drawing my attention to notes of the late Mr. Ferguson on
the presence of the disease in Akim and Kwahu, and for making a painting
of an advanced case of the disease; also to Dr. Henderson, the chief
medical officer of the colony for many kind suggestions: and, lastly, to
Mr. Crowther, draughtsman in the Public Works Department, for supplying
me with a map of the colony and its Hinterland. The description of the
disease will be divided into the following headings: (1) the General
Description of the Disease; (2) the Description of Cases of the Disease;
(3) the Treatment; (4) the Morbid Anatomy; (5) the Ætiology; and (6) the
Geographical Distribution.