12 Report S.A.A. Advancement of Science. 



in the field were never weary of impressing on all and sundry their 

 vital importance ; at the same time, I contend that the adoption of 

 such principles must, theoretically, be followed by results similar to 

 what we have achieved. 



According to Mr. St. John Brodrick, " the medical service, of 

 all departments of the Army, excites the acutest criticism during a 

 campaign, and the most meagre public interest in peace " ; but 

 thanks to his forethought and that of the present Secretary of State 

 for War (Mr. Haldane) in matters affecting the health and well- 

 being of the troops, and the support given by them to the schemes 

 of the Director-General of the Army Medical Department and his 

 advisers, a new era as regards hygiene and sanitation in the field 

 appears to have set in ; and only the other day an order was issued 

 from Headquarters at Pretoria with a view to testing practically the 

 new Field Sanitary Organisation during the Army manoeuvres to be 

 held in September next. Let us hope this is an earnest of a new 

 departure in so far as preventive medicine in the field is concerned, 

 and that its vast importance will be fully realised. As has been 

 pointed out, the proper place for the Medical Ofiicer is in the van. 

 rather than the rear of the Army, on the principle that " prevention 

 is better than cure." 



When it is realised that every man who becomes sick weakens 

 the fighting strength not only in so far as he himself is concerned, 

 but by those who have to look after him, and that in addition he 

 reduces its mobility, and adds very materially to the expense of its 

 upkeep, it is, I should say absolutely impossible to over-estimate 

 the importance of observing even the most minute details which 

 experience and the teaching of science has shewn to be necessary to 

 cope with disease, more particularly with disease of a preventible 

 nature — which, in a campaign, is the most to be dreaded. A small 

 army well cared for in this respect should be infinitely more pow-erful 

 than a comparatively large force where the fighting capacity only 

 of the men is considered, and their health neglected. 



The question of animal diseases, particulary those peculiar to 

 or more prevalent in South Africa than other countries, has received 

 a good deal of attention of late years, especially at the hands of 

 the bacteriologist. Among the more important of these diseases may 

 be mentioned Horse Sickness, Rinderpest, and African Coast Fever. 



Major, now Colonel Joshua Nunn, was sent out to Natal in 

 1887 to investigate Horse Sickness, and the following scientists 

 have, since then, for varying periods, been engaged bv the different 

 South African Governments, principally in the investigation of anima! 

 diseases, viz : Colonels Bruce and Watkins-Pitchford, Professors 

 Koch, Danysz and Bordet, and Drs. Theiler, Eddington, Turner, 

 Knlla, Dogson, and others. Some years ago I was Chairman of a Com- 

 mittee appointed by the Natal Government to enquire into and report 

 on certain matters connected with Colonel Pitchford's investigations 

 into Rinderpest, and I take this opportunity of stating that I consider 

 he has not received that recognition which his original scientific work 



