PRESIDENT s ADDRESS. 13 



Honourable Joseph Baynes, of Xatal, a name to be remembered; 

 and at that time he could not have realised the far-reaching effects 

 it would have. The discoveries of the many tick-transmitted 

 diseases have only been made subsequent to the introduction 

 of the tank, but they all proved in turn the necessity of it if 

 an attempt was to be made for the eradication of the diseases. 

 The credit for demonstrating its practicability is particularly due 

 to Lieut.-Colonel Watkins Pitchford. 



Not only in the world of micro-organisms, but also in that 

 of higher developed parasites, we shall find our example for 

 demonstrating the utility of the adoption of biological research 

 ] refer to one of the most important farming industries, viz., the 

 breeding of ostriches. We know that one of the main drawbacks 

 are internal parasite, and although the farmer is able to help 

 himself temporarily in a rough and ready way, yet he feels 

 that, in order to combat these pests more successfully, more 

 scientific knowledge is required about the life-history of these 

 worms. As soon as this is established — and I can tell you that 

 good progress has already been made in this connection — prac 

 tical deduction will be possible in order to build up a rational 

 hygiene for the rearing of the chicks. 



So far I have selected my examples in scientific research and 

 practical application out of a group of disease due to parasites 

 visible to the naked eve. by microscope, or those that can be 

 traced by means of inoculation experiments. We have, so to 

 saw the cause of the diseases in our hands, and can produce and 

 reproduce them at will. This is the one and perhaps the main 

 reason why in the past, in a considerably short time, good pro- 

 gress was made ; we were dealing with problems simliar to many 

 others already solved. I will now have to mention a subject 

 where the use of the microscope and all transmission experi- 

 ments into animals failed. It is the disease " Lamziekte " in 

 cattle, to winch, in recent years, so much attention has been 

 given by the public, the press, and Parliament. It has caused 

 terrible destruction, and even threatened to ruin the newly- 

 developed north-western districts. 



The investigations carried out so far in conjunction with 

 Mr. Burtt-Davy, the Government Agrostologist and Botanist, 

 show that we have to deal with toxins which are present in 

 grasses of certain areas. This is at least our theory, and it is 

 well founded ; it is. however, by no means new, as it has tis 

 analogies in other parts of the world, and explains the obser- 

 vations made by farmers in various parts of South Africa ; 

 indeed, it represents the views of many farmers, although not 

 precisely expressed. It is that grasses on certain soils and under 

 certain climatic conditions develop a poison of an accumulative 

 character which only shows its effects on cattle after they have 

 partaken of such grasses for a prolonged period. Actual feeding 

 experiments which have been started on various experimental 

 stations will bring the proof one of these days. The influence 



