2 Georgwa Sweet: 



from hunters and hide exporters, of its existence, while " all the 

 cattle depastured on the same country are mure or less affected " 

 (Gilruth and Sweet, 1912, p. 23). On the other hand it was quite 

 possible that it may have been introduced in Indian cattle about 

 April, 1843 (Gilruth and Sweet, 1912, p. 24), inasmuch as the 

 cross-bred descendants of the " Brahma " or Indian cattle in the 

 Territory are more less infected. 



As there were, however, no records as to its existence in India, 

 it appeared a matter of some interest to find out somewhat more 

 definitely the actual distribution of this parasite, and to determine 

 the extent of its occurrence elsewhere, especially in countries more 

 or less adjacent to Australia; likewise to collect any information 

 which might throw light on the life-history. 



Wherever possible I visited the Chief Veterinary Officer, both 

 Government and Municipal, in each district entered, the Principal 

 Medical Officer, where such was associated with the inspection of 

 meat, Veterinary Schools where such existed, and often also the 

 abattoirs, interviewing the Superintendent and his senior subordi- 

 nates, and in many cases myself superintending the searching of 

 carcases. Where I was unable myself to visit the district, a letter 

 accompanied by a brief description of the condition under investi- 

 gation, and a carefully drawn-up series of headings under which 

 information was sought, was sent to the similar responsible officers, 

 with a request that answers should be sent to me by a certain 

 date. In several cases the officials of the various Governments 

 concerned very courteously sent out these papers to their staffs, 

 so giving the enquiry the aid of their authority and influence. 

 Throughout much of the East the difficulties of such an investiga- 

 tion, owing to various conditions which are indicated later, are 

 considerably greater than in countries where European customs and 

 ideas prevail, so that the response has been somewhat disappointing 

 in its extent, though much material and information promised have 

 still to come to hand, so that I hope to be able to report further 

 later on. 



PART I.— GEOGRAPHICAL. 



Before passing on, it is necessary, in order to avoid confusion, 

 to indicate the types of bovines considered in the following pages : — 



(1) Bos taurus: This term is used as including the well-known 

 common tame ox of Europe and Northern Asia, and not in the 

 restricted sense of Lydekker (1913, p. 12). 



