INTno DUCT!ON 
"I N ((resenting the Tliird Report of these Lnliorntories it is necessary to correct the 
apparently prevalent and erroneous idea that the Laboratory Reports are issued annnally. 
This is not the case. No fixed period is allowed to elapse between the appearance of 
the Reports. They are issued when convenient and when sufficient material has been 
collected to make it worth while to nndertake a task which necessitates very considerable 
labour on the part of all concerned and occn])ies mnch time. As a matter of fact, however, 
it has hitherto been fonnd best to bring ont the Reports at an interval of two years. On the 
present occasion 1 am departing in three re.s()ects from the (dan followed in the two (irevions 
Re()orts. It will be fonnd that in this issue papers from Sudan officials, who are not 
actnally members of the laboratory staff, but have for the most ((art carried on research 
in these laboratories, are included. Mnch valuable work is being done by members of the 
Egvptian Army Medical and Veterinary Services, and, as it bears an intimate relation t(( 
the researches carried on in the laboratories, 1 felt that it wonld be a good thing if 
these outside workers conld be persuaded to favour ns with s(3ecial articles. It is 
gratifying to be able to re()ort that Captain Giver, the new Principal Veterinary Officer, 
and Captain Cnnnnins, E. M. C., both ((f whom had in the past proved themselves good 
friends to the laboratories, and had done a considerable amount of work in these rooms, 
on being approached, at once expressed their willingness to furnish pa((ers. These will, 
I venture, to think, add very materially to whatever value the Re()ort may possess.' 
Ca((tain Bonsfi«dd co-operated with Ca((tain Cnmmins in the paper on kala-azar in the 
Sudan. 
The question of rats and rat infection has of late years attracted mnch attention, 
especially as regards the role these rodents play in plagme. Indeed, an international warfare is 
being organised against them, and they are regarded as dangerous foes to the human race. In 
Calcutta important w((rk has been done in identifying and classifying the rats there present, 
and in other ((arts of India efforts have been made in the same direction. Rat destruction 
on a small scale has been undertaken in Khartoum, but labours under many difficulties 
which need not be here detailed. It is. however, im((ortant that we should know the various 
species which infest the t((wn. I was acquainted only with ilrcumanus and d/(o? 
itlf.i'inidrinux, and accordingly I asked Ca((tain Flower, of Cairo, if he wonld care to 
contribute a paper on the subject. He very kindly consented to do so, and arrangements 
were made to furnish him with material. UnfortnnaUdy, however, he was unable to 
complete his paper, partly because of the difficnltv in identifying the various species, 
and |)artly because sufficient material was not sent in time. It is hoped to ((resent his 
paper in the next Re((ort. Doctor Franz 'Werner, of Vienna, has been good enough to 
contribute articles on the pedsonous snidces of the Sudan, and on varicnis interesting reptiles 
collected by Dr. Wenyon. Doctor W^erner is a well-kn((wn authority on these matters, 
and some years ago visited the Sudan and the laboratories, which have greatly benefited 
by his skilhsl assistance. IMr. Curtis very kindly collected much useful information as 
regards the “ s((itting-snakes ” of South Africa. It is lu(pod to utilise this at a later date. 
I would also draw attention to the historical paper by Dr. Ilassan Effendi Eeki, of 
the. Sudan iiledical De((artment and Medical Officer of the Gordon College, who, in the 
troublous days preceding the reconqnest of the country by Rritish and Egyptian troops, 
' Unfortunately the paper by Captain Olver was not received in time for publication. 
A new 
departure 
The rats of 
Khartoum 
Sudan snakes 
and other 
reptiles 
Historical 
jjaper 
