Notes. 299 



actual number of infected farms and locations showed a considerable 

 falling' off compared -with the previous years. The spread of the 

 disease to these new districts was a source of keen disappointment to 

 the Department, and as a result of careful inquiry the reason for the 

 new outbreaks is attributed in each case to the unlawful movements of 

 stock. Steps were taken, of course, to cope with the outbreaks, and it 

 is not anticipated that any extensive mortality will follow, and there 

 is every likelihood of the disease being- stamped out before it can 

 spread further. 



In the districts that were previously infected, Mr. Borthwick was 

 able to show that on the whole prog-ress had been made; in Pieters- 

 burg' and Barberton there had l)een splendid progress, the number of 

 infected farms having* l>een reduced to three only in each district, 

 wliile in Lydenburg' there was only one such farm. In the Piet Petief 

 District there was a regrettable setback, eleven fresh outbreaks 

 occurring-, infection spreading mainly by means of transport oxen. 

 Fortunately, the mortality on the majority of the farms had been 

 iieg'ligihle, tliough some have suffered somewhat severely. Had it 

 not been for the reintroduction of this fresh infection, one farm only 

 would have remained under quarantine at the end of June. In Zout- 

 I)ansl>erg- District the number of infected farms was very consider- 

 aldy reduced during the past year, thirty-seven farms having become 

 clean. There were, however, eleven fresh outbreaks, all of which, 

 with one exception, were in the Sibasa area. While previously condi- 

 tions in this area made it most difhcult to control the disease, much 

 improvement has since been effected and hand-dressing operations are 

 now being systematically carried out, resulting in a marked diminu- 

 tion in the death-rate of stock. Although Pretoria District continues 

 to be the chief centre of disease in the Transvaal, and 35 outbreaks 

 occurred during the year, it sliould not be taken as an indication that 

 ])rogress has not been made. The new outbreaks came as no surprise, 

 as it was known that enormous numbers of pathogenic ticks were 

 allowed to accumulate before dipi)ing was introduced on tlie majority 

 of the infected farms in the bushveld, and most of the outbreaks were 

 merely an extension of the disease on the buffer farms. Moreover, the 

 erection of dipping tanks was not effected as rapidly as could have 

 been wished, and on many of the bushveld farms dipping could only 

 be commenced towards the end of June, 1921. Comparatively few 

 deaths have followed these outbreaks, and the Department has reason 

 to be satisfied with its efforts in that part of the district. Surprisingly 

 few deaths (750) were recorded during the year in the Pretoria Dis- 

 trict, and it is evident that the dipping operations have proved most 

 effective. If the present system of supervision and control is main- 

 tained, it is very likely that witliin the course of the next twelve 

 months. East Coast fever may be almost entirely wi])('d out of the 

 district. 



In Natal, it may be added, the position at the end of June last 

 showed an appreciable improvement, althougli there had been set- 

 backs in some districts which were looked upon as clean areas and in 

 which di])ping operations were not supervised but were left to the 

 stockowners themselves. At present the Veterinary Staff is able to 

 pay attention only to the infected and buffer farms, but were it pos- 

 sible to extend such supervision to all areas open to infection, East 

 Coast fever would be within measurable distance of eradication. 



