Report of the Depatitment of Agriculture. 491 



ratlier worse than in the previous year, 58 outbreaks being' recorded 

 in 1921-22 as against 56 in 1920-21. There was a recrudescence 

 in four districts ; but in Eastern Pondoland an improvement has been 

 effected. 



There is no doubt that by a larger expenditure of public funds 

 greater progress can be made. From a purely veterinary point of 

 view such a course is desirable. It is seriously doubted, however, 

 whether eradication is possible by a lavish expenditure of public 

 funds. The greater the number of Government officials employed 

 to supervise dipping, the more are farmers likely to rely upon 

 Government, and the less would be their own efforts. Eegular and 

 careful dipping will eradicate the disease from infected centres, as 

 has been proved over and over again. Recrudescence of the disease 

 is due to slackness in dipping operations. Farmers admit that they 

 get tired of the monotony and drudgery of the work. Under these 

 ciicumstances it has been said by prominent farmers that they require 

 Government supervision in order to keep them up to the mark. But, 

 if this is so, it seems fair to require payment for these services. The 

 expenditure from public funds for eradication of disease is at present 

 at the rate of about £80,000 per annum. This is exclusive of the 

 expenditure in native areas, which, however, is paid for by the 

 natives themselves. Payment by farmers in infected districts, even 

 f)f a portion of the expenditure now incurred, would increase super- 

 vision by themselves, because they would endeavour to get rid of the 

 payment, and their supervision in their personal interests would be 

 more effective than that of Government officers. If this contention 

 is correct, it would be good business for farmers in infected districts 

 lo agree to shoulder such a burden. 



18. Anthrax. — This disease is widely prevalent. The Principal 

 Veterinary Officer reports that the losses from this cause amongst 

 farm live^ stock are greater than the total losses from all other 

 contagious diseases. Fewer outbreaks were reported, however, during 

 the past year than in the previous one. Farmers realize the danger 

 from this disease, but there is no doubt that anthrax is not recognized 

 in many cases of death. One of the principal contributory causes to 

 outbreaks is also carelessness in the burial of carcasses. The Principal 

 Veterinary Officer recommends, as one of the chief means of com- 

 bating the disease, systematic inoculation. This would require a 

 certain amount of supervision, and is at present being considered. 

 The prevalence of anthrax, as has been pointed out on previous 

 occasions, is not only a direct danger, but also an indirect one, owing 

 to the steps which other nations might take to keep out infection 

 which may be conveyed by raw animal products. In the previous 

 year's report it was stated that the International LalKnir Conference 

 (at Geneva), called by the League of Nations, would ('(insider whether 

 legislation should be recommended for the disinfection of wool in 

 the countries of origin. That conference, which met in October, 

 1921, came to the conclusion that it could not make any recommenda- 

 tion without the fullest investigation by a comniitt(?e specially 

 appointed for the purpose. Such a committee was nominated, con- 

 sisting of representatives of the large manufacturing countries, as 

 well as the principal producing countries. South Africa is also 

 represented on that committee, which, after preliminary (^-orrespon- 

 dence, will meet in London towards the end of 1922 to discuss the 



