522 JOUENAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AgEICULTURE. DeC, 1922. 



In previous reports the serious nature of this disease was com- 

 mented upon, and it was pointed out that anthrax is responsible for 

 more losses amongst farm stock than the total losses from all other 

 contagious diseases. It is a matter for regret that stock owners 

 cannot be brought to realize the danger of skinning and cutting up 

 the carcasses of animals dying suddenly and unexpectedly, notwith- 

 standing the repeated warnings against the practice. The most 

 important factor in the successful suppression of anthrax is the 

 proper disposal of infected carcasses, but this is found most difficult 

 to enforce owing to ignorance or carelessness on the part of the farmer 

 and the lack of police supervision. The i)olice do their best and 

 render valuable assistance, but it is impossible for them to control 

 the proper disposal ofi all suspected carcasses. If anthrax is to be 

 successfully stamped out, it is imperative that the farmers assist, 

 and it is high time they banded themselves togetlier and pledged 

 themselves to see that the carcasses of all animals which die from 

 disease are either burned or properly buried. Most farmers are alive 

 to the danger of cutting up anthrax carcasses, but the danger arises- 

 from the carcasses of animals supposed to have died of gallsickness, 

 lamsiekte, etc., and eventually found to have died of antlirax, 'for 

 these carcasses are often allowed to be cut up and the meat distributed 

 far and wide. 



Systematic inoculation and more general supervision are the 

 only means by which we can satisfactorily deal with this disease, and 

 the staf¥ of the Division would need to be increased very considerably 

 to obtain and maintain effective control over the large areas where 

 antlirax is at present prevalent. 



The prevalence of the disease in the Union will, sooner or later,, 

 result in the proliibition of the export of certain products except 

 under permit issued on a certificate from the grower that his product 

 comes from flocks not infected with anthrax. It will also be necessary 

 for 'farmers themselves to take action in order to safeguard their 

 present oversea markets, unless producers are prejiared to face the 

 consequences. 



Cape. — Outbreaks are still on the increase in the Cape Province. 

 The excess of reported outbreaks over last year numbered 29. The 

 mortality also shows a corres])onding increase, whilst the number of 

 animals inoculated has more than doubled. The increased mortality, 

 it is considered, is not due to more widespread inoculation, for every- 

 where the reports as to the results obtained with spore vaccine are 

 encouraging : 198 outbreaks were dealt with, in the course of which 

 1033 animals died and 38,475 were inoculated. There were 169 out- 

 breaks during the previous year. 



Transvaal . — The number of out)>reaks totalled ()84, as compared 

 with 800 during the ])ievious year, and apiiroximately 98,000 animals 

 were inoculated. The disease is particularly persistent in the 

 districts of the Witwatersrand and Pretoria. 



Natal. — 86 outbreaks were dealt with, involving the death of 320 

 head, and the inoculation of 34,526. During the previous year 105 

 outbreaks were reported. 



Orange Fret State. — The disease is still widely prevalent, the 

 most heavily infected districts being Kroonstad, Lindley. Bosliof, 

 Bloem'fontein, Heilbron, Winburg, Yrede, Senekal. Thaba 'Xchu, 



