()72 JOUENAL OF THE-I)EPARTMENl? OF AGRlCULTtlRE. 



form tlie progress of the disease is less rapid and auimals occasionally 

 recover. 



In South Africa the enlargement of the spleen as a diagnostic 

 sign has not the same value as in many other countries, for the red- 

 water type of disease also gives rise to enlargement of the spleen. 

 In the latter tj'pe of disease, however, the spleen is not so soft nor is 

 it so tar-like as in the case of anthrax. The flesh is very dangerous 

 to animals and human beings. 



The Present Position. 



It is of great concern that anthrax is becoming increasingly 

 serious in the Union. The Principal Veterinary Ofhcer reports that 

 in many areas the veld has become so severely contaminated that 

 heavy losses are frequently sustained even when stock owners are 

 prompt in inoculating their stock, and repeated inoculations (and that 

 through no fault in the vaccine) become necessary to check the 

 mortality. There is no doubt that the disease is being perpetuated 

 through carcasses of animals dying of anthrax left to lie on the veld 

 or, worse still, being cut up for the sake of meat and the hide, and 

 no abatement in the scourge can be expected until tiiese practices are 

 rigorously suppressed. Tbat there are not more deaths among human 

 beings on account of tlie careless manner m v/hich anthrax carcasses 

 are handled is surprising, unless it is that the native community, 

 who are the greatest oft'enders, enjoy a considerable degree of 

 immunity from the disease. The tact remains, however, that great 

 care is needed in disposing of infected animals, and failure in this 

 respect is fraught with imminent danger to man and beast. And the 

 disease continues to spread. From reports covering the period of 

 twelve months ended 31st March last, it appears that anthrax is 

 prevalent everywhere in the Cape Province, except in the Karroo, but 

 that only a small proportion of the cases are brought to the notice of 

 the authorities ; during this period 54 outbreaks were reported, 456 

 animals died, and 1162 were inoculated. In the Transvaal the 

 mortality was 1300 head, 803 outbreaks having been reported, and 

 83,300 animals inoculated. The report tor Natal shows 75 outbreaks, 

 375 deaths, and 35,173 head inoculated. Anthrax is by far the most 

 serious of all the scheduled diseases in the Orange Free State, where 

 the number of outbreaks has increased greatly during the period 

 under review, being 315 as compared with 122 the jjrevious year. 

 There were 2788 deaths, while 65,910 head were inoculated. To 

 control the disease in the native territories is a matter of great 

 difficulty owing to the indifference of the native to the risks incurred 

 in cutting up anthrax carcasses and the consumption thereof, a matter 

 of frequent occurrence. Added to this the native is not easily induced 

 to get his cattle reinoculated when the disease occurs within a short 

 time of inoculation. During the year 211 outbreaks in the Transkei 

 were diagnosed by this Department and 52,887 animals inoculated, 

 and the prevalence of the disease in this part of the Union is causing 

 much anxiety. 



How THE Scourge may be Overcome. 



The figures given above demonstrate the loss in animals, and 

 when the imminent peril to human life is taken into account the need 



