199 



AnapTasmosis (gall-sickness) and piroplasmosis (red^water) caused 

 a considerable mortality, chiefly amongst pure-bred and grade animals. 

 An increase in the prevalence of these diseases is to be attributed to 

 increased tick activity, the result of ineffective dipping, and the 

 relatively greater susceptibility of pure and grade stock resulting in 

 an exaltation of the virulence, particularly of gall-sickness, by passage 

 through them. 



A number of fatal cases of trypanosomiasis occurred amongst 

 cattle in various districts, but reliable statistics are not available. 



Myiasis, produced through infestation with the larvae of certain flies 

 [Chrysomyia], has been recorded from practically every district in 

 the territory since 1918. It is most prevalent cluring the summer, 

 and in districts with heavy rainfall, but is not infrequently seen during 

 the winter. The maggots should be destroyed by dressing the wound 

 with a volatile agent such as carbon bisulphide. To prevent further 

 infestation, the wounds and surrounding skin should be dressed with 

 an emulsion of Stockholm tar containing a small quantity of iodoform 

 in solution, and finally the application of dry wood-ashes or lime. 

 To reduce the flies as much as possible, every maggot should be 

 destroyed and all carcases buried deeply or burned. 



Bevan (Ll. E. W.). Report of the Veterinary Bacteriologist. — 



S. Rhodesia, Rept. Chief Vet. Surgeon for 1919, Salisbury, 1920, 

 pp. 9-17. [Received 7th September 1920.] 



Myiasis in cattle [R.A.E., B, vii, 60] is caused by the larva of a fly 

 closely resembling Chrysomyia (Pycnosoma) albicans. The eggs are 

 laid on or near any abrasion on the animal, and the larvae bore into 

 the tissues below and form large cavities, which are not perceived 

 for some time, until a considerable area of skin sloughs and exposes 

 them. The commonest site of infection is in the soft tissues round 

 the anus and vulva, positions favoured by Hyalomma aegyptium, 

 a tick that is believed often to cause the primary injury. 



Cure, by dressing the wounds with volatile agents, tar, etc., is 

 often difficult, and it is very desirable that methods of attacking the 

 fly itself should be discovered. 



With regard to the high mortality from African coast fever suffered 

 by oxen as compared to other cattle, and to the fact that animals 

 that have shown manifestations of the disease have apparently re- 

 covered in the dry season, but have died of an acute form during 

 the rains, it is suggested that the development of the parasite is checked 

 in animals highly impregnated with arsenic. The possibiHty of a 

 suppressed form of African coast fever as the result of short-interval 

 dipping is a matter deserving the closest investigation. 



Shand (W. R.), Dalton (J.) & Huntley (H. G. M.). Southern 

 Rhodesia Report of the Committee of Enquiry in respect of 

 African Coast Fever. — Salisbury, 1920, 12 pp. 

 Recent outbreaks of African coast fever in various districts of 

 Southern Rhodesia are described, and suggestions are made for amend- 

 ments and additions to be incorporated in the present laws and regu- 

 lations deaUng with this disease. The reconnnendations made are 

 very similar to those noticed in connection with a recent report from 

 the Union of South Africa [R. A. E., B, viii, 178]. 



