133 



CoGAN (E. S.). Some Phases of Applied Entomology in South Africa. 



— S. African Jl. Science, Capetown, xiv, no. 6, January 1918, 

 pp. 260-262. 



In the course of his remarks on this subject [see this Review, Ser. A, 

 vi, p. 276], the author points out the ample opportunities for the 

 entomologist in South Africa in the realm of humanity. The country 

 is faced with a great number and variety of insect-borne diseases, 

 many of which are tropical in origin. The development of modern 

 civilisation in the continent is closely related with the progress of 

 knowledge of insects and disease. An eminent American entomolo- 

 gist is quoted as remarking that the reclamation of Central Africa is 

 a problem which the entomologist must solve. It is this phase of 

 applied entomology that the author considers the most important 

 so far as South Africa is concerned. 



Bevan (L. E. W). Report of the Government Veterinary Bacteri- 

 ologist for the Year 1916, Southern Rhodesia. — 17 pp. MS. 



[Abstract from Trop. Vet. Bull, London, vi, no. 1, 30th March 

 pp. 48-63.] 



Losses owing to plasmoses of cattle have been largely reduced 

 owing to the system of frequent dipping, but the dipped areas in the 

 country are still far exceeded by those where the principle is not 

 carried out, and ticks and the diseases transmitted by them are 

 prevalent. Until the system becomes universal, there remains the 

 necessity for a satisfactory method of inoculation for the protection 

 of imported bulls exposed on infected ground and of young stock 

 born upon tick-free farms, in order that they may be disposed of with 

 safety beyond the limit of such areas. The cost of importing experi- 

 mental animals from countries free from the disease has handicapped 

 investigation in this direction. 



An outbreak of disease among pigs, which caused many fatalities, 

 was found to be due to trypanosomes of the T. pecorum group. Although 

 the region where the disease occurred has long been infested with 

 Glossina morsitans, no tsetse-fly had ever been encountered in the 

 particular area where the outbreak occurred, and it was feared that 

 the disease might be transmitted by biting flies other than tsetse, 

 or by some other means. Experiments with some of the animals in 

 the laboratory showed that the disease could easily be transmitted 

 from pig to pig by artificial inoculation of small quantities of blood, 

 giving rise to a disease that proved fatal in less than 30 days. Sick 

 and healthy animals were kept together and were continually attacked 

 by swarms of Stomoxys, which passed from one to the other. Never- 

 theless no infection of healthy animals occurred except by means 

 of the syringe. While cattle in this district have been treated for 

 tr}^anosomiasis with large doses of antimony and arsenic, these drugs 

 could not be applied to pigs ; a substitute was found in a combination 

 of emetic and arrhenal, though it is feared that a complete cure was 

 not effected, but merely a state of tolerance produced, so that the 

 treated animals lived in apparent health until adverse conditions 

 reduced their resistance and the trypanosome reasserted itself. 



The appearance of T. brucei var. rhodesiense in donkeys working 

 at the junction of the Umfuli and Umnyati rivers indicates that this 



