D5 



African Coast Fever ; Report of the Veterinary Conference of 

 10th April 1913. -Bh odes la Agric. Jl, Salisburu, xi, no. 2, Dec. 

 1913, pp. 261-266 ; xi. no. 3, Feb. 1914, p. 436. 



At the above-mentioned conference Mr. Gray opened a discussion on 

 African Coast Fever and detailed briefly the position in the Union. 

 The older methods consisted of stamping out the disease by means 

 of slaughter, bv fencing infected areas, controlling the movements 

 of stock and quarantining infected veld for a period of fifteen montlis. 

 When the short-interval dipj^ing system was discovered by Col. Watkins- 

 Pitchford this method was adopted and combined with the fencing. 

 The result was that the disease had been banished, except in one or 

 two areas largely occupied by natives, and even there it was fast dis- 

 appearing. Details of the disease and methods employed in different 

 districts were given, and the position in the Transvaal was stated to 

 be exceedingly satisfactory and in Natal very promising. Passing from 

 Natal to the native territories, Mr. Gray said the position was more 

 serious and the disease was still rampant. Lack of funds prevented 

 the erection of sufficient tanks in these territories and inoculation was 

 resorted to. There is still much work to be done, although 192,000 

 head of cattle had been inoculated in Transkei. 



Mr. Elder reported that in Swaziland, a native territory, up to four 

 yeai's ago they were unable to do nuich towards checking the spread 

 of African Coast Fever owing to the lack of funds and not having the 

 full confidence of the natives. Illegal movement of cattle was stopped 

 by branding the cattle, this system having been adopted about three 

 years ago. When short-interval dipping was initiated funds were 

 raised by imposing a tax of 2s. per annum per head of cattle owned 

 by Europeans in the country and 2s. per annum upon each adult 

 native. All dipping was free and it was found to be the exception 

 for cattle to die of African Coast fever where dipping was in force. 



Mr. Botelho, of the Province of Mo^*ambique, reported that all cattle 

 in infected areas were slaughtered. All these areas were novv^ free 

 from disease, except one (Chibuto) where it had re-appeared. No 

 luovement of stock was allowed and all infected animals were 

 immediately slaughtered. Lack of funds had prevented sufficient 

 dipping tanks being erected, but recently £10,000 had been voted 

 for this purpose. 



In Rhodesia, Mr. Sinclair stated that the procedure had been very 

 similar to that described in the Transvaal. The first step in dealing 

 with the cattle was to compel the owners to stable the calves, and 

 when weaned to remove them to clean veld on a waggon. Li several 

 cases the calves contracted the disease while stabled, either owing to 

 infection in the stable or to infected ticks being introduced in the hay. 

 The temperature-camp method had proved successful and to this 

 the three-day dipping system was added. Mr. Sinclair thought that 

 eventually dipping will conquer African Coast Fever. In Rhodesia 

 at the present time the position was very satisfactory. Details of the 

 position in centres infected during 1911 and 1912 are given and show 

 a great reduction in the number of infected areas and in the number 

 of cases. This result is attributed to dipping in and around infected 

 areas, and Mr. Sinclair states that if a man has his farm fenced and a 

 dipping tank erected, he need not fear African Coast Fever. 



In British East Africa Mr. Stordy thinks fencing impracticable 



