CHAPTER XX. 



DISEASES. 



In writing of diseases in Ostriches I must not be under- 

 stood to lay claim to any special knowledge of the science 

 of medicine ; but in the absence of any scientific work 

 on the subject I feel it a duty to give the results of an 

 experience as large as anybody's, coupled with a habit 

 of devoting some portion of my time to study, and of 

 making post-mortem examinations on all animals that 

 die on my own farms or on others where I can get the 

 chance, and to place the conclusions arrived at in plain 

 language and in a practical manner before my readers. 



Would that our legislature could become sufficiently 

 enlightened to see that it is little use to spend money on 

 agricultural shows, and to encourage men to spend large 

 sums on importing thorough -bred stock, whilst diseases 

 are left rampant in the country, some of them being 

 peculiar to South Africa ; and w^hilst no serious effort is 

 made to give our farmers the invaluable benefits that 

 would accrue from the government employing at least 

 two veterinary surgeons under the leadership of one of 

 the great men of the day in the profession. We have 



