NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



particle of the flesh, and even cracked the bones and 

 licked out the marrow. Should an animal have 

 died of disease and its carcase left on the veld or 

 in the bush to decompose, vast swarms of harmful 

 microbes, alive and active, would have been released 

 to infect the grass and other herbage, or pollute 

 the water, causing frequent epidemics of disease 

 amongst animals. 



The microbe-swarming flesh of the dead animal 

 in the stomach of a jackal is very quickly digested, 

 and thus rendered antiseptic. So the jackal in the 

 past was not only a useful agent in keeping the air 

 wholesome and pure, but in addition acted as a 

 check on the spread of infectious diseases. It still 

 renders excellent service to natives in many parts 

 of Africa, who would otherwise suffer far more than 

 they do from diseases due to their ignorance and 

 carelessness in regard to the disposal of infectious 

 matter. In the past, jackals picked up a good 

 living by acting the part of camp followers to the 

 herds of game animals, knowing full well that in 

 their frequent battles the males often maimed or 

 killed one another. These dead or crippled animals 

 soon vanished into the stomachs of a horde of 

 skulking jackals. 



Ever and anon one of the herd of antelopes would 

 be killed by a lion, and, after satisfying his appetite, 

 he and his mate would retire for a drink, and then 

 away to their lair for a doze, leaving the remainder 

 of their repast to the jackals. 



