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. 
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