796 
Supplement to the Tropical AgrtcultwisV 
[May 2, 1904. 
cattle, viz., lung-sickaesp, rinderpest, foot and 
mouth disease, and even those more recent plagues 
of red-wnter, and the Rhodesia cattle disease, 
which have come in from the north-east coast, are 
all imported, and although the climatic and other 
conditions are unfortunately favourable for their 
propagation and spread when once introduced, 
none of them, as far as we know, could have 
orginated here, hence it is not necessary that they 
should remain here. As an illustration of a disease 
which was introduced into this Colony, and 
evidently found a suitable soil for its propagation 
and spread, I need only refer you to the infectious 
luQg-sickness of Angora goats. But, notwithstand- 
ing these favouring conditions, by the self-sacrific- 
ing co-operation of a large number of the Angora 
farmers, the disease was entirely eradicated, and 
is not likely to recur unless it is re-introduced. 
Even that fatal disease of sheep and goats known 
by the name of heart-water, and which has within 
living memory decimated the flocks of the north- 
eastern districts of the Cape Colony to such an 
extent, is not a disease wbich is indigenous to the 
British South African Colonies, but comes with 
the bont tick from farther east. 
Yo\x. mny reasonably reply, however, that 
although these diseases did not originate here, they 
ore now as firmly established as if they had, and 
will be just as difficult to control or eradicate. 
It is a great point gained, however, when the 
originating cause of a disease is known ; it is the 
first step towards discovering a preventive, and 
the principal object of my present paper is to 
direct your attention to a number of the specific 
infective diseases of farm stock, the originating 
causes of which have been discovered and preven- 
tive remedies provided. It would be impossible to 
give anything like a full description of these 
diseases in an address like the present, and it would 
be useless to attempt it. I simply want to deal 
with the subject in a brief, practical manner, 
directing the attention of the stock farmers to the 
best known methods of combating such diseases. I 
will take first those diseases which are indigenous 
to the countrj', and the causal organisms of which 
exist in the soil, such as anthrax or melt-ziekte, 
quarter-evil orsponsziekte, and tetanus or lock-jaw. 
Anthrax or melt-ziekte occurs amongst farm 
stock in many districts of the Colony, and in some 
of these districts it causes serious losses annually. 
It is a malignant infective blood disease, capable 
of being communicated to nearly all mammalian 
animals, including man, Its originating cause is 
a little rod-shaped micro-organism called tlie 
bacillus anthracis, a vegetable organism regarded 
aa one of the class of the lower fungi. When a 
number of these organisms or their eggs, which 
are called spores, enter the blood of a susceptible 
animal, they multiply there with marvellous 
rapidity until they become so numerous as to 
cause serious disorganisation of that fluid, engorge- 
ment of the capillary blood-vessels, and enlarge- 
ment of the spleen, which is one of the most 
characteristic features of the disease, generally 
ending in the death of the animal. 
These bacilli or their spores may gain an entrance 
into the blood through any wound or abrasion of 
the skin or through any abrasion of the mucoua 
membrane of the mouth, or any part of the diges- 
tive canal, or they may become mingled with the 
dust in the stnble or byre, and be inhaled with the 
inspired air and gain an entrance to the blood 
through the delicate mucous membrane lining the 
bronchial tubes and air-cells. Such lesiDns or 
abrasions of the mucous membrane of the mouth 
by which these bacilli can enter the blood are very 
liable to be produced when animals are grazing on 
vegetation of a rough and spiny character. But 
1 want you to observe that although these bacilli of 
anthrax are capable of multiplying and producing 
spores in soil which are rich in organic matter, 
the principal source of supply of these germs if 
undoubtedly the carcases of animals which die oa 
the disease, and which from the want of proper 
care in their disposal by burial or burning have 
contaminated the pastures. Every carcase left 
exposed on the ground or improperly buried 
becomea a fresh centre of infection. Every care 
should therefore be taken to bury deeply under the 
soil the carcase of every animal which dies of 
anthrax, and to see that the house, kraal, or portion 
of veld on which the animal died is properly 
cleaned and disinfected. The same remarks apply 
with equal force to the carcases of animals which 
die of quarter-evil or sponsziekte. 
This disease is also caused by a rod-shaped 
bacillus, similar to but distinct from the anthrax 
bacillus, ta appearance it is stouter and rounder 
at its extremities, and has other distinctions. 
For example, the anthrax bacillus requires oxygen 
for the manifestation of his vital phenomena, 
whereas oxygen arrests the vital action of the 
bacillus of quarter-evil- Again, when viewed 
under the microscope, the anthrax bacillus is 
motionless, while the quarter-evil bacillus ex- 
hibits free movement. Further, the anthrax 
bacillus grows and multiplies in the blood 
principally, whereas the quarter-evil bacillus is 
rarely found in the blood, but is found chiefly 
in the cellular tissues and muscles of the affected 
part. Both diseases are inoculable, anthrax by 
a small quantity of blood, and quarter-evil by 
a little serous fluid from the swollen part. 
The organisms of both diseases are capable of 
living and multiplying in the soil of infected 
pastures, hence the importance of the proper 
burial of all such carcases and the disinfection of 
the places where the animal died. Not less than 
10 per cent, of carbolic acid, Jeyes' fluid or similar 
disinfectants should be used, and that should be 
used freely. A good dressing of quicklime is one 
of the best means of disinfecting a kraal or 
portion of veld. 
So much for the disposal of diseased carcase?. 
I want to direct your attention to the fact that 
a fairly reliable means of preventive inoculation 
for both these diseases has been discovered, and 
has been largely practised for a number of 
years in the majority of stock countries where 
these diseases prevail. I am sorry to have to 
add, however, that this means of preventive in- 
oculation is not nearly so largely practised for 
either of these diseases in this Colony as it ought 
to be, There may be some excuse in districts 
