14 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[July r, 1897. 
effect upon healthy stock when inoculated with it. 
Its protective properties however are not very great, 
for 100 com, of such serum are required to protect 
an animal against an inoculation with a small dose 
of Einderpest-blood. This immunity is in its nature 
merely a “ passive” one and will only last during 
a short period. For protective inoculation on a large 
scale such serum is not applicable, but I succeeded 
in immunising within a fortnight several animals by 
means of a mixture of serum and virulent Rinder- 
nest-blood to such a degree that they were enabled 
to withstand an injection of 20 ccm. Rinderpest- 
blood, a ten thousandth part of which is a fatal dose. 
From this fact I judge that the immunity of these ani- 
mals is of a much higher degree and I believe it 
is an active immunity, equal to that of a beast 
which has contracted Rinderpest and recovered. It 
is particularly important to know that only 20 ccm. 
of such serum are required to immunise one ani- 
mal, and therefore one litre (nearly 1| imperial pint) 
suffices for fifty head of cattle. My further investiga- 
tions concerning this modus ojierandi will aim at 
finding 
If this immunity is obtainable in a still shorter 
period ; 
If a still smaller dose of serum will suffice and 
if it may be attained with but one injection. 
“ A second and equally important fact is that one is 
able to render immune healthy cattle with the bile 
of such that have succumbed to Rinderpest. In this 
case only one hypodermatic injection of 10 ccm. 
i.s sufficient. This immunity sets in on the 10th 
day at latest and is of such an extent that even 
fours weeks afterwards 40 ccm. of Rinderpest-blood 
could be injected without any injurious result. I 
therefore conclude that the immunity produced in 
such manner is of an ‘ active ’ nature. The local 
result of an injection is merely a hard, somewhat 
painful swelling of the size ot a man’s fist and 
which gradually disappears in the course of a few 
weeks provided, however, that the bile is not in 
a state of decomposition as is not uncommon when 
an animal suffers from Rinderpest. Under such 
circumstances an abscess ma.y form, which, however, 
does not seem to be detrimental to the process of 
immunisation. 
Both these above-mentioned facts convince me 
that Rinderpest can be eradicated with but little 
difficulty, and within a comparatively short time, by 
putting these methods into practice. The method of 
immunising cattle with serum may be used in order to 
separate from infected areas those tracts of country 
which are still free from the scourge by means of form- 
ing a broad belt between them in which all the cattle 
are inocculated with the vaccin. The protective pro- 
perties of the bile will be of inestimable service in in- 
fected parts. Nearly every case of Rinderpest sup- 
plies a greater or lesser quantity of vaccine for those 
animals which are still healthy. I cannot but urge 
upoir you the importance of bringing this method 
immediately to the notice of those cattle-owners 
whose animals are suffering from, or threatened with, 
the disease, as I am sure thousands of cattle may 
daily be saved by its application ” 
“The modus opemndi,'" adds Dr. Koch, “is 
very simple in both tlie.se methods.” We 
hone to hear before long th.at the Government 
Veterinary Surgeon lia.s begun acting upon the 
results of Dr. Koch’s important woikina system, 
atic manner. So far rve are not aware that any 
systematic vclerinaiy investigations have been 
carried out in the island. The life ot a Veterinary 
Officer in an island like Ceylon, if he is to prove 
really useful, must needs be a veiy active one, 
as active if nob more so, than that of a medical 
inspector. We learn that in the Cape the services 
of the Government Veterinary Surgeon are avail- 
able to anybody in the Colony, and that that 
officer must attend upon, or give advice regard- 
ing any case reported bo him free of charge. 
This is as it .should be, provided that the officer 
is well remunerated by Government and that all 
cost of travelling is al.<o refundeii. 
There i.s no gainsaying the tact that the ])ie- 
valenee of cattle plague in the country divisions 
(reportsot which are given month after month in the 
season reporG.s pmdisiied in the Gazette] accounts 
for a good deal of the failure which frequently 
attends cultivation in our villiges. We trust, 
therefore, tliat Government will see lit to direct 
the Colonial Veterinary ISurgeon to carry on his 
work in connection with the suppre's.sion of 
Cattle Plague, on the lines indicated by Dr. Koch, 
and to make a report on the results of that work. 
PLANTING IN BKITI H CENTPvAL 
AFRICA. 
The first foal born and reiued in British Centra 
Africa is now being broken in at Zomba for rid 
ing. It is a very tractable little animal and pro 
mises to turn out useful. It is a stallion, and we 
will hope may be the sire of a future Shire High- 
land breed. 
During the last few weeks plantations in the 
Zomba District have been simply flooded with 
Anguru, Anyasa, and Mangoche men. This is a 
new departure at this time of the year, we under- 
stand, and no doubt those planters who benefit by 
it will w'elcome it. 
Nkanyela, a chief on the shores of Lake Chilwa, 
has of late been sending in messages to Zomba and 
assurances of his desire to be great friends with the 
Europeans. His assurances have also been accom- 
panied by a fair number of workers, Anguru. From 
the Namaramba country, north of Lake Chiuta also 
labourers are beginning to come in. 
The African Trans-Continental Telegraph Company 
have very liberally offered, if the Collector at Chiromo 
will from time to time wire to Blantyre the move- 
ments of steamers, mails, &c., on the lower river, 
to send out notices to the different offices at Blantyre 
and Zomba. This no doubt will be a great boon to 
all Blantyre and Zomba residents. 
The Telegraph Company are making excellent 
progress with the construction of their line towards 
the north. The wire has now reached the Upper 
Shire and will before long be at Fort Johnston ; and 
Major Forbes hopes that the present year, the 
“ Soixantaine,” will before its close seethe north of 
Lake Nyassa intelegraphic communication with London. 
On the Mlungusi Estate of Messrs. Buchanan Bros, 
a number of orange ti'ees are now in full bearing. 
Out in the Mlanje-Zomba plains, on the Ntoudwe 
river, there were recently found a number of lemon 
trees hearing heavily. As they are near to the site 
of the original “ Magomero ” Mission station it is 
supposed that the trees must have been planted by 
the first missionaries established in B. C. A. The 
fruit though very large and of good flavour, has an 
unusually thick skin. — B. C. Africa Gazette, April 1. 
POLISHING A PAIR OF HORNS. 
Remove all the rough outer part with a rasp, fol- 
lowed by a file. Then well scrape with a knifej^ steel 
scraper, or side of a steel chisel to remove all file 
marks. Then standpaper off with various sizes of 
sandpaper, finishing off with the finest. Now care- 
fully dust to remove any particles of sand, and repeat 
this dusting between every two of the subsequent 
operations. To polish the horns, apply, by means of 
a rag dipq>ed in linseed oil, some of the horn-dust 
saved during the previous processes, and rub smartly. 
Next apply some putty-powder or rottenstone by 
means of a flannel damped in water, and agaiu use 
plenty of rubbing. Whiting is next employed by the 
aid of a rag damped in vinegar. Follow this with a 
chamois leather and a little oil, then wiih a clean ffiy 
leather, and finish off with a sharp rubbing with the 
bare palm. Or a lathe and various “ bobs ” can be 
used in polishing, — From “ Worh ” for April, 
