PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
8255
22
No. 32.
GOLD COAST.
THE EARL OF ELGIN to ACTING GOVERNOR BRYAN.
[Answered by No. 48.]
در
(No. 225.)
Downing Street, June 8, 1906. SIR,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 90, of the 15th of February,* transmitting the annual reports on horses for the year
1905.
2. These reports have been submitted to the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, who has expressed a desire to obtain a good account of the symptoms, course, and post-mortem appearances of the disease referred to as "yaws." I shall be glad if you can furnish the information desired."
No. 33.
WEST AFRICA.
I have, &c.,
ELGIN.
SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE WILD FAUNA OF THE EMPIRE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
23834
(Received 9 June, 1906.)
[Printed as No. 224 in [Cd. 3189], November, 1906.]
No. 34.
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AT A DEPUTATION FROM THE SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE WILD FAUNA OF THE EMPIRE to THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF ELGIN, HIS MAJESTY'S SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES.
25848
(No. 313.)
MY LORD,
Colonial Office, Whitehall, S.W., 15 June, 1906. [Printed as No. 225 in [Cd. 3189], November, 1906.]
No. 35.
EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE. COMMISSIONER SADLER to THE EARL OF ELGIN.
(Received July 16, 1906.)
[Answered by No. 37.]
Commissioner's Office, Nairobi, June 11, 1906. WITH reference to Your Lordship's despatch, No. 202, of April 18th,t and to previous telegraphic correspondence, I have the honour to transmit herewith a report submitted by the Chief Veterinary Officer showing what measures have been adopted to check the spread of African Coast Fever in this Protectorate. Some 11 miles of the fence mentioned in Mr. Stordy's report have already been com- pleted, and work is being carried on at the rate of three-quarters of a mile a day.
I have, &c.,
J. HAYES SADLER.
(No. 36/V.0.)
23
Enclosure in No. 35.
Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer, Nairobi, May 28, 1906. In accordance with your instructions and with reference to the recommenda- tions contained in Mr. Stockman's letter, I have the honour to submit here with a report upon the measures which have been taken for the prevention and control of this disease.
Paragraph I.-No bovine animal has been permitted to leave the infected area, but it must be remembered that no doubt some animals have been surreptitiously moved out of the zone contrary to regulations. The fence now in course of construc- tion, it is hoped, will effectually prevent such movements in future.
Cattle under observation are placed in observation camps where they are sprayed with paraffin solution and fed upon scalded forage, the scalding of the grass having been found to be the most effective method of preventing the conveyance of virulent ticks to the cattle.
Paragraph II. The area for slaughter cattle together with the slaughter houses has been fenced in.
With regard to Mr. Stockman's further remarks I may point out that it has been our endeavour to mark down every infected area or patch outside the zone, and in this endeavour all ox transport has been suspended for the last three or four weeks. Again, I would call attention to the practical impossibility of obtaining reliable information from native sources, but all patches that have been found are now in process of being fenced.
It has also been our intention to burn the grass upon all such patches and along caravan roads, but owing to the rains during the last few months this has so far been impossible.
It is most difficult to accurately estimate the number of deaths which have occurred from this disease, but I place the number at a minimum of 200 to 250 head within the Nairobi area.
The deaths reported and verified outside the area are as follows:-
Kiambu (9 miles from Nairobi)
Ruaraka River (4 miles from Nairobi) Skellorn's Farm (18 miles from Nairobi)
Thika River (25 miles from Nairobi)...
2
1
1 1
There have also been reported three deaths at Fort Hall, 60 miles from Nairobi, but as the blood smears received had been taken from the animals a considerable time after death, they were not suitable for microscopic examination; several organs were also sent, but these, too, were in a putrid state.
All cattle within the Nairobi zone have been branded in numerical order; over 1,300 have now been done, and a register kept giving descriptions of the stock and ownership. This branding has proved most useful in tracing any breaches of the Regulations with regard to movement and non-reporting of deaths.
While every effort is being made, with the small staff at my command, to sup- press this epidemic, there are, at the same time, many opposing forces to be combated. such as surreptitious movements of cattle from over the German border, unautho- rized movements of stock in other districts, and decided apathy on the part of some of the settlers.
Oxen being the only means of transport at present available, the stoppage of such transport is a most serious matter for the small settler and paralyzes his work, while by permitting it, on the other hand, to travel within possibly infected areas, propagation of the disease is greatly to be feared. Much care is, therefore, neces- sary in order to legislate successfully for such conflicting interests. Moreover, while the officers of the Protectorate Police have invariably rendered every possible assistance in endeavouring to enforce the Regulations, it must be remembered that the force is by no means a large one, and is composed only of natives on whom little dependence can be placed.
I have, &c.,
His Majesty's Commissioner,
Nairobi,
ROBERT J. STORDY, Chief Veterinary Officer.
• No. 13.
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