CO885-(19-20) — Page 129

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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If the disease is taken in the early stages, the animals should show signs of recovering in four or five days.

The treatment should be carried out on land which will not be used for grazing. sheep for a season at least.

Prevention. The cause of the sickness is grazing sheep on contaminated land, and the more dirty the land—that is to say, the greater the number of sheep on a given area-the more severe the disease will be, and the larger the number affected.

Land which is known to be affected should be avoided for grazing, and put under cultivation for one or two years.

If it is not possible to move sheep to high and dry land, they should be kept on land which can be easily drained.

Nodular disease of sheep is caused by a very small worm, the Esophagostoma columbianum, encysting itself in the lining membrane of the intestines.

It is frequently found in adult sheep of the southern states of United States of America, and does not cause fatal trouble, except when in large numbers.

The symptoms are diarrhoea and emaciation.

Post-mortem.-The nodules are easily seen in the large intestines on making a post-mortem examination. They vary in size from a pin's head to a bean, each of them containing a worm. In the large nodules the worm is surrounded by a greenish-coloured cheesy material, and some of them may be calcified.

The prevention and treatment is the same as that of parasitic gastritis.

SORE BACKS.

A very common sight in the Upper River District is to see donkeys with enormous. swellings and sores on the back and withers. These are due to the animals carrying loads of rice and merchandise on the bare back to and from the river. Mr. Stanley informs me that the number of affected donkeys in his district is increasing in number every year, where they are extensively used for pack transport. The intro- duction of a small pack saddle would do much to prevent injuries of this kind. The native is an imitative creature, and if trading firms could be induced to intro- duce cheap and good pack saddles, and use them at their places of business, they might become popular in the country.

Treatment of sore backs-Surgical treatment is required in severe injuries; where

has formed a dependent opening should be made with a sharp knife so pus that it can drain away, the wounds afterwards being kept scrupulously clean. A piece of raw cotton placed on the wound would keep flies off and the dirt out. For abrasions and slight sores a hardening lotion made with salt and water (a table- spoonful to a pint) should be applied two or three times a day. Animals with sore backs should not be used until cured, otherwise they may become useless for further work.

MANGE IN FOWLS.

This disease is caused by a very small parasite, the Sarcoptes mutans.

Symptoms. The legs of affected fowls become enlarged and covered by rough crusts; when these are detached the exposed part presents a honeycomb appearance in the cells of which is seen a white powdery material. On examining the under surface of the scabs with a pocket lens small white particles can be seen moving about; these are the parasites.

The disease is accompanied by a moderate degree of itching, which causes the fowl to paw and attack the affected part with its beak. In severe and long-stand- ing cases there is lameness, and the toes may even fall off. The general health is, sometimes affected, the fowls become emaciated, and cease to lay. The comb and wattle are sometimes involved. It is occasionally seen in wild birds and game as well as domesticated poultry.

Treatment. Owing to the cheapness of poultry in the Gambia it is not worth while medically treating separate cases, but in order to prevent further spread one should destroy affected birds, burn the sweepings of the fowl house, and thoroughly disinfect the perches and interior of the roost by washing with boiling water or spraying with carbolic acid five

If valuable fowls are affected, and they cent. per are worth treatment, the legs should be soaked in warm water for a few minutes after which the crusts and superficial scales can be easily removed:

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The exposed parts should then be anointed with a mixture of creosote and lard (1-20). Two dressings of this at an interval of a week should be sufficient to effect TICKS.

-a cure.

The following varieties of ticks were collected from cattle, horses, dogs, and wild game:

1. Amblyomma variegatum, one kind of which is commonly called "the bont tick," because of its beautiful markings.

This tick was found in great abundance on cattle in all parts of the country. 2. Hyalomma ægyptum, "the bont-legged tick," also found in large numbers on horses, cattle, and game.

3. Margaropus annulatus, found on cattle.

4. Rhipicephalus sanguineus found on dogs in Bathurst.

I have mentioned the animals from which they were collected, but they can be found in various stages of their life on most animals.

Disease-conveying ticks.-Although none of the above-mentioned ticks have been proved to be conveyers of disease in the Gambia, it does not follow that they do not, nor does it mean that other disease-bearing ticks do not exist in the country. They might not have been in evidence at the time my visit was made so I recom- mend that tick collecting should be continued in the various districts. A one per cent. solution of formalin will preserve ticks indefinitely, so for collecting purposes the Commissioners would require a few glass bottles in wood-block cases with an attached label giving the following particulars:-Date of collection, district, animal. *(Professor Neumann, of Toulouse, kindly identified the ticks collected.) Specimens of ticks enclosed.

In controlling contagious diseases in countries where natives are large owners of stock, the difficulties are always great. Native superstition has to be overcome, and confidence in the methods and advice of the white man cultivated. It often means the death of a whole herd of cattle before a native's reason is stimulated. This happens too in countries where natives have the advantage of seeing Europeans deal successfully with contagious diseases. In the Gambia these difficulties will take a considerable time to overcome. At present the natives are frightfully suspici- ous, and not inclined to accept advice, or show their herds to strangers. Many would sooner let their animals die, and look upon it as a punishment inflicted by a supernatural power. To do away with these foolish notions Commissioners should be recommended to encourage natives to come to them for advice when their animals are sick. It would be a great help in the future in dealing with outbreaks of disease.

SUPER-ABUNDANCE OF CATTLE IN THE GAMBIA.

At the present rate of increase of cattle in the country it will be necessary in a few years to legislate against overstocking. The native is not a large flesh eater so that very few cattle are killed in proportion to the number born. A man's wealth and importance in a district is judged by the number of cattle he owns, and for this reason he keeps more than he really wants. The Fullahs look upon them with reverence, and although the poorer class does not mind eating an animal that has died, they would not dream of killing one to eat.

The results of over-stocking are deterioration of quality and increase of pre- disposition to disease.

There are three ways by which it may be remedied: (1) by limiting the grazing area in the various districts; (2) prohibiting the grazing of cattle from French territory; (3) by holding agricultural shows in the various districts, and giving prizes to owners of cattle for the best stock.

By the first method, natives would find that their cattle would not do well when kept in large numbers, and this might force them to sell their least valuable

For the purpose of inquiring into the disease-carrying properties of ticks, they should be allowed to drop from the animal, or they may be taken off when apparently engorged.

Only engorged forms, which may be large or small depending on the stage of life, are any use for this purpose. In sending these live forms home for investigation of disease, they should not, of course, be placed in a preservative. They will travel fairly well in a clean and ventilated tin box (such as a tobacco tin) provided they are not densely packed; a dozen is quite enough to pack in one tin. The above particulars should be attached, and a description of the disease alleged to be caused by the ticks should be forwarded.