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(No. 10.)

MY LORD,

146

No. 212.

SIERRA LEONĘ,

GOVERNOR PROBYN to THE EARL OF ELGIN.

(Received February 7, 1908.)

[Answered by No. 247.]

Government House, Freetown,

Sierra Leone, January 22, 1908.

In reply to your despatch, No. 433, of the 20th of November, 1907, I have the honour to enclose copy of a report dated the 27th of December, 1907, by Mr. H. E. Bailey, Acting District Commissioner of the Koinadugu District, respect- ing the castration of cattle by the natives. I am inclined to think that should the operation be performed in the manner which obtains in England, it would probably be necessary to pay more care and attention to the animal operated upon than the natives would be likely to give.

4839

SIR,

147

No. 213.

NORTHERN NIGERIA.

MR. J. BRAND to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received February 10, 1908.)

[Acknowledged Felruary 20, 1908.]

33, St. Stephen's Road,

West Ealing, W., February 9, 1908.

I HAVE the honour to hand you my final report on the Veterinary Survey of Northern Nigeria. This report would have been submitted to you some time ago. I had arranged to have photographs taken of blood-sucking flies collected by me and not yet named, also the various trypanosomes, but as they have not yet reached me I send it without.

I have, &c,

JAMES BRAND, F.R.C.V.S.,

Assistant Veterinary Inspector.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TTILL C.O. 885

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

20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

T2

(M.P. 4193/1906.)

I have, &c.,

L. PROBYN,

Governor.

Enclosure in No. 212.

IMPROVEMENT OF CATTLE BREEDING.

With reference to paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Secretary of State's despatch of November, 1907, Sierra Leone, Miscellaneous No. 433, with reference to the breeding of cattle, I have the honour to report with reference to paragraph 2, there is no local objection to castrate the bulls, provided it is done in the native method, or indemnity given in case of death of the animal if other methods are insisted on, and that the breeders are not compelled to castrate all their young bulls.

With reference to paragraph 3, I am informed that castration in the ordinary manner, i.e., cutting, is known, but the method generally practised is to take a young bull from one to two years of age and fracture the ligaments which attach the testicles to the body, by throwing the animal and placing a piece of wood, such as an axe-handle, under the parts, and taking another and beating the ligaments until they are thoroughly bruised. The testicles after the operation swell up, but within a fortnight become normal; and eventually wither away, leaving the animal impotent.

I enquired whether cutting would not be a better method; but the chief who has been selected as one of the cattle breeders informed me that he would not like to attempt this method, as he feared the animal might die from the operation. If cutting does kill the animal, it may be due firstly to the natives being unskilful and so mutilating the beast; and, secondly, by allowing the animals to become too old before castration is performed.

Kaballa,

27th December, 1907.

H. E. BAILEY,

No. 196.

Acting District Commissioner.

Enclosure in No. 213.

VETERINARY SURVEY, NORTHERN NIGERIA.

In continuation of my report of August, 1907.

The dog inoculated with blood taken from the Zaria pony on the 27th of July, 1907, was kept under observation till the 10th of September, during which time he remained healthy and did not show an invasion of trypanosomes or loose condition.

Knowing with what certainty the dog becomes infected (under seven days) when inoculated with virulent blood, I feel confident that the treatment adopted in both cases has had a curative result.

Relation of Big Game to Trypanosomiasis.

In order to find what part, if any, that big game of the Protectorate played in spreading the disease, I carried out experiments much on the same lines as Bruce did in Zululand. Although in no case was I able to demonstrate the presence of the micro-parasite in blood smears taken from antelopes immediately after death, yet in sixteen out of seventeen dogs inoculated I found trypanosomes in the blood stream, accompanied by the usual clinical symptoms of the disease.

The number of wild game, which are highly immune, will always keep up a supply of material for blood-sucking flies, and, in consequence, this will be one of the greatest sources of keeping the disease going over large areas on account of the great distances travelled during the year by these animals.

Of the domestic animals of the country it is most probable that sheep and goats are capable of spreading the disease in those districts where blood-sucking Alies abound.

Both of those animals appear to have a very high degree of immunity. I have on several occasions examined the blood of sheep and goats that appeared quite healthy, and in the case of sheep, particularly in fat condition, found good invasions of trypanosomes.

When I started on tour from Zungeru, I took with me a bay stallion, five years old, that had a few weeks previously trekked down country from Sokoto. I pro ceeded to Kontagora, Yelwa, Koage, Glendenne to Sokoto and on to Ruma. Knowing I should pass through many fly belts and that during the journey I would be near the banks of the Niger, my horse would be bitten very badly. During the journey every fifth day I injected intravenously into the neck vein 15 c.c. of the metylene blue corrosive sublimate mixture. He never was ill, although frequently was badly bitten by flies, and improved in general condition. Unfortunately at Ruma he was accidentally drowned, spoiling what would appear to be a useful experi- ment regarding the protective power given by the mixture when frequently injected. I think it is well worth while carrying out experimental work with regard to the value of the mixture given internally in the form of powder administered mixed with

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