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45. In South Africa epizootic lymphangitis is a scheduled disease, and is dealt with by legislation. Though the destruction of infected animals may not be compulsory there, yet the restrictions as to isolation, &c., are so severe that the owners can make no use of the animals, and they usually find that their destruction is the best way out of the difficulty in which they find themselves placed. Treatment of any kind for the disease is not recommended, "prevention" being the recognised method of dealing with it so far.

46. It does not come within the scope of the present survey to make suggestions as to how the disease should be dealt with in this Colony. A passing mention, how- ever, may be made here, for general information, that strict isolation of all known or suspected cases of infection, careful attention to wounds and abrasions in horses that may have been in contact with infected or suspected animals, and thorough disinfec- tion of stables, stable fittings, harness, grooming utensils, &c., wherever it is found to exist, are recognised as being the only really effective methods of combating the disease.

SCAB IN SHEEP AND GOATS.

47. This is another affection which is widely distributed in this Colony and Protectorate. It was carefully diagnosed during the course of this survey by micro- scopical examination at Warri, Idah, and Illushi, to make certain that it really was a form of scab. In nearly every town visited, both in the Centrai and Western Provinces, the disease was found to be prevalent not only amongst sheep and goats, but also amongst dogs. Its ravages are chiefly confined to lambs and kids, of which it kills off a good many, but apart from this it does not appear to affect the commerce in adult sheep and goats to any alarming extent.

48. The importance of the existence of scab in this country would become more accentuated than it is at present in the event of any attempt being made to improve the breed of sheep by introducing animals capable of producing a wool crop. This is a factor worth bearing in mind should any attempt in that direction be made in the future.

49. The cattle native to Southern Nigeria are, as is well known, very small sized and inferior. As one travels from Lagos northwards there is a small improve- ment noticeable in the size of the animals. This is probably due to the trade carried on with Northern Nigeria, where the animals are larger, through which a beast is left here and there, and thus by a process of accidental selection, the introduction of this fresh stock improves upon the native strain, and gives rise to a sort of inter- mediate breed. In cattle breeding, as practised by the natives, there is no system of selection whatever; the animals are all herded together, and any bull is allowed to serve any cow, without discrimination as to the respective qualities of the animals. Besides this in-and-in breeding goes on continuously.

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What I wish to indicate in making a few remarks on stock is that even with the material to hand in this country, I have no hesitation in saying that great improvements could be made by a continuous process of careful selection, accom- panied by a system of castration.

51. In adopting this system, as regards which the natives would, of course, require instruction, it would be necessary to carefully observe the sires, when they are a little over a year old, then select the best and mate them with the best cows. The rest of the bulls would be castrated, so as to ensure that they would not serve any cows.

52. Fresh blood is undoubtedly needed in the country, but in view of what has been seen already of the wide distribution of trypanosomiasis in its chronic form, the introduction of foreign animals is a measure which cannot be recommended for some time to come. Without resorting to this, however, it is fairly certain that a course of selection, such as I have indicated, would, in a very few years, greatly improve the. stock; and when considered in this light, it will be seen that to delay the intro- duction of fresh cattle until such time as the selection method has had a fair chance to raise the standard preparatory to the introduction of fresh animals, while in the meantime advances in the treatment of trypanosomiasis may have taken place, would, as far as the interests of the country are concerned, cause little or no delay in the improvement of cattle.

53. The requirements of this country are, firstly, a good strain of working ox, which, for example, could be used for ploughing; and secondly, animals for milking

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54. if, however, Government should decide to expend money in the intro- duction of fresh stock at an early date, the actual improvement in the size and weight of animals, and the crossing of breeds, would probably be better than by the method I have recommended; but at the same time Government must, in that case, be prepared to lose all the original cattle, and many of their immediate offspring, while no advancement would be made as far as trypanosomiasis is concerned.

55. Although not exactly within my province, I may mention, in passing, from my knowledge of stock, that for the production of good working oxen the breed which can be safely recommended for importation is the Herefordshire. He is a fairly- hardy animal as regards changes of climate, and coupled with his size, weight, and aptitude for work, he is also an excellent beef animal, which might be a point worth considering as the country progresses. Next to the Hereford would come the Devon- shire. From either of the two the requirements of the country as regards work could be obtained, and the resultant crossing would, in each case, produce fair milk givers, should this become an object to attain.

56. As in the case of cattle, the selection system, if carefully carried out, would probably result in the production of a serviceable type of horse for the country, as a trace of good blood has occasionally been observed to exist in native animals. There appears to be no need for a larger sized horse than the local breed. For stamina, points, &c., the introduction of a few English blood stallions could be highly recommended. Second to them could be placed the Arab. For a little increase in bulk the Suffolk Punch is worth attention.

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Horses.

This is not a sheep country to commence with. In the event of cattle Sheep. farming progressing, and the country being grazed over by cattle to remove the rougher herbage, the question of sheep might be worth consideration, but then it would probably be a matter of introducing entirely new stock.

38. Goats are very numerous in the country, and find a subsistence practically Goats. anywhere on very little. They are of an inferior species at present, but a much better class of animal can live and thrive in exactly similar circumstances. There appears to be no reason why the Angora goat should not be introduced with a view to starting a trade in mohair. (Here note former remarks re scab.)

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CONCLUDING REMARKS.

59. A certain amount of time was spent in the examination of flies, &c., but so far there is nothing special to report upon them. The trypanosome Lewisi was found in the country, which I mention to show the wide distribution of this parasite. Out of nine rats examined in Lagos four were found to be infected with it. At Warri one was infected out of three examined, two at Idah were both negative, of three at Onitsha one was infected, and one out of two examined at Oyo. In a crocodile shot on the Niger at Idah, there were found organisms the real nature of which I am at present unable to define, but they were of the nature of trypanoplasma.

60. In the Central Province the blood of several snakes was also examined, and in some of them was found hæmogregarines. During my travels, wherever opportunity has presented itself, the blood of various sorts of birds has been éxamined, including vultures, eagles, various water birds, such as spoonbills, &c.; and, in fact, practically any species of living creature which has come under my notice has been made to contribute to the cause of science, although in most cases the result has been negative.

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61. Owing to the great improvement which is being pushed on as regards road making in the country, the shoeing of horses which, no doubt, was a matter of little moment in the past, now becomes eminently desirable. I have seen that official faci- lities already exist for doing this, and one cannot help hoping that these are as far as possible available to the public, and that, if so, full advantage will be taken of

Before closing my report. I wish to say a few words on the subject of the treatment of domestic animals, which, although it may not come strictly within the scope of my work, yet I consider myself in common with every Veterinary Surgeon justified in mentioning, on account of things which have been forced upon my notice. To start with, the humble but useful donkey merits a little more considerate trent- ment than he usually receives at the hands of the native. I have seen donkeys unloaded on the road whose backs, as far as the area of their pack saddles covered, were just raw flesh, and who, after getting their feed of grass, have been callously

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Improve- ment, &c.

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