4 VETERINARY SECTION.

()f deaths from disease reported during the period under review. Rinderpest was responsible for approximately 96%. Contagious Bovine Pleu-ro-pneumonia 3%, and other diseases 1 %. The total number of deaths shews a slight increase over that of the previous year.

DISEASES OF CATTLE.

A. Rinderpest (Cattle Plague).

Most deaths occurred during' the months of February to May, and during* October to January the Disease was least prevalent. Grazing and water supply arc probably the chief causes of this variation in incidence of disease in the Sudan. When these are short there are large concentrations of cattle, and consequent greater risk of disease spreading. Moreover, cattle during such times become debilitated and less resistant to attack.

A greatly increased use of serum was adopted during the year. The method employed was the inoculation of the young stock only, and then mixing them with the diseased animals in order that the former should obtain an active immunity.

l>. Contagious Bovine Pleura-pneumonia.

The losses from this disease have been greater than those of last year, but not to such an extent as to justify unusual alarm. The largest outbreak occurred in Berber Province, in the Darner and Berber Districts, and the disease was reported to have been introduced into the market at Darner by cattle from the Atbara area. In all probability it originated in Kassala Province, where the disease is known to exist, although no cases have been reported from that Province this year.

The disease has not previously been reported in Berber Province, and it is hoped that the preventive measures taken have completely eradicated the infection.

C. Anthrax.

This disease, which was never very prevalent in the Sudan, has been resposible for 50%, less deaths than last year. All the cases reported took place in the Haifa and Khartoum North Quarantine Parks. The inoculative measures adopted against this disease should obviate the danger of it spreading outside quarantines.

15 cases of this disease amongst Sudan cattle and 4 in Sudan sheep were reported from Egypt.