Rinderpest in Africa in the Late 1890s

An epidemic of Rinderpest in Africa was noted in Egypt in the 1840s and gradually spread south, reaching Tanzania in 1880s and Rhodesia in 1890s. Charles Gray was the first veterinarian to see Rinderpest in 1896, one of only a few vets working in Southern Africa. There was a devastating epidemic in Soth Africa, a slaughter policy was introduced and erecting fences to restrict movement of cattle. The disease was finally eradicated in 1905.

R M Mack

A Faraway Look, Herbert Watkins-Pitchford and Rinderpest 1896-1912

Lt Colonel Herbert Watkins-Pritchard was born in 1866 and qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 1889. In 1896 he was appointed as Principal Veterinary Surgeon in Natal, Africa. He arrived to face the Rinderpest outbreak. He was involved in the production of a curative serum, obtained from recovered cattle, which had some success. Robert Koch was involved in the research into both the serum and bile methods and the validation of clinical results. During the Boer War, Herbert enlisted into the Natal Volunteers and was involved in the Siege of Ladysmith. In 1901 he became Government Bacteriologist and Director of Veterinary Department Natal. He retired in 1912.

R G Mares