ANTHRAX AT TAMAHERE

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 168, 29 July 1901, Page 8

ANTHRAX AT TAMAHERE

We regret to have to record an outbreak of that fatal disease anthrax in the Waikato. Fortunately the area of infection seems to be confined to a particular farm, and every precaution is being taken to prevent the spread of the disease. Our Waikato correspondent sends us the following particulars of the case:—

An outbreak of what is thought to be anthrax, has occurred on .the farm of Mr Bryant, Tamahere, Waikato. Mr Cruickshank had bought his paddock of turnips and turned steers on them. The first animal that died on Bryant's farm was a fat steer, of which .some of the flesh was given to a dog- and two cats, with the result that all died. The steers were then transferred to Cruickshank's farm, but the mortality continued after their removal, animals apparently well in the evening being found dead in the morning-. Mr Cruickshank reported the matter to Mr Ross, stock inspector, and the services of Mr Clayton, Government veterinarian, were at once obtained. The post, mortem indications pointed to anthrax as the cause of death, and specimens were forwarded for bacteriological examination to Mr (lilruth, Wellington, who pronounced the disease to be anthrax, tip to date five animals have died, but there are indications that the mortality (which was confined to the animals which had been running in Bryant's turnips) has ceased for the present. All precautions have been taken to confine the disease to the locality oi the outbreak.