THE ANTHRAX OUTBREAK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 173, 22 July 1903, Page 2

THE ANTHRAX OUTBREAK.

(By Telegraph.— Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Tuesday,

Mr. Gilruth, Chief Government Veterinarian, to-day received specimens of the blood from two oi the five head of cattle which died at Pukekohe, near Auckland, last week, under circumstances suggest-. ir,g anthrax. A minute examination, \>iiich was made, revealed myriads of an11)rax bacilli in the specimens, establishing beyond all doubt that the animals had died from the dreaded disease. The owner of the cattle had cremated the dead bodies of the cattle before the arrival of the Government veterinarian sent up from Wellington, but the work or the department was facilitated by the 'ocal veterinary, who had been called in, and who took the precaution of securing b'ood specimens from the diseased stock.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

PUKEKOHE, this day

Messrs Clayton and Brittain, Government Stock Inspectors, have examined

& calf which died yesterday on Mr Lv timer's farm, and have declared it to be a case of anthrax. They have quarantined Mr Latimer's farm. The cow that recovered they state was merely suffering from a cold.

We are informed that the following are the facts of the ease: —Five head of cattle died between the 10th and 10th inst. on Mr C. Latimer's place at Pukekohe. Mr Latimer came to town on the lGth and Mr Halstead went up on the 17th. He was asked by the Auckland Inspector of Stock to take up two slides and to bring smear? to the oilk'e. which Mr Halstead did on the 18th. These were forwarded on the same day to Wellington. Messrs Clayton and Hull went to Pukekohe on the 18th and made all enquiries possible. Another heifer died on the 20th. Messrs Clayton and Brittain. who visited Pukekohe yesterday, found a dead heifer. A post mortem examination was rr.ade and the case was unmistakably anthrax. In all four cows, a bull, a heifer and two pigs have died on Mr Latimer"s property since the 10th inst. The place is now in quarantine.