RINDERPEST IN SHEEP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1621, 24 February 1866, Page 2

RINDERPEST IN SHEEP.

TO THE EDITOR OP THB LYTTELTON TIMHfI. Sir, —As I have lately seen in your columns something about rinderpest in sheep, I beg to forward you the following on the subject, copied from an English paper which I received by the last mail; by inserting it you will oblige, Yours, &c., S. B. R. " During the last few weeks several experiments have been undertaken in Edinburgh, at the request of the French Government, to test the accuracy of the statement that sheep are liable to be affected with rinderpest. In the'first series of experiments four sheep were kept in the same stable with animals very seriously affected with rinderpest, and were inoculated with the secretions obtained from the same animals. The results appear to have been entirely negative. In a second series of experiments, four sheep were inoculated with the lachrymal secretions, and with the milk of cows infected with rinderpest; of these, one is stated to have exhibited on the sixth day after the inoculation symptoms of ill health. Subsequently all the symptoms of rinderpest became developed, and the animal died on Tuesday morning. We understand that, at the post mortem examination, which was performed on Tuesday, in the presence of Professor Maclagan and Dr. Andrew Wood, the lesions which are considered to be characteristic of rinderpest were found to exist. Inorder to prove more conclusively the nature of the disease which caused the death of the sheep experimented upon, a calf was on Saturday inoculated with some of the secretions obtained from it. As yet, the animal appears to be in perfect health. If, as ia confidently expected, it fqlls a victim to rinderpest, no doubt can be entertained that the statement that sheep may become affected with the cattle plague is perfectly correct."