FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IN VICTORIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3566, 22 June 1872, Page 2

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IN VICTORIA.

It will be seen from our latest telegrams, that the above scourge has commenced its ravages in Victoria, and that a bill has passed the Legislature to prevent its spread. The Argus of Juno 7 has the following :-rTho fear expressed yesterday that the foot and mouth disease had boon introduced into this colony has unfortunately proved well founded. Mr Graham Mitchell, V. 8., during yesterday visited a paddock about 30 miles from Melbourne, in which were a recentlyimported bull aiid, il cows, all of which had been afflicted by a disease supposed to be that mentioned above. Mr Mitchell states that he found the 12 head of cattle to be recovering from the foot and mouth disease, which had nearly proved fatal to four of the cows, and would probably have so resulted had not the animals all been so Quiet that they could be fed with the hand. They were totally unable to help themselves for a week, and must have died had they been wild cattle. The imported bull was first observed to bo ill on the 6th ult, and about four days afterwards one of

the cows was noticed to be similarly afflicted. The disease spread to,all the 11 cows Tuning in the paddock with the bull, the last case occurring on the. 24tli ult., but all.were recovering when; seen yesterday. The owner promised to keep them apart from other cattle till some steps are taken in order that there mhy be no further infection, and it is not feared that the disease will spread from this point, as the bull and the cows were from the first isolated from other animals. However, there is danger to be apprehended - from another source, as the bulb in question was'one of four imported at the same time, and sold on the 4th ultimo in Melbourne. These bulls may be carrying the disease in a latent form, and may at any time infect the cattle amongst which they arc placed in different parts of the , colony, and thus spread the disease to ft ruinous extent. It is believed that one bull is on the Loddon, and that two are on the Darling, and it is hoped that, attention having been thus drawn to the danger, those who are non’ in charge of the bulls will immediately place tile ahitnols in quarantine till it can bo proved whether or not they ere free from disease. Mr Mitchell also says, “ In addition to the cattle, there were three pigs suffering from ‘ vesicular aptha.’ One I had particularly examined had lost the greater portion of its hoofs of the forefeet. These were young pigs, that were observed to have made their way into the yard where the diseased cows were feel.”