SUPPOSED OUTBREAK OF ANTHRAX.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12328, 21 July 1903, Page 6

SUPPOSED OUTBREAK OF ANTHRAX.

STATEMENT BY MR. GILRUTH. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS -ASSOCIATION.] Monday. The Government Veterinary Department has been advised of what is believed to be an outbreak of anthrax at Pukekohe, Auckland. ■ * .

BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] ' ; Wellington, Monday.

Mr. Gilruth, the Chief Government Veterinarian, lias received ■'■ no further information with regard to the reported outbreak of anthrax at Pukekohe, except a .telegram to the effect that the carcases have been binned. This, Mr. Gilruth states, will probably make it impossible foi his Department to get absolute proof that the- disease is anthrax, but he has personally no doubt of it from the reports he has already received. Mr. Gilruth says the outbreak emphasises the necessity for the immediate erection of the sterilising plants for the proper treatment of imported hones. Last year, he says, the Veterinary Department absolutely proved by isolating the bacillus from certain bonedust that the disease had been brought to the colony in imported bonedust, and the serious part of the business is that anthrax-infected bonedust leaves the soil op which it is spread affected for a long time afterwards.

On inquiry at the Auckland Stock Department, a Herald reporter was informed that no information had been received on the above subject. They understand, however, that the suspected carcases were burned, but state that it has not been established that the animals suffered from anthrax.