DISEASES IN STOCK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12392, 30 June 1902, Page 7

DISEASES IN STOCK.

MR GILRIiTH'S PArER, Tha following is tho remaining portion of Mr J. A. Gilruth's paper on " Diseases in Stoe.(, which was road afc the Agricultural Conference on Friday: — Malignant cedema.—TJii.i disease, commonly known as blood jioi^onin^,' is unfortunately too well known to many of tho farmers of the colony, being; practically limited to tho tiino when sheep are being operated upon at the yards—i.e., when curting and tailing lambs or shearing sheep, generally a number of animals succumb at tho samo time. Tho genu which causes tho br.sM has been cultivated, and tlio disease produced experimentally so often by mo ami reports issued that it is unnecessary hero to further ilisruss its nature, further than to say tho microbe, being closely associated •with ilicso which produce putrefaction, itself possessing thai property, ouo would naturally raped- to find it in dirty, neglected ov other places where decomposition of animal material is occurring. Yet it is ( oilen found in swampy soils, ami oven th?y occur m apparently deal- pastures, though not commonly. Putrefaction, it should bo TPpcinbcrwl, docs not imply the pvosorcc of tiiis organism: it only shows there is a Biiitablo ground at- hand for its development. And how is it possible to contaminate fresh areas with this deadly microbe? The answer is, by tho same means as fresh soil is contaminated by tho germs of blackleg, etc. th& carrion dogs and hawks. Like tlio anthrax and blackleg germs, this is capable of producing spores (i.e., seeds) which have "lory nigh powers of resisionee, a temperature of over boiling point being required to cuiiss the death of theso bodice. The chief preventivo treatment is indicated thou apiiu in the thorough destruction of arty affcclcd carcase. The other measures are the thorough disinfection of in fooled yards by digfrinj aud

saturating with non-poisonous dip or other diK infeotant and, always advisable, the application of somo such drcFsiiigj a* strong carIdolised oil to the wounds at sheaving or cutting and tailing time, before the liberation of tho animal. Brasy-likc Disease in Sheep.—Hove, again, 19 another disease due to a spore-bearing microbe with great powers of resistance. .As a leaflet has vcrcutly bccii issued dealing shortly with this malady, I will not detain you with a further description, suffice it to say that though sufficiently like braxy, for practical purposes, of which many of you have no do-.ibt had experience, there arc several points of distinction. Though duo to a microbe, tlio nature of the feed appears to have* a considerable ofi'cct on its production, as aho lias the age of the animal. Tunyp feeding on bare ground and youth appear essentially predisposing factors." Yet I givo this opinion tentatively, hoping that with the co-operation of those interested, and v.'hom J have asked in my circular to reply to certain queries, I, shall ultimately get jr.oro exact information. That I shall do' so I havo every confidence from the number of replies I have already received. Beyond the variation of the food supplied. I am not yet in a position to advise much vo prevention— especially :is there are many experiments to be yet- conducted in my hope for now premise;—.further than to strongly uvg? again in this disease the destruction of affected carcases, lhat tho disease can be conveyed there is undoubted proof, therefore why vun needless risk'A? I ani aware tlio average loss at present- does not execed, from (his cause, more than hvn to five; but, on the ono hand, many farmers have never had a ease, on their property, and fouid I know jiave lest up to per oent. And as lamb fattening shows evidence of more and more general, while cultivation is becoming more and more intense, there is grave reason to believe losses from this disease may increase in like ratio. Caseous (Cheesy) Nodules and Pleurisy with Pneumonia in Kl'.eep.-Theso conditions. though apparently unconnected, mv experiments indicate are duo to (he fame cause—a living microscopic organism, Although never, so far as I am'aware, the cause of any mortality— at least appreciable —these diseases are praclirally solely responsible for tho condemnation of carcases at the export meat works. Therefore they should lie of somo interest- to the sheepfarmer. Tho affection consists ehicfly of a chronic inflammation, with deposit of mom or less greenish oheesy material in (he small glands of tho body, particularly about tho shoulder, musclc; of the legs, and flank, fcud pneumonia' localised willi abscesses in the lungs, or a form of pleurisy with more or less suppuration. Although not strictly confined to thp merino, that breed and its crosses are undoubtedly the more prone to tlie disease. OtJmr nnirnala mav lie jifFoeted, an for example, only recently I bad an opportunity of examining a hare affected in the earlier sfagos. My inquiries into literaturc dealing with microbes similar to tho ono I have isolated from these cases show that tlio sumo disease lias affeeM horses, cattle, birds, etc., and generally in a more virulant manner than it apparently does sncep. As sheep give no indication of being cftectcd when alive, manifestly 110 treatment can be recommended: but I submit that here again tho conclusion is forced upon one that tho dostruction of animals dead from what-/ ever cause is- absolutely imperative as a precaution in the interests of the stockraising industry. Contagions Inflammation of the Udder in Sheep.—ln certain older countries a cause of considerable annual loss, so far (his tliscaso has appeared to but a limited extent m this colony. Producing death and gangrene of half or the whole of the udder, this inflammation is very rapid in its onsot' and nearly always results in the death of the ••nireal. Tho udder first becomes swollen, hot, and painful, then soon takes 011 a violet tint, the mil 1; bring bloody, and the skin of the glint! blotchy. Marked swelling occurs a.ong the floor of tho belly, there is high fever, and the ewe rapidly becomes emaciated, death resulting in from 56 to AS hours. Last spring Mr tVilkie (Government veterinarian) had occasion to investigate a small outbreak of this and from ramples of null:, etc., 'which he* forwarded I was ablo to isolate the microbe and cultivate it experimentally. A small quantity of on artificial growth in broth introduced by th? teat duct among tho mill: in tho udder :n a few hours produced the characteristic inflammation, and in 36 hourj the tissue was quite gangrenous. In short, all tVo appearances of tho diseases were produced experimentally, proving that the inflammation was due- to the living germ isolated. Having ascertained the reuse, the question is tho measures to be taken. The.-:" are obvious. 1 n!e=s a stud owe, she should be Killed and tho carca.sc burned, the place where found being thoroughly sterilised. In addition, any yard or pen where such an annual may have been fhould be thoroughly disinfected, and the remainder of the Hock carefully washed for similar symptoms. In atuil ewes affopto'J the udder should be promptly amputated, future progeny being roared on a foster-mother. This dhca.se having made it* appearance- should bo carefully Avatchcd for. a.-; it is within tho bounds of possibility it might develop into a seri otis tax to the sheep-breeder. Above all, affected flock animals should' be destroyed, and buried or burnt to prevent spread. Strangles in Horses.—This is a troublesome and occasionally deadly disease, of which doubtless all of you have had regrettable exiicrionce. Probably Uice is no trouble which tlio breeder dreads more than a visitation of strangles. Alihough one hears of various wild ideas in regard to the stamping out nf this or that disease, there is never a murmur regarding strange?] i'lid no doubt because of the prevalentMmpressiun that, like measles and distemper, it is a necessary tribulation of youth. Yet such an idea is totally erroneous, and in spitrv of such an idea, were the disease very deadly, there would soon be urgent donisiid« for its eradication. I could" narrate many instances whieii have occurred even in the colony of serious loss having been sustained _ by station-owners and others partly iiironpn tolal loss of valuable animals, but chiefly through loss of v.*ovk during the period of illness or convalescence. Everyone knows the disastrous results of an outbreak of siranjlos :;iiiciig-t a lot of workins horses which have never been previously exposed to tho infection, and consequently have had 110 opportunity of becoming immune, and every owner is aware—or should

lie—that isolation of tho first affected animal is the finest method of preventing tho disease running through the wholo stable, 'i'ho disease is generally introduced to a farm or station by a new horse or the visit of an affected animal. One case came under my observation where a severe outbreak followed tho visit of a purebred colt to an agricultural show, the enimal shortly after his return developing an acute attack of | strangles, which promptly spread, laying I up the half of the working horses, and being, responsible for tlio ultimate death of half a dozen. Now, if, having once got into a stable or stud, spread, can bo prevented by immediate isolation of the first cases, does it not appear feasible to prevent its spread from stable to stable and from farm to farm? If, therefore, effective measures can be taken by tlio individual to stamp out the disease among his horses (and that is what prevention of spread means), it would seem to lie e, simple matter especially compared with other diseases —for the community as a body to stamp out tho disease, provided proper measures were I enforced. SOlllO years ego, having heard many complaints regarding this disease, 1, in the annual report, made the following recommendations:—"The adoption of a system. 0: compulsory notification to the nearest stock inspector of any cases of tho disease. Tho stock inspector could then f take steps to declare tho plaeo infec'.cd so long as any animal .was suffering from the cliseaso on the property, and for, say, a month afterwards. And before removal of the restrictions the stables, etc., should be thoroughly disinfected." Since these recommendations, nothing has teen done, no doubt because, like tho Biblical teed, they fell on stony ground, unfertilised by the breath of public pressure. Again my attention lias been called to tho question through the trouble and losses entailed on our various shipments of 'remounts both in camp and at sea through this disease, and as a result I can only urge that some'measure on the lines I havo indicated should be adopted to combat and slump out this

f troublesome malady, the enly excuse for Wiiich is the carelessness and supineuess of ■' the horse-owner. '• Conclusion.—ln the foregoing remarks I have dealt only with diseases which intorest you m farmers, not touching on ' !° s f affcPhii!?, for example, poultry, nf f which a good deal might be said. I have -• endeavoured while being explicit as pos--8 sible not to weary you with technicalities or laboured descriptions of symntoms and " p.m. appearances, which at a time like this produce hut a- fleeting impression. Yon ® will have observed that, in the main, I havo 1 invoked the stock-owner to help himself, a feeling that therein lies safety rather than in tno exercise of plenary powers bv inspee- |> tow. True, in such instances ami strangles. L pu '! u ? fever, and tuberculosis?, fam of opinion* that the assit-tur.ee of fomocompul- ° sion is desirable: yet. even m these diseases , I ha\o much more- faith in tin* common- ; sense Of the farmer than in the dubious • logic of the law. Educated regarding the ' poisilim gravity of the situation, I believe the farmer would do all that is necessarv ' without any compulsion. But absolutely - in tho matter of the other disease* I have mentioned, tho power of preventing future " .rouble to yourselves and to the genTa- ■ lions succeeding rests with vou, and uo scheme of compulsion can even. aid vou if \ou are not desirous of helping your--1 selves: and, after all, what do I suggest? ; bimply the most ordinary precautions.' Take ' the preselit daily routiiio of the shepherd , ? shearing:, and mustert ing. What docs ho do? Attempt to find . the. mother of a forlorn lamb? Harelv. - Attempt to assist a labouring ewe! T'ortunately seldom. Attempt io assist, a s>Vfc , S ''"P- True, he skins the dead, - and so aids the dogs and vulture hawks in spreading the germs of disease, for he never _ burns or buries the dead, but lc.n-» s it a. testimony to the carelessness of the. colonial icrrner and a pestilential to the _ passing wayfarer. Tt has been paid that in the late war the best work was done [ with the spade, and that, our friends the ; f wrally were well equipped with .hat implement. Fire and shovel were ) Ins weapons. As when battling against our • own kind these were good, so they aro , equally cfficacinus against the deadly 111:- ' crohe. W'k-11 fire cannot be utilised in . • ,C3,111 P a urease, use the spade, which 1 .nil inclined to think would bo a inoro u=e- ( fill implement for (ho diophevd to carry . than some ho burdens himself with at the present time.