The Winton Cattle Disease.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4983, 16 April 1889, Page 2

The Winton Cattle Disease.

{Otaya Daily Times.)

Mr John F. M'Clean, M.R.0.V.5., who was sent by the Government to Southland to report on what is known as the Winton cattle disease, disagrees with Mr Matthews, Mr G, M, Thomson, and Mr Hamilton as to the cause of the mortality. Mr M'Clean reports : “ After collecting all the information available I have no hesitation in saying the cause of the mortality has been twofold—(1) As a result of congestion of the brain and its membranes. This is induced in either of two ways]: these pastures are made up almost wholly of ragwort and tussock grass, both nasty, hard and indigestible foodstuffs. The continued feeding on those and such like substances may gradually cause attenuations of the coats of tho stomach until as a result it is unable to perform its functions, and cerebral symptoms become developed by reflex action. Or, the ragwort, like the ryegrass, may be, at a certain period of its growth, capable of inducing a degree of narcotism, speedily succeeded by congestion of the brain and other changes, and owing to this derangement of the great nervous centres, paralysis of the digestive apparatus is the result, and the stomach becomes somelimes engorged from the fact of tho animal continuing to feed when the digestive as well as ;the other functions are in abeyance. (2) The other cause of death, though I believe this is very limited, is an enteric complaint of a typhoid character, brought on no doubt by the unfavourable conditions to which the animals are exposed, 'as regards climate, food, and contaminated water. It might be urged that horses and cattle do not eat ragwort. Though they may not do so with avidity they nibble at it, and on these pastures there is little else to eat. These being the causes of the mortality, it remains in the hands of the settlors apd farmers to overcome them by paying more attention to the welfare of their stock generally, and above all by the improvement of their pastures by drainage and the laying down of good grasses, or failing this then the avoidance pf these paddocks at such seasons of the yearns it has been shown by experience that the death rate is greatest.”