DISEASED CATTLE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 2052, 23 April 1864, Page 3

DISEASED CATTLE.

Sin-— Since the publication of my short notice in the Independent of March sth, 1864, on the very unsatisfactory state of our knowledge, on a subject of such importance as a disease in cattle, leading to the establishment of Quarantine Laws of the most sweeping description, I have been < much gratified by the perusal of a communication read before the medical society of Victoria, by W. Thompson, Esq., Surgeon. The article in a great measure answers the three queries I put, and like all such truly scientific investigations, will no doubt pave the way ior correct treatment, and an honest legislation. It is evident from Mr Thompson's communication, that the disease (misnamed Pleuro-pneumonia) is an erruptivs fever, which from the want of proper attention and treatment during -its acute stage becomes not only contagious, but terminates in the organic disease of some important, visceral organ— in this case generally the lungs. I should recommend the publication of Mr Thompson's valuable communication in the shape ofapamphlet tobe circulated extensively more especially in Aucklaud. It is true that I medical men generally confine their attention to the treatment of diseasein thehuman subject but in the presentcasefhediseaseoccurring in cattle, most serioutly affects the beef eaters and hence arises the vital importance of at Jeast endeavoring to check so serious an evil. Mr Thompson proposes to try the i effect of inoculation, but unfortunately if he should prove correct in supposing the disease j to |be measles, the question arises, where is he to obtain a mild form of the affection P The measles is a most destructive disease in the human subject, thousands dying of it daily even in London, and it has appeared to me that it is peculiarly severe in the Colonies. When on a visit to Otago some years ago, I was informed that the aboriginal inhabitants in the neighborhood of Otago — then a whaling statioffisdied in hundreds of a disease brought from Sydney, recognised at that remote period as measles. In the hope that Mr Thompson will publish his views in the form of a pamphlet. — I am &c, Fbedebiok John Knox. Johnsonville, April 16, 1864.

To lhe Editor ofthe Wellington Independent. { Sir,— l ara afraid that your Wairarapa cor- ! respondent allows occasionally his private feelings to warp his judgement, and I could convince you that he has done so in reference to the remarks he has made in his last communication with regard to the delivery of the mail. He says : — " I am sorry to say that I was amongst a great many others disappointed yesterday at not receiving the mail as usual, since the bi-weekly mail has started, and what is worse, we are now given to understand, that Messrs "Walker and Ray are not bound to deliver tlie Carterton and Masterton mail until • Wednesday next ; if this is the case we shall not derive any benefit from the second mail as our letters and papers will be locked up at Greytown, from Saturday night _ until Wednesday, and we are almost certain to get the mail brought by Mr Hastwell about 11 a.m. on Thursday." This statement is not correct. The Carterton and Masterton mails were delivered at the former place by 9 o'clock on Monday morning, and at the latter place at about 11 o'clock the same morning, and this is the first time that the mail which leaves here at 12 6'clock on Saturday's has not been delivered at both places on Sunday morning, though neither the Post-office at Greytown, nor that at Carterton or Masterton will deliver letters on Sunday. The fault therefore, if any one's, is not, as your correspondent represents that " of the mail contractors." I am, &c, Thomas Walkee.