F—No. 1

J. Ar.derson,Esq., JI.A, ■19 June, 1861.

'• 71. Mr. Willliamson,] If cattle imported exhibit the disease whilst on board, would it be proper to destroy the lot ?—Certainly not. They should be kept in quarantine. 72. New Zealand being free from the disease at the present time, would it be advisable to prevent importation from places infected ?—lt would if the country can dispense with importation. 73. Mr. Mason.] How long should the cattle be in quarantine ?—A month from the last symptom exhibiting itself. The Witness then withdrew. Mr. G. J. Austin introduced. 74. Chairman.] What are you ?—A Veterinary Surgeon. 75. Are you acquainted with the disease known as Pleuro-Pneumonia ?—Yes ; I have noted cases in England and Ireland for the last twenty years. 76. Will you state the symptoms to the Committee ?—Pleuro Pneumonia assumes two forms— typhoid, or an acute form of the disease—the other, a sub-acute form. The former is rapid and most infectious ; the latter may exist for weeks, and even months, before becoming fatal. The latter is the form in which the disease generally exhibits itself. The symptoms exhibit themselves differently in dairy cows to other cattle. These when confined in houses are more susceptible to the disease, from the air being contaminated, and with them it is more readily communicated. When a beast becomes infected it separates itself from the herd, and exhibits an unhealthy coat, thus drawing attention to itself. Even in that early stage of the disease a husky cough may be present. On examination, a mucous rattle or rale may be detected in the breathing. This is frequently succeeded by fever of an intermittent kind. The rale increases and crepitation or grating sound may be heard in the chest. The animal will now grunt on expiration. Shortness of breath increases. Hepatization increases, and the animal dies from suffocation Upon post mortem examination we find the lining member of the bronchia is brownish —containing frothy mucus. The air cells of the lungs contain fibrine and lymph, and frequently abscess. Sometimes effusion to a considerable extent is found between the pleuras, and generally adhesion of the two pleuras by bands of fibrine. On cutting through the lungs the parenchymatous structure exhibits a marbled appearance from fibrine and hepatization. 77. Can you tell us how the disease was introduced into England ? —lt is supposed to have come from Hungary, thence through Prussia, Holland, and Belgium, into England. The disease was carried into each country by diseased cattle and atmospheric causes. 78. Do you believe it to be infectious ?—Very ; but it is not generally admitted to be contagious. 79. Do you believe it to be epidemic ? —Yes. 80. Can a competent person detect the existence of the disease ?—Yes; but it cannot be detected by those who are unacquainted with it—nor in the earlier stages by any one without close examination. 81. Mr. Williamson.] Have you treated many cases yourself ?—Yes; hundreds. 82. Have you had much experience of cattle disease generally ? —Yes. 83. Which of the infectious diseases do you consider the most fatal ?—Typhoid PleuroPneumonia. 84. Mr. Carter.] Do you think it advisable to prohibit the importation of cattle from places where the disease exists ? —I think it highly advisable. 85. • Mr. Dick.] If Pleuro-Pneumonia were to break out in any part of this Colony, would it spread over the whole of it ?—Possibly not from one Island to another unless conveyed by cattle. 86. Do you think the carrying of the disease by infected cattle between one Province and another could be prevented ?—I do not—l doubt whether it is propagated by contagion. I think it is taken through the air. 87. How far would the infected air extend ? —I cannot say. Many things will affect its transit, such as currents of air, electricity, &c. It might be carried half a mile, or any greater distance. 88. Chairman.] Do you think it would be communicated by drinking at the same water stream ?—I do not think it would be communicated by the water. 89. Mr. Dick.] In case of cattle being imported, one animal should exhibit symptoms of the disease —would it be necessary to destroy the remainder ?—Certainly, or placed, in quarantine. 90. Might others be infected by their being landed ?—Yes any that were in the neighbourhood. The Witness then withdrew. The Committee then adjourned to Friday at 10 o'Glock.

Mr. G. J. Austin. W June, 1861.

Friday, 2 Ist June, 1861. Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

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PLE URO-PNEUMONI A.