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bad-smelling fluid, with gas, exudes, while the flesh is blackish, and underneath the skin is a .collection of soft dark brownish-red material, which has been aptly described as looking like raspberry-jam. Death usually occurs in from two to three days after the first symptoms are exhibited, though occasionally it results in a few hours. The disease is chiefly found in cattle under two years of age, although older animals are sometimes affected, and even horses and sheep have been known to contract the disease. Rarely animals in poor condition contract black-leg. Method of Introduction. This it is impossible to satisfactorily prove at this date. The disease has been known in Taranaki for fifteen years, and appears to have originated on a farm at Tikorangi shortly after the importation of a quantity of Indian bone manure. As it undoubtedly spread from there, the probabilities are that imported bone manure is responsible for the introduction of this disease as well as of anthrax. That it is capable of being imported by this means is undoubted. Means whereby Black-leg is spread. There are two principal means. One is the movement of young stock from farm to farm either through sale-yards or direct; the other is the habit of leaving a dead animal to remain unburned or unburied for dogs or hawks to tear the flesh and carry it from paddock to paddock, and thus sow the germs over a large tract of country. The former has frequently been the means of introducing the disease to a clean farm, one or more animals dying a few days after being purchased. But, even when introduced in this way, were the carcases carefully destroyed by fire, the disease would not secure a permanent foothold. That it has done so is, I am entirely satisfied, due to the carelessness of the farmer and his disinclination to do anything in the way of burning or even burying carcases. Treatment. Curative treatment is rarely of any avail, the only sensible and scientific way of dealing with the disease being to prevent it. Prevention.--The farmer's part in this treatment is first, to burn all carcases; and, second, to notify the Department of any cases of the disease. We will do the rest. Vaccination. —This is accomplished by what is known as the Pasteur system of vaccination, which consists in the injection of a small dose of the specific germ the virulence of which has been artificially weakened, and, the animal system reacting thereto, the body becomes immune for a period of about six months. All other so-called systems of prevention have been proved ineffectual when put to the test. Proof that this method of vaccination is effectual has been obtained here during the past year, when over three thousand calves have been inoculated with gratifying results. During the past few years over ten million cattle have been thus treated in the United States and Canada, and from both the Government Veterinary Officers and the farmers themselves reports show that the results have been all that could be desired. Here it is proposed to inoculate twice all cattle under a year old on farms where the disease has made its appearance —once during the months of December and January and again during the months of June and July, when definite arrangements will be made by the Veterinary Officer in Taranaki for carrying on the work. Attached will be found an application-form which should be filled in by farmers desirous of having their stock treated. It should be torn from the leaflet (which is perforated for the purpose), and sent to the " Chief Veterinarian, Wellington." In this way proper arrangements ■can be made and the owners duly notified. [Applications should, be posted not later than the 7th November.^ Black-leg. Application for Protective Vaccination of Young Cattle. To the Chief Veterinarian, Wellington. I desire to have inoculated with black-leg preventive vaccine my young cattle, consisting of head. Signature: Postal address: Nearest Telegraph-office: State if telegrams are delivered : Date: Note. —The following information should be given: Year when disease first appeared on farm: Number of cattle under eighteen months old on farm: . Number affected during each year since disease first observed : . Probable means by which disease was introduced :

Department of Agriculture, Head Office, Wellington, 18th August, 1903. The Hon. the Minister for Agriculture. It is desirable to prohibit the removal of cattle under two years old from the part of Taranaki that is affected with black-leg (symptomatic anthrax), and to enable this to be done it is necessary to add that disease to the schedule given in subsection (6) of section 8 of " The Stock Act Amendment Act, 1895." The definition of " disease " in section 3 of " The Stock Act, 1893," gives the Governor power to add to the schedule by Order in Council. I recommend that the Solicitor-General be instructed to draw an Order accordingly. John D. Ritchie, Secretary.

Approved. -T.Y.D. 19/8/03.

The Solicitor-General. - John D. Ritchie, Secretary for Agriculture. 20/8/03

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