182 ON INOCULATION AS A MEANS FOE THE 



puenmonia. The report appeared in the " Melbourne Argus " 

 of 6th November 1862, and the writer goes on to assert the 

 value of inoculation, which, he says, " is recommended by the 

 first professional authorities of the day to check or eradicate 

 the fatal disease now attacking sheep in England. It has 

 saved, and will save, the bovine race of this colony to us." He 

 says not more than one per cent, of the inoculated animals 

 exhibited the dangerous symptoms, and theremainder required 

 no more than ordinaiy care. Some few died, and in five per 

 cent, of the remainder in which the initiatory signs of the 

 disease manifested itself, the plague was stayed by inoculation. 

 In other herds, one-third of which was already decimated by 

 death, the remaining two-thirds were saved. These figures con- 

 stitute the whole of Mr Miscamble's statistics, which, taken 

 with his share in the previous report, seem to point to the 

 probability that his experience of inoculation was but recent, 

 and embraced as a popular remedy. His boastful prophecy 

 of the saving effects of inoculation is not yet fulfilled as far as 

 Australia is concerned. 



In 1863, Mr Alexander Bruce addressed a letter to the 

 Honourable Minister for Lands, New South Wales, informing 

 that personage that, as Chief Inspector of cattle, he had 

 operated on more cattle by inoculation, and saw no reason to 

 alter his opinion of its efficacy ; and while he attributes success 

 to it he also states that he recommends slaughter to the 

 apparently healthy remnant of the herd. 



A little further light appears to be thrown upon tlie 

 Australian efforts by a letter which apjDeared in the " Edinburgh 

 Veterinary Eeview," vol. 5, page 775. 



" A correspondent writes from Denilquire, in a letter bearing 

 date of 21st September 1863, that pleuro-pneumonia is raging 

 here to a fearful extent. Inoculation (as performed here) seems 

 to have but little effect. . . . The papers are full of complaints 

 of the diseased meat, and some of the doctors say that it is 

 causing sickness among the people ; and children are ill by 

 using the milk of cows that are diseased. I hate the sight of 

 beef myself, as during the week I see a good many killed, and 

 none of them but are more or less affected. I am quite certain 

 that inoculation, properly carried out, is good, but they want to 

 be more particular in the ' lymph ' that is used. In Australia 

 everything is done in a hurry ; but I think before long they 

 wdll have to be more particular, as government is taking 

 measures to prevent the sale of diseased cattle for slaughter. 

 The foot and mouth disease has never affected cattle here." 

 It remains now only to notice the references to inoculation 



