Vol. XIV. No. 338. 



THE AGKICULTURAL NEWS. 



123 



VETERINARY NOTES. 



SKIN DISEASE OF CATTLE IN ANTIGUA. 



This article is a summary oi the observations made by 

 Mi P. T. Saunders, M.R.C.V.S., LV.C, formerly Veterinarj 

 Officer to the Imperial Department of Agriculture. .\ paper 

 comprising complete information on the work done in con- 

 nexion with the investigation will appear in the next number 

 ..I the Wt it Indian />'»//• tin. 



Skin disease of cattle in Antigua is regarded us identical 

 with that known as farcin l» botuj in the French island of 

 Guadeloupe. In Antigua it is technically known as Leuco 

 dermatitis. Most animals may 1"- affected by the complaint, 

 but it is principally confined in Antigua to bovines. At 

 the present time the disease is less prevalent than it was in 

 former years, and it is likely that it will be eliminated 

 by the practice of spraying for ticks. As regards dura- 

 tion of the disease, death may ensue in some rases in 

 as little as three weeks alter the first symptoms become 

 apparent. Where the termination is to be favourable, 

 may be effected in the same time, but it is generally 

 three or four months before a well established case can be 

 considered cured. Nothing is known definitely as regards 

 the means of infection, though there is reason to believe that 

 in Antigua the causative organism or organisms are carried 

 by the gold tick, or gain entrance through mechanical wounds. 

 There is no particular immunity to be observed, and predis- 

 position dnes not appear to be an important factor. 



As regards the causative organism, a considerable amount 

 of work was done to find out its nature and identity. The 

 inoculation of several guinea pigs showed fairly conclusive!} 



that the causative organism is not carried in the bl I of the 



ed cattle. It was naturally thought that the parasite 

 must therefore exist in the skin, and an examination resulted 

 in the isolation of several genera oi Fungi, two of which might 

 from their systematic position lie considered possible exciting 

 causes. Unfortunately it was not possible to obtain cattle 

 with which to inoculate with these fungi. The injection of 

 the fungi into guinea pig- did not produce death. Micros- 

 examination of the skin of diseased cattle displayed an 

 interesting morbid condition, but evidence of parasitic 

 fungi was nut indubitably demonstrated. 



There are twi i kind- of lesions to be recognized in skin 



violent eruptive, anil dry. A full technical descrip 



tion of these will appear in the West Indian Bulletin. As 



regards diagnosis in tie- early stages, the raising of the hair 



ts and subsequent matting is a useful aid. Later the 

 I ce of patches of skin of Spongy appearance, and denuded 



oi hair, is Sufficient!) characteristic; while in tic later stages 



irny scabs, the maintenance of appetite and condition, 

 and the absence of a specific bacterial agent in the blood or 

 render diagnosis easy. 



It would seem that the treatment adopted in Antigua 



fur this disease has be n rather crude and inefficient. It is 



ted t bal in plai e ol tall ivi and •■ inegar applications, or 



■ basis of oil (which -imply checks skin respira- 



m cury and iodine should be employ ed. \i eni 



also appear to be useful, and abination of arsen 



n-id and mercury such a- l> van's solution, is well 



trying. What is wanted is i compound which will 



penetrate the -kin and make the condition therein unsuitable 

 for the life of the supposed fungus parasite. Spraying with the 

 compound .-ugge-ted, or even with an ordinary arsenic spray 

 mixture, would appear to answet this purpose. Finallj 

 attention may be called to the importance of sanitation oi 

 pens, shelter from the sun, and change of pa ture Over 



-1. "■] ii,_ -hould not l.e allowed. 



LIVE STOCK IN ST. VINCENT. 



There is a tendency, when control has been exercised 

 i fficientlj lor a number of years, to underestimal 

 value. Only when the control is removed, or suddenly 

 overcome, is the benefit of it fully appreciated. V 

 example of this is afforded by tin- outbreak <>f tun 

 cases oi anthrax in St. Vincent last year, tt 

 emphasizes the importance of veterinar) control in 

 connexion with domestic animals in that Colony. The 

 nature of this work is briefly dealt with in the following 



report of the Government Veterinary Surg , for the 



year 1913-14. The report also gives useful information 



i jerning the exportation ami importation of live 



stock: — 



EX \ mix \Tiox or i: \i:-. 



During the year 851 ears and 285 blood smears, made 

 by the police constables at Georgetown and Colonarie, were 

 forwarded to the Laboratory. 



Only two eases of anthrax were diagnosed during the 

 year. Both of these occurred in cattle pastured at Pauls, 

 situated at the back of Kingstown. Immediately these 

 cases were discovered, the owner of the pasture was inter- 

 viewed and, as a result, the owners of all bovines renting 

 pasture at Pauls were notified that if their animals were not 

 submitted for vaccination within twenty-four hours, they 

 would have to be removed. This had the desired effect, for 

 all animals pastured within a certain radius of the infected 

 area were artificially inoculated, and up to March Ml, no more 

 cases had occurred. 



It may be interesting to slate that these cases occurred 

 immediately after a heavy rainfall. Pauls is particularly 

 favourable to the growth and spread of anthrax, the land 

 being low-lying, swampy, and shaded. I have been led to 

 understand that previous to the measures adopted by the 

 Government for the control of this disease, anthrax carcases 

 were often flayed on this pasture. Although there does not 

 appear to be any fear of the disease assuming an epizootic 

 form, it is reasonable to expect that cases will occur from 

 time to time. 



\ 'i i rx vrio.v. 



During the period under review 1,868 animals were 

 inoculated with single anthrax vaccine, as a precaul 

 measure. The use of this single serum has entirely replaced 

 the double serums formerly used. 



EXPORT 'TION or LIVE STOI K. 



Certificates were granted for the exportation of 383 

 head of live stock to the neighbouring colonies of Barbados, 

 Trinidad, Grenada, and St. Lucia. This dm- not cover the 



Colony's entire export trade in live stock, as sheep, goats, and 

 pigs exported to Trinidad, as well as animals from the 



Grenadines, do not ci under the observation oi this 



I lepartment. 



IMPORT \rmx or LIVE sToi K. 



Four steamers ami twenty sailing vessels were boarded, 



and fifty one animal- examined. The animals exami I. and 



the ports from which tiny arrived, were as follow-: 



7 cattle. :; hor e . o mules, 5 goats. I pig- from 

 Barbados, 



1 bull and 2 pigs from Trinidad. 



1 horse, 1 mule and 3 pigs from Grenada, 



1 cow and 'I horse- from t'arriacou, 



2 cattle and 1 hor-. ■ from St. Lucia, 



1 1' sheep (rams) from Cana I horsi from the 



United Stab i A A rica. 



