63 



smears made for microscopic examination. The result was 

 negative, and as the same proved the case with the samples 

 secured from the dead animal, the anthrax theory might safely 

 be excluded. A subsequent visit, when another cow had died, 

 failed to furnish any additional light on the subject. 



It was therefore decided to follow up the poison theory as 

 far as possible, and the owner was requested to gather a sack- 

 ful of the weed for experimental purposes. A five-months-old 

 calf was obtained and every known method of inducing the 

 animal to eat the weed was tried, but with little success. Even 

 though nearly starved, being kept on a scant supjdy of dry hay, 

 the animal absolutely refused to eat the weed, not even when 

 cut up finely and mixed with bran mash or middlings. The 

 experiment is therefore of value only in demonstrating or con- 

 firming the theory of an "acquired habit," as there can be no 

 doubt that the weed was found in the stomachs of the dead 

 animals. It also confirms, though to a slight degree only, that 

 not all animals succumb to the temptation. An efifort is now 

 being made to induce the calf to eat kukui leaves as these are 

 also known to be poisonous, but so far with little better suc- 

 cess. 



In the meantime it is to be hoped that the drought is broken 

 and that more suitable feed than the ascleoias has come within 

 reach of the remaining animals. Xo further cases have been 

 reported, and the only advice which could be given in the 

 premises — to eradicate the weed as soon as possible — has been 

 followed in so far as it could be done under the circumstances. 



Glanders in JJ\upio J\illc\'. 



Pursuant to the Board's instructions to visit W'aipio Valley 

 again within two months after the recent outbreak of glanders 

 had been suppressed, in order to ascertain if possible if any 

 infection might still remain there, I returned to Kukuihaele on 

 the 11th inst. As the Board is aware a concerted efifort on 

 behalf of the plantations and ranches in that vicinity, had re- 

 sulted in Mr. Akaka being provided with horses to take the 

 place of the thirty-four head which were destroyed as being 

 afifected with glanders during my two previous visits. As a 

 result of the generous action Mr. Akaka had been enabled to 

 harvest his rice and market it, and was now busy plowing and 

 getting his next crop in the ground. 



A new, well-constructed stable, with room for forty horses, 

 had been built on the site I had selected, and in accordance 

 with the plans furnished him, and twenty-nine horses, costing 

 about $1750.00, or approximately the sum aggregated by ap- 

 praisal of the destroyed animals, had been purchased and turn- 

 ed over to him. A careful examination of these horses failed 



