188 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



GENERAL NOTES. 



Swine Fever. 



The organism which is now generally accepted as the cause of 

 this disease is a small actively motile, non-sporulating bacillus, with 

 rounded ends, discovered by McFadyean. It grows slowly at summer 

 temperature, and possesses very feeble powers of resi.stance. 



All cases of swine fever are probably caused by the animals feeding 

 on material soiled with the fseces of a previous subject of the disease. 

 It is to be feared, though, that even yet the lay officials of the Board 

 of Agriculture do not recognise the purely contagious nature of the 

 disease. It is possible that the organisms may, in rare instances, be 

 carried by the boots and clothes of human beings; but the chief source 

 of infection is the pig, which, although not showing any clinical 

 symptoms, is affected by the disease in a mild degree, or in which the 

 disease is in an incubative stage. It must be remembered that in 

 many cases of swine fever the symptoms are so slight as altogether 

 to escape detection, and the only safe basis for an opinion in those- 

 cases is a post-mortem examination. 



With regard to preventive measures, remembering the frequency 

 with which apparently healthy pigs are found to be affected, and that 

 these are by far the most frequent means of spreading the disease, 

 irksome as they may be, the imposition of very'strict restrictions on 

 the movements over large areas, and thorough disinfection of infected 

 premises, must l)e rigidly adhered to. — Transactioiis of the Highland 

 and Agri'Cultural Society of Scotland, 1903. 



Poisoning Sparrows. 



A simple and efficient method of poisoning sparrows would be 

 particularlj^ welcome in some districts, and those plagued by these 

 pests may find worthy of trial the following method vouched for by 

 Mr. Aston, the Chemist to the Agricultural Dejmrtment of New 

 Zealand :— Thoroughly danip ten ])oiin(ls of good sound wheat with 

 fresh milk, so that the whole grain is wet but not dripping with 

 moisture ; five-sixths of an ounce (avoirdupois) of powdered strych- 

 nine is then gradually shaken on to the grain, the whole being con- 

 stantly stirred. When all the strychnine is mixed the grain should 

 be immediately laid. The best way is to spread a good train of chaff, 

 free of grain, which will serve to attract attention, and then the 

 poisoned grain may be lightly sprinkled on the chaff'. The most suit- 

 able places for laying the poison are on roadways, near trees or hedges. 

 To secure good results it is necessary to spread the grain thinly, and 

 as soon after mixing as jjossible. It wonld probably be advantageous 

 to select different spots each day for laying the poisoned grain, since 

 the dead birds would not then scare awiiv those still living'. 



