244 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



were pronounced not swine fever affected, but tliat the animals were 

 suffering from necrotic dermatitis. A line of pigs within a short 

 distance of Melbourne thus affected, on being subjected to treatment 

 and careful attention paid to them, recovered and have since been 

 fattened in the same premises and sold. From time to time reports 

 were received of disease existing in pigs, until from an animal which 

 died at Black Flat post mortem specimens were taken, and from these 

 Dr. Bull, after careful and painstaking research obtained the bacillus 

 of swine fever. The day following the discovery of the disease at 

 Black Flat, Mr. Robertson found several animals affected at the City 

 Abattoirs, and in the post mortem specimens taken from them and 

 submitted to Dr. Bull, this gentleman discovered the bacillus of swine 

 fever. Stringent measures based on the regulations in force in the 

 United Kingdom for the suppression of this disease were at once 

 submitted for the consideration of the Director of Agriculture and 

 decision of His Excellency the Governor-in-Council, and it is to be 

 hoped that with the co-operation of the owners of pigs this disease 

 may shortly be stamped out. Amongst these measures are included — 

 Attention to sanitary details by absolute cleanliness and thorough 

 disinfection of premises, together with care for the comfort of pigs, 

 checking the movement of pigs by only allowing fat ones to be 

 removed and then not until after inspection. Pigs thus removed will 

 only be for immediate slaughter, as the experience of other countries 

 has been that store pigs act as the bearers of the contagion from one 

 district to another. Whether the present outbreak is but the recurrence 

 in this State in a more virulent form of a disease which some years 

 since caused the death of a large number of pigs, or whether it has 

 been introduced into this State from New South Wales, is a matter 

 upon which no definite conclusion has been arrived at. There are 

 many who aver that the present outbreak is merely the reappearance 

 of an old trouble, while others again assert it has been introduced 

 from New South Wales, so that its origin in the present instance is 

 obscure. That it may be stamped out by owners of pigs doing their 

 utmost to assist in its eradication I am convinced, as has been done in 

 the case of scab in sheep, but without their assistance legislative 

 enactments are powerless. Taken as an adjunct to what may now be 

 regarded as one of the principal industries in this State, dairying, the 

 pig is an asset of considerable importance, as in addition to the number 

 which are required for local consumption, other States draw large 

 supplies from Victoria. In their own best interests then, it is 

 imperative that all interested should strive to stamp out this disease. 



