864 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



of dairy farmers^ some of whom recently, iu connectiou with an out- 

 break of anthrax, went so far as to denounce the k)cal inspector and 

 sought to have him removed from office, and tried to orgatiize a 

 public indignation meeting Avith that object, on the ground that the 

 disease having been declared to be anthrax would injure the district. 

 Fortunately their efforts failed to have the intended effect of removing 

 an efficient officer or of influencing the councillors against him, as 

 they recognized his value to the district. 



Inspections made during the half-year to June 30th were : — 



Cattle. — 7,145 head, of which 509 were millcing. Of the num- 

 ber inspected 8 were found affected with tuberculosis and 

 slaughtered, whilst 8 others were isolated. 



Sheep. — 68,267 were inspected. 



Swine. — 14,461) were inspected, 11 of which wei'e found 

 diseased and destroyed. 



Central Distiuct. — Eastern and Southern Portions. 



Mr. Lawler reports :— My duties for the half-year ending June 

 oOth were for the most part inspection of stock on farms, market and 

 special stock sales, during the currency of which period T inspected 

 26,914 cattle, included in which were 9,864 dairy cows. Amongst 

 these I found 60 animals affected ; 22 were suffering from pleuro- 

 pneumonia, 29 with tuberculosis, and 9 with actinomycosis. Of these 

 22 were slaughtered for pleuro-pneumonia and 25 for tuberculosis, 

 making a total of 47, the balance (13) being isolated. 



A pleasing feature during the above period was the abundance of 

 feed on every side ; against this, however, it must be borne in mind 

 the country is very much understocked, as I have noticed many large 

 paddocks, heavily grassed, with not a beast in them. This is but 

 another reminder of the drought which broke up 15 months ago, 

 through which many owners lost not only their stock but their crops 

 also, and they have not yet been able to re-stock, and the few stock 

 such persons hold are in consequence in the pink of condition. 



There has been but one case of anthrax in my district during this 

 half-year, which was fortunately stamped out with but small loss to 

 the owner, and never extended beyond the one farm. Tuberculosis 

 and actinomycosis are on the decrease, as were also instances of 

 impaction and cancerous grov/ths. There was, however, a marked 

 increase in the cases of pleuro-pneumonia, though it is noticeable that 

 this disease was restricted in its ravages to one type of country, viz., 

 steamy river flats enclosed by mountains. In six of these cases 

 inoculation with good virus sufficed to stamp out the disease at once. 

 In another there was greater difficulty experienced in contending with 

 the disease, whilst in another instructions were not carried out. The 

 first inoculation was performed with a useless substitute for virus, 

 with results as might be expected. A second attempt was similarly 

 fated through inattention to the operation, and several weeks passed 

 before they were again operated on, with satisfactory results. 



