Report of the Inspector of Foods' for Export. 897 



tine, it is hoped to be soon extenninated. An officer is to be sent to 

 Hopetoun to cause its eradication from tliose few premises in wliicli 

 it is known to exist. In ray last report I mentioned tliat when the 

 railway to Mildnra was opened it would be necessary to phxceMildui-a, 

 where tick has long prevailed, in quarantine, and the recommendation 

 has since been carried out. Senior-constable Carter and Mr. McLeod 

 have been appointed to control the evil there and from reports to 

 hand good work has already been done. 



The disease made its appearance at St. Kilda in March last, and 

 no time was lost in having it stamped out in that locality. 



The maintenance of the restrictions on birds coming from New 

 South Wales and South Australia and from our own quarantined 

 areas has certainly prevented the general infestation of Melbourne, 

 and on no account should the present regulations be relaxed. 



Eoui' AND Avian Diphtheria. 



Roup during the year claimed many victims. This disease is due 

 to a specific organism which I have cultivated. Many birds were 

 brought for examination during the year and roup was principally 

 the cause of the fatalities. Avian diphtheria was also occasionally 

 observed. 



Tricophytosis. 



Mange — due to a vegetable parasite, the TricopTiyton tonsurans — 

 affects man, dogs, cats, horses, cattle, and other animals, and last year 

 it was prevalent in horses and cattle. My attention was called to 

 many cases occurring in the metropolitan area. 



Swine Fever. 



In 1901 it was estimated that there were 350,000 pigs in the 

 State, and in 1903 the number had shrunk to 300,000. The cause of 

 the reduction in the numbers is to be sought in the mortality pro- 

 duced by swine fever, which since I reported its a])pearance in March, 

 1903, has made its pernicious influence felt throughout the State. At 

 the abattoirs in the metropolitan area many cases were observed 

 indicating the prevalence of the disease. 



Demodex eolliculorum. 



Mange in pigs caused by the Demodex folliculoruiu is not an 

 uncommon disease. Last year I had a ])hotograph taken of the 

 carcase of a pig that was badly afflicted. As a rule the disease 

 appears only in the face and head, but in this special case all parts of 

 the body were involved. 



Scaly Leo. 



Scaly leg in poultry is a mangy condition that was often seen 

 during the year. It is due to the 8arcoptes mutans. 



Spirgptera Tumours in Horses. 

 Cases of iSpiroptera meyastoma — worms that cause fibro-cellular 

 tumours in the stomachs of horses — frequently cropped up. The meal 



