STATE HYGIENE 543 



diseased, should be thoroughly disinfected, especially as 

 regards their hands and boots. 



While farm attendants and butchers are active means of 

 spreading the disease from infected places, pig-dealers and 

 castrators are no less responsible in carrying the disease 

 about the country. These points must be fully realized, to 

 prevent any source of leakage in the system of disinfection. 



All fseces on the farm must be collected and destroyed by 

 fire, and the ground disinfected from which they have been 

 removed ; all rubbing places must be disinfected, while the 

 bedding and fseces in the sty are effectually destroyed by 

 fire, and the place with its utensils, such as troughs, 

 barrows, swill-tubs, buckets, etc., thoroughly dealt with. 



The length of time that premises may remain infected 

 where thorough disinfection is not practised seems to be 

 considerable. It has been said that six months after the 

 premises have been declared free, the disease has broken 

 out through a manure heap being disturbed.* 



It appears quite certain that after thorough disinfection 

 has been practised (including the entire destruction of the 

 sty by fire), six months ought to elapse before fresh pigs 

 are introduced. 



That the present working of the law is gravely unsatis- 

 factory, is patent to all veterinary surgeons who have to 

 deal with this disease. The employment of laymen as 

 inspectors, granting to police constables the power of 

 issuing licences to move animals, and further the power 

 they possess to alter the diagnosis in the face of pro- 

 fessional evidence, would be amusing if it were not such a 

 serious and costly matter to the State. A police officer 

 may refuse to accept the opinion of the expert, and decline 

 to notify the existence of the disease. 



Even when notification has been made the machinery for 

 declaring an infected area is slow to move, and weeks have 

 been known to elapse before the proper restrictions are 

 applied. 



■•'■ Mr. T. B. Blindloss, M.B.C.V.S., Veterinary Becord, December 12, 

 1903. 



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