140 



Western Umvoti Division ; in both cases 

 proceedings have been instituted for con- 

 travention of the Scab Law. 



Lungsickness. — No fresh outbreaks 

 during the month. 



Generrd. — A number of deaths from 

 gallsickness have occurred in the Eastern 

 Umvoti Division, especially among young 

 cattle. 



Blue Tongue has caused the death of a 

 large number of sheep in the Western 

 Umvoti Division during the month. 



Horsesickness. — Until the latter part of 

 the month hursesickness had not been 

 very prevalent in the district, but several 

 cases have occurred since the heavy rains 

 have set in. Twenty-two deaths occurred 

 among a troop of twenty-nine pack horses 

 belonging to the Volunteer Department, 

 running at Holme Lacy, but these animals 

 contracted the disease in the Chase Valley, 

 Maritzburg. 



The work of the month included the 

 castration of four horses, the treatment of 

 one with muscular rheumatism, one with 

 an injury to the knee, and other ordinary 

 cases. 



MOOI RIVER— D.V.S. WEBB. 



Equine Influenza or Pink Eye. — A 

 modified and comparatively benign form 

 of influenza has prevailed amongst the 

 horses in this District during the last 

 three months. The principal symptoms 

 have been those of catarrh of the respi- 

 ratory mucous membrane, viz., thick 

 mucous discharge from the nostrils, cough, 

 a pink to brick-red colour of the visible 

 mucous membranes, elevated tempera- 

 ture, and rapid wasting, from which the 

 animals take a considerable time to re- 

 cover. Most cases pull round with little 

 or no treatment, although I find those 

 cases which are taken in hand, and given 

 a little care, make much quicker re- 

 coveries. The disease pulls the animals 

 down in condition, and it requires good 

 feeding and tonics to again restore them 

 to fit condition for work. 



The treatment I have found most 

 beneficial is to feed the patients on good 

 nourishing foods, scalded, with an allow- 

 ance of green fodder and roots. Steam 

 inhalations, medicated with eucalyptus, 

 which are easily applied by pouring 

 boiling water over blue-gum leaves, and 

 causing the patient to inhale the steam ; 



the plan adopted by some of using a nose- 

 bag for inhalation purposes is, in my 

 opinion, not a good one, as the patient 

 cannot obtain a sufficient supply of air, 

 and I have frequently seen horses in a 

 fair way to being suffocated by its use. 

 Stimulating the throat and region over 

 the windpipe with a liniment. Medicine 

 is conveniently given in the form of an 

 electuary. A useful one is made with 



Extract of Belladonna ... 2 drs. 



Chlorate of Potash ... 4 drs. 



Ginger 6 drs. 



Treacle sufficient to make 



a paste, about l^ozs. 



A teaspoonf ul to be placed on the patient's 

 tongue three or four times daily. 



If thetempei'ature is high, a few drachm 

 doses of sulphate of quinine quickly re- 

 duces the pyrexia. 



When the patient is convalescent, tonics 

 should be administered. I find a solution 

 of arsenic, together with dilute mineral 

 acids and sulphate of iron, given in the 

 food daily a useful pick-me-up. 



If animals suffering from " Pink Eye " 

 even in its modified form are put to work, 

 it aggravates the disease, causes a more 

 rapid loss of flesh, and often induces 

 serious complications. 



Other cases treated — 

 Splint in a racing pony,— Treatment : 



Puncture, firing. 

 Chronic diarrhoea in a foal. — Treated with 



Extract of Bael Fruit. 

 Horsesickness. — Only four cases of this 

 disease have been brought to my notice 

 dui'ing the season. 



Lungsickness. — This disease does not 

 appear to be gaining ground ; the outbreaks 

 have all a mild character. Many of the 

 sick animals practically recover, which 

 fact is probably rather a pity, as it in- 

 creases the number of old " lungers." 



Scab. — The Stock Inspectors are doing 

 their utmost to grapple with this scourge, 

 but it is very disheartening to see the 

 quantities of scabby sheep introduced 

 into the country under Martial Law. 



Glanders. — Suspicions of this disease 

 existing amongst the loot horses at Mooi 

 River existed in the minds of many 

 farmers in the Colony. I have made en- 

 quiries at the Remount Depot, and the 

 Veterinary Surgeon in charge assures me 

 not a single case has been detected 

 amongst the loot stock. 



