248 



TEE AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



Tube. cidasis.—Se\en cows have been 

 tested at the compound with tuberculin. 

 I proceeded to Mount Edgecombe to test 

 G3 head of cattle that had mistakenly been 

 sent there by the owner before being 

 tested. In all these cattle there was an 

 average temperature of 104-5 before test- 

 ing, due entirely to heat and the low con- 

 dition of the animals after a rough sea 

 journey, and the journey to Mount Edge- 

 combe. After having to wait a consider- 

 able time I inoculated them, but no re- 

 action was obtaiued. 



Rors'sickness has been much more pre- 

 valent, in fact this month has proved the 

 worst as yet of the usual horsesickness 

 season. Blue-tongue has been the com- 

 monest form, and the pulmonary 

 type has been the next common. 

 Many horses that have died were 

 stabled animals, fed entirely on dry 

 food, green food being withheld alto- 

 gether. Some had been taken great care 

 of, even rugged and bandaged every night 

 with other precautions. I have met with 

 no success whatever in treatment. I have 

 tried intratenous injections with sub- 

 cutaneous injections and internal adminis- 

 tration of stimulants. I have_ tried 

 arsenic and the rum and carbolic acid 

 drenches, with only one result, viz., 

 death. 



L'fmgftickness exists on the Reunion 

 Estate, and is undei quarantine restric- 

 tions. 



R'dwnter has come under my notice in 

 several cases in imported cattle — com- 

 monly Australian cows. No cases have 

 yielded to treatment. It is impossible to 

 allow any imported cow outside the stable 

 door without exposing the animal to this 

 disease. Many beautiful cows have died 

 this month from redwater. 



Biliary Fever. — I have treated during 

 the month a good many cases of biliary 

 fever, there having been quite an epi- 

 demic. This disease, I am of opinion, is 

 due to some specific organisation. It 

 cenainly is contagious. I have not had 

 a fatal case in any instance, though con- 

 siderable systemic derangennnt has 

 taken place. Very high temperatures 

 have been recorded in these cases— up to 

 107-4. I have followed purely a saline 

 treatment, with a laxative diet. A disease 

 that has killed many animals is due, I 

 think, to the entrance of a necrosis bacillus 



through wounds at the coronet and pastern. 

 It is especially prevalent in stables near 

 the Eastern Vlei. This locality is simply 

 a quagmire in wet weather, and small 

 scratches even are sufficient to allow of 

 infection. The whole tissue around the 

 pastern and coronet simply necroses and 

 sloughs away, whilst the animals suffer 

 agonising pain. Some I have destroyed, 

 and many others have died. The only 

 treatment is an antiseptic bath as a pre- 

 ventive. 



IXOPO-D.V.S. VERNEY. 



Rinderpest.— Yrom information ob- 

 tained from the Resident Magistrate, 

 Port Shepstone, I visited a Native, Da/a, 

 residing between St, Faith's and Mehla- 

 inyama, who had lost several head of 

 cattle from a disease supposed to be 

 similar to rinderpest. On investigation I 

 found that this Native owned fifteen head 

 of cattle, and on the 19th and 20th inst. 

 they all became sick, and by the 23rd 

 inst. nine had died, the remaining six 

 eventually recovering. These cattle 

 were practically well when I inspected 

 them. From the description of the cattle 

 given by the Native, I am of the opinion 

 that the cattle died from poisoning, 

 and the symptoms strongly suggested 

 " tulip " as the cause, or if it was not this 

 plant it w^as something that possessed 

 very similar toxic effects. 



Horse^ickyu'Sft. - This disease has been 

 fairly prevalent, both in the Ixopo 

 and the Polela Districts. I have been 

 very busy, as usual, most of my cases 

 being of an ordinary character, such as 

 lameness, wounds, digestive troubles, 

 castration, fistulous withers, etc. 



MOOI RIVER-D.V.S. WEBB. 



Lvnr/sickness. — No fresh outbreaks of 

 lungsickness have been recorded, 



^SVy,Z^— Three fresh outbreaks of Scab 

 are re]iorted. 



Horni'sickvrss. — Numerous cases or 

 this disease have occurred during the last 

 fortnight. 



Bluf-Tongvr in Shcep.-Th^s disease 

 has been playing leaiful havcc smon^st 

 the flecks all over the district. 



