462 



THE AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



The demand for quarter-evil vaccine 

 has slightly fallen-oflt' this month. The 

 issues of this preparation have numbered 

 665 doses, which, however, is 375 doses in 

 excess of the issue of the corresponding 

 month last year. Of locust f nngus 320 

 tubes were issued during the month. 



I have the honour to be, 

 Sir, 



Your obedient Servant, 



H. Watkins-Pitchford, 

 P.V. Surgeon. 



MARITZBURG. — D.V.S. WOOLLATT. 



Scab. — Throughout the Colony scab 

 appears to be on the increase, and un- 

 fortunately at this time of the year an ex- 

 tension of time for dipping has to be 

 granted, in many cases on account of the 

 condition, etc., of the sheep. Hand 

 dressing, however, of the affected animals 

 is insisted upon when such an extension 

 is granted. 



Lungsickness. — In the Colony, outside 

 the infected areas of Zululand and Klip 

 "River County, there have been five out- 

 breaks of lungsickness during the month. 

 The proclamation of the 12th February 

 last, giving us power to place cattle under 

 license within an infected area, has been 

 of great assistance ; the disease, however, 

 will continue to be very prevalent in these 

 areas until the movement of diseased 

 military and loot cattle is stopped. 



During the month several rumours and 

 reports of rinderpest have been sent to 

 the office, all of which, upon investiga- 

 tion, have turned out to be something 

 else. There are now three Stock Inspec- 

 tors working in Zululand. 



DURBAN.— D.V.S. AMOS. 



(rlandcTS. — The stal)ling of the Colonial 

 Carrying Company has been disinfected 

 and altered to my satisfaction, and is 

 now being used for stabling again. No 

 fresh cases of glanders have come to my 

 notice during the month. 



I'uhcrculusis. — I have tested two cows, 

 neither of which reacted. 



Lungsickness still exists in three places. 



Horses ickness. — One case was reported 

 to me during the month. 



A heavy fatality occurred in some goats 

 that were lauded ex S.S. Induna. Fifty 



per cent, died from over-eating rice just 

 previous to landing. Post-mortem ex- 

 aminations showed ruptured stomachs 

 and signs of suffocation. All living ones 

 were affected with lympanitis, the com- 

 mon cause of death being asphyxia in 

 those that died. 



IXOPO.— D.V.S. VERNEY. 



Scab. — A considerable amount of scab 

 exists ; the poor condition of the sheep, 

 and the scarcity of food, being important 

 factors in the spread of the disease. 



HOWICK.— D.V.S. BYRNE. 



Lion's River Division. 



With the exception of scab, the Divi- 

 sion is at present free from contagious 

 diseases. 



Umgeni Division. 



I regret to say Mr. W. Oldfield and 

 native tenants of Ambleton, Fox Hill, 

 had again to be placed under license for 

 lungsickness on July 20tb, a beast of 

 Mr. Oldfield's breaking down with lung- 

 sickness about two weeks after the quaran- 

 tine had been raised. 



Scab. — Two flocks have been placed 

 under license. 



TJ^rper Umkomanzi Division. 



Quarantine was raised during the month 

 on the only two farms in this Division 

 under license for lungsickness. 



The Division is, therefore, now clear of 

 lungsickness. 



Scab. — Three outbreaks occurredduring 

 the month. 



Influenza and laryngitis (or inflamma- 

 tion of the throat) are still prevalent in 

 parts of my District, though not so much 

 so as in June, and are much more amen- 

 able to treatment. 



I had a peculiar case in an ox, the pi'O- 

 perty of Mr. W. Oldfield, Fox Hill, which 

 lost the power of swallowing, and all food 

 accumulated in the back of the throat. I 

 examined the mouth and throat but could 

 find nothing, so diagnosed the case as 

 paralysis of the muscles of deglutition 

 or swallowing, and I treated accordingly 

 with nerve tonics internally, and local 

 stimulants to the throat, and was rewarded 

 with a successful recovery. 



