Live Stock. 



134 



[February, 1912. 



only unoccupied combs, but do no 

 damage to the bees. 



It is best to place one's hives on stands 

 made of single posts girdling the foot of 

 the stand with a vessel which should 

 contain water and kerosene, so that the 

 post is insulated by the fluid. 



Now that the Secretary of the Ceylon 

 Agricultural Society has, with the sup- 

 port of the Bee Committee, got out 

 an extractor and a comb-foundation 

 machine, there is sufficient inducement 

 for the would-be apiarist to take up 

 bee-ke< ping, not only as an industry but 

 as a pleasant and most interesting pas- 

 time and hobby. 



FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. 



(From The Nature, No. 2195, Vol. 88, 



November 23, 1911.) 

 Appointment op a Committee op 

 Investigation. 



The recurrence of this disease in 

 England during the present year has 

 been a source of grave concern to all 

 engaged in agricultural and live-stock 

 industries. It is, however, a matter for 

 congratulation to the Board of Agri- 

 culture, and its veterinary department 

 in particular, that the disease has been 

 stamped out again with such a com- 

 paratively small loss. There have been 

 eighteen outbreaks this year, with 467 

 animals affected, an approximate aver- 

 age of 26 animals in each outbreak. 

 This is truly remarkable considering 

 that foot-and-mouth disease is probably 

 the most rapidly contagious of all 

 epizootics. 



During the four years immediately 

 preceding the present year there were 

 five outbreaks with 127 animals affected, 

 each outbreak being suppressed in little 

 more than a week, at a total cost of a 

 few thousand pounds. This has only 

 been possible as the result of early 

 diagnosis and the immediate slaughter 

 of all affected and contact animals. 

 The importance of drastic and immed- 

 iate action can be well realised by noting 

 some of the latest Continental returns. 

 In Germany during August alone there 

 were 37,737 outbreaks of foot-and-mouth 

 disease ; in July 12,385 were recorded in 

 Holland, 4,097 in Belgium, and 16,207 

 in France, where it has been estimated 

 that the loss will amount to more than 

 fifteen millions sterling. 



The new Minister for Agriculture has 

 therefore taken a very wise step in 

 appointing a committee, as announced in 

 Parliament last week, " to inquire into 

 the circumstances of the recent out- 



breaks of foot-and-mouth disease and to 

 consider whether any further measures 

 can be adopted to prevent their re- 

 currence." The committee of twelve is 

 to be presided over by Sir Allwyn 

 Fellowes, and includes the members of 

 Parliament for South Wilts, St. Patrick's 

 Division of Dublin, Barkston Ash, 

 Carmarthen West, Newmarket, and 

 North Bucks, together with Major E. M. 

 Dunne, Mr R. Carr, Mr. E. E. Moriison, 

 Mr. E. P. Nunneley, and a member of 

 the Central Chamber of Agriculture, 

 They are to be assisted by the veterin- 

 ary and administrative officers of the 

 Board. 



Of Greater importance, however, is 

 the proposal to appoint an expert 

 scientific committee to proceed to India, 

 where the disease is unfortunately very 

 rife, to investigate the special charac- 

 teristics of the disease, its etiology, the 

 means by which it is contracted and 

 spread, and practicable means of pre- 

 vention. It is to be hoped that tangible 

 results will be attained so that we can 

 continue to enjoy the markets of the 

 world for our live-stock, as the result of 

 the freedom of these islands from such 

 animal scourges. 



REPORTED DISCOVERY OF THE 

 ORGANISM OF FOOT-AND- 

 MOUTH DISEASE. 



(From the Veterinary News, No. 413, 

 Vol. VIII., December 2, 1911.) 



From Berlin comes the news of a dis- 

 covery, which, if confirmed, cannot fail 

 to have a great economic effect in the 

 agricultural world, says the Medical Press 

 and Circular. It is reported that Dr. 

 Siegel, the well-known bacteriologist, has 

 isolated a bacillus, which he regards as 

 the specific pathogenic organism of foot- 

 and-mouth disease. On the 25th instant 

 he announced the fact at the annual 

 meeting of the Prussian veterinary sur- 

 geons- The new bacillus he has named 

 " Cytorrhyctes"; he has obtained it iu 

 pure culture and found it respond to all 

 the Koch tests. He has successfully 

 inoculated lower animals with the cul- 

 ture, and after much experimentation 

 has succeeded in producing a consider- 

 able degree of immunity against infec- 

 tion, although much remains to be achie- 

 ved in that direction. These conclusions, 

 it is stated, are the result of many years' 

 patient research, in the course of which 

 he has experienced repeated failures. 

 The subject is of sogreat economic impor- 

 tance that it is certain to be officially 

 investigated without waste of time by 

 the British Board of Agriculture. 



