403 
DISEASES AMONO STOCK IN AUSTRALIA. 
In October last, Mr. R. Meston was commissioned by the 
Government to go on a cruise to some of the western and 
north-western districts of the colony, to inquire into the 
nature of the cattle diseases which had just previously been 
very prevalent and destructive, and which have frequently 
made their appearance, to the great injury of stockholders, 
and occasionally with loss of human life by contamination. 
Mr. Meston’s services were partly voluntary, for we believe 
that the arrangement with him was that he should merely 
receive his travelling expenses. His report is dated 7th of 
December last, but has only just been issued. The subject 
is one well worthy of inquiry, for the loss of wealth at times 
to the colony by diseases among stock is very great. Many 
a flourishing squatter has been brought to beggary in a few 
days; and though the pastoral gentlemen are, on the whole, 
in a very flourishing condition just now, they cannot afford to 
despise the consideration of a subject which may at any time 
most materially affect their welfare. Cattle diseases are to 
the holders what floods and droughts are to the agriculturist, 
and what commercial crises are to the merchant—they sweep 
off in one season the gain of years. Considering how large 
a portion of the colony’s wealth exists in its live stock—how 
the quality and quantity of the staple export, as well as the 
quality and quantity of the people’s food, depends upon the 
good condition and the rapid multiplication of sheep and 
cattle, any investigation which may reveal the causes of 
disease, and disclose preventive measures, has a very tangible 
money value, and must be looked upon as something more 
than a mere scientific inquiry. 
Mr. Meston commences his report by explaining that the 
popular phrase of ‘‘the Cumberland disease” is, like many 
other phrases in common use, rather a cloak for ignorance 
than an exposition of knowledge, and is used to describe 
ailments of very different characters, and arising from very 
different causes. One malady that he found had been very 
destructive is the “hoove.” This was generated by the 
sudden springing up of spongy grasses and weeds after a 
long drought and extensive bush fires had been followed by 
rains. The cattle, previously reduced to the very verge of 
inanition, eat too ravenously ; the spongy herbage swells and 
ferments in the stomach, and the animal “bursts.” As the 
vegetation is rankest in the valleys, where the air is more 
moist and warm, the keeping of the cattle on the higher and 
