THREATENED INTRODUCTION OF CATTLE PLAGUE TO NATAL. 873 
« 
for the castration of horses and the removal of tumours, 
without loss of blood. I obtained from my friend the very 
instrument, and believe that it was the first which was used 
in veterinary practice. 
The instrument is of French manufacture, and has been 
successfully used by me to the present time for castration 
and the removal of fleshy tumours from the rectum, vagina, 
penis, mouth, and nostrils. In using it on warty ex¬ 
crescences the chain has occasionally broken, but this I 
attribute to the want of sharpness and strength of the chain 
to deal with such tough matter. A stronger instrument 
would be better adapted for such a purpose. 
When castrating with the ecraseur the cord should be 
straight and the chain placed round it and be sloioly 
worked until the testicle is off. 
I think Captain Russell has as an assistant a gentleman 
(Mr. G. Wartnaby) who, during his course of study at the 
Veterinary College, witnessed the operation at my infirmary, 
with several other pupils, and can testify to its safety. 
THREATENED INTRODUCTION OF CATTLE 
PLAGUE INTO NATAL. 
By S. Wiltshire, Colonial Veterinary Surgeon, &c. 
We have received a very interesting communication from 
Mr. Sam. Wiltshire, Colonial Veterinary Surgeon, from which 
we make the following important extracts : 
Mr. Wiltshire writes from Pietermaritzburg, Natal, under 
date of September 20th. He says, I am now very much con¬ 
cerned about the importation of foreign cattle, as we are 
threatened with the introduction of cattle plague, i.e. rin¬ 
derpest, from Madagascar, where that disease is said to be, 
and from whence it was conveyed to the Mauritius, causing a 
fearful loss of cattle. 
Directly I heard of it I called the attention of the Govern¬ 
ment to the matter, and we at once wrote off to the Mauritius 
Government for information, and soon received in reply a 
report from the President of a Commission appointed to 
inquire into the matter. The report stated that the disease 
presented all the symptoms and pathological appearances ob¬ 
served in Europe; that the recoveries were only about 4 or 
5 per cent., and that 11,022 cattle had died in about three 
months (newspapers by the same mail said about 15,000). 
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