SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
of the descendants of these cattle. Neither can we say definitely that the 
parasites were not originally introduced from Java by other means. The fact 
that in Darwin imported Victorian cattle have remained free from the worm 
nodule when kept in close proximity but not in actual contact with infected 
local cattle, while other Victorian cattle in actual contact invariably become 
infested, indicates that the intermediary host does not travel far. Yet, again, 
if this is so, it is difficult to acccunt for the rapid spread of worm nodules to 
Queensland, and even to New South Wales, in comparison with the relatively 
slow spread of ticks. "We know that in the early nineties worm nodules were 
common in cattle slaughtered at Brisbane, whereas ticks were not seen until- 
very much later. 
Another pest that could have been kept out of Australia had proper precautions been taken 
r } in early days. 
Speculation is not proof, but, although the actual importation of live Javan 
cattle cannot be accused with certainty of being the only means of introducing 
the parasite which is so costly to the cattle industry to-day, we can safely assert 
that prohibition by the authorities of any such importation from the East would 
have been extremely wise. We are fortunate that few importations were made. 
But for the absence of regular communication there would have been more, 
especially had the early military and convict settlements proved successful. 
Then we might have had amongst our stock much more serious epidemics, such 
as rinderpest, surra, glanders, kc. The discomforts of the northern climate and 
the comparative infertility of the soil may have been of more indirect value. 
to Australia than we would like to acknowledge. : 
218 
