1 Juny, 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 43 
is a source of very serious complaint, which in many cases involves serious loss to 
suppliers. ‘The manufacturers attribute the deficiency to the inaccuracy of the 
weighing machines on the railway. hat state of affairs could easily be remedied by 
a thorough system of testing the machines of the Railway Department. Amongst other 
things they complain of is the way in which the cans are knocked about and the locks 
broken off, which results ina loss of cream. Another improvement could be effected— 
one which the dimensions the industry is assuming would justify—namely, a special 
car to convey cream to the metropolis. At present the cream is carried with many 
other articles, and that militates against the manufacturer producing a good article, 
causing, of course, a loss to the producer. The manufacture and distribution of 
butter at present are not satisfactory to the producer. The manufacturer is the 
distributor in nearly every case. He is paid to make the butter, and then he receives 
a commission of 23 per cent. for handing it over to himself. Then, should the local 
market not be in a position to receive it, he exports it, for which he gets a bonus of 
2d. per lb. from the Government, which, of course, is supplied by the producer under 
the Meat and Dairy tax. As it may be expected we shall soon be in a position to 
export in large quantities, it is very necessary our butter should be properly placed 
-on the market. Some of us have had bitter experience of forwarding our produce for 
sale on the markets in our own colony. It is just as likely that our own salesmen 
are as honest as in any other part of the world; but itis only natural that they will 
obtain their goods at the cheapest possible rate. To be on an equal footing with other 
continental countries, which have their agents to see that their butter and other 
products are placed on the market to the advantage of the producer, I would suggest 
that the Agent-General for the colony should have a proper staff at his command to 
carry it out. The result would give a stimulus to the industry and prosperity to the 
people engaged in it, and the colony generally. (Applause.) 
CANCER IN CATTLE AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE CONSUMER. 
[By Mr. W. A.A. Bares, Maryborough. | 
The subject with which I have to deal is one of all-absorbing and vital importance, 
not only to stockowners and breeders but tomankind at large. ‘The increase of cancer and 
the large death rate attending its ravages is attracting the serious attention of medical 
men. ‘here is no doubt efforts should be made to find out the cause of this great 
mortality. There is a standing opinion that it is toa great extent caused by eating 
cancerous meat or drinking milk drawn from cancerous cows. My intention is only to 
read a short paper on what I have seen, and state what I think has a great deal to do with 
the cause and effect.. It has come under my notice that cancer runs more in some 
strains or families of cattle than in others. For instance, a cow may produce a calf 
that will appear quite healthy, but in the second or third generation cancer, which 
must have been lurking in the blood of the mother or, perhaps, the sire, will break 
out again. I think itis beyond doubt that it lurks in the blood, and then by some 
aggravating cause it breaks out. Cancer will come from a blow ora horn. Sometimes 
the brand will become a cancer. Other times it will come without apparent cause in 
the eye, the nose, the udder, but it comes nevertheless, I believe, from being inherited. 
T have no hesitation in stating that cancer in dairy herds is decidedly on the increase. 
Now we hear almost every day of persons dying from cancer, and no cause can be | 
assiuned for theterrible malady. I amstrongly of opinion that if the progeny ofcancered 
-cows can be affected, as they have in cases which have come under my notice, the 
milk from cancered cattle will have the same effect and assist in the development and 
increase of the disease in the human race. In support of my assertion I refer you to 
the cases of typhoid which broke out recently in Brisbane, the effects of which are 
painfully fresh in the memories of the families of some of the unfortunate sufferers. 
he cause was clearly traced to the milk which came from cows that were allowed to 
' drink stagnant water around Brisbane. If the infection can be carried in the one way, 
it is a certainty if can be carried in the other. Cancer in cattle is not so easily 
-detected as some persons would imagine. I am perfectly aware that plenty of persons 
do not know what cancer is. In fact, I have met with dairymen who have assured 
me they did not know it when they saw it. It is often a running sore. At other 
times it only suppurates. Occasionally, perhaps, 1t is only a hard lump and never 
breaks out; this is the sort that wants looking for. If cut open it appears a light- 
blue, with black blood coming from it. I believe persons milking these cows are, 
erhaps without intention, spreading cancer more or less through the community. 
his being the case, I think that it comes well within the province of the Agricultural 
Department to draw the attention of the Government to the great necessity for the 
critical inspection of dairy herds. Inspection of dairy herds would untold other 
-abuses, such as cows suffering from tuberculosis. These are the sort of things that 
