DAIRY HERD POISONED.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1919, Page 1

DAIRY HERD POISONED.

STRANGE OCCURRENCE IN BLUE MOUNTAINS. . EX-SOLDIER’S MISFORTUNE. A remarkable ease of a herd of dairy cattle dying under strange and .somewhat suspieoius circumstances is re-1 ported from Faulconbridge, on the Blue Mountains. The unfortunate owner is Mr Chas Holswich, of Weemala. He is a returned soldier, and he holds the honoured position of being the first man enrolled for active service from this Stale. His regimental number was “j.’> ||e returned from the front some time ago, and alter occupying the position of acting shire clerk at Dorrigo, ho established a dairy at Fauleonhridge. He started with two cows, and gradually improved his position until he had a herd of 12 good milking cows, !t hull, a steer, and three horses. On Monday night the stock was all in good condition, but oil Jucsday morning he noticed that the 12 cons and the horse which draws the milkcart were not eating, and the cattle seemed to have the staggers. The hull and the steer, which were running with the herd, were well. During the day the cows became worse, and developed symptoms which led Mr Ilolswieh to come to the conclusion that something unusual had happened to the herd, lie sent for the police officer at Springwood, who is the local inspector for dairies, and also for Inspector l.endster, the health inspector for tin* Blue Mountain Shire, hut neither of those oflicers at the time regarded the condition of the cattle as serious. But ns the cows did not improve, Mr. John Collins, an expert dairyman from Emu Plains, examined them. One of (he cows staggered and 1011, and in turn each cow did the same. On Christmas morning the first cow tu fall died,

and on Christmas Day several others died.

The health inspector at Lawson was again communicated with, and he at once sought out Mr Madden, the metropolitan dairy inspector under the Board of Health, who reached Faulconbridge from Sydney at 10 o’clock on Christmas night. There were only four cows out of the twelve alive, and as one of the four died soon after the arrival of Mr. Madden, and there seemed absolutely no hope for tho remainder, it was -decided to kill one of those alive in order to make a post-mortem. This was done and it was discovered that there were symptoms of poisoning with a severe irritant. Portions of the internal organs were delivered to the Health Department for analytical and microscopic examination. Further action will depend upon the result of this examinaton.

The bull and tho steer and two out of the three horses were not affected, but •the third liorse is now very ill. Much sympathy is felt for the unfortunate owner, whose loss is approximately £250, whose means of living has been practically taken from him. Prior to enlisting Mr Holswicli was a Public school teacher at Mudgee.