DISEASES IN CATTLE.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 56, 20 November 1924, Page 4

DISEASES IN CATTLE.

UNDISCOVERED CAUSE. I To lose six cows by death and not be able to discover the cause is a srious matter. A few days ago Mr. E. P. Fathers, of Te Arolia road, Paeroa, noticed that one of his cows appeared sick and was staggering about. In a short time it died and Mr. Fathers buried the body. Another animal then showed the same symptoms and Mr. Fathers called in the veterinary surgeon, who was unable to locate the trouble. Three, four, five, six dairy cows went down in the same way and died. A thorough inspection of the farm and buildings was made by Mr. Fathers and the stock inspector (Mr. J. P. Findlay), but no cause could be discovered. No poisonous weed could be found about the place and no accident of .any kind had been heard of by anyone. The cows had all got over their calving | some weeks ago and were in good ‘condition. There is plenty of feed about and the animals appeared all right till they were seen to stagger. Mr. Fathers took every precaution to prevent infection, and after the first he burned the carcases of the other victims. The trouble does not appear to affect the head or the brain, only the hind quarters.

Another cow appeared to be affected, and Mr. Fathers administered a dose of salts, followed by gruel and linseed oil. This appeared to afford some ease, and Mr. Fathers stated that the treatment appeared to be successful.

Mr. Findlay, stock inspector, stated that a similar case was reported from the Morrinsville district some time ago.—Hauraki Plains Gazette.