PLEURO-PNEUMONIA.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 37, 1 February 1864, Page 7

PLEURO -PNEUMONIA.

We take the following letter from the Melbourne Economist, as it contains some remarks relative to the disease, pleuropneumbnia, which may be of some interest at the present time : — Sir, — The publication in your columns of Mr Mitchell's lecture on pleuro-pneu-monia and vaccination, has impressed me with a conviction "tli at not alone that gentleman, but all who may have acquired any information upon the subject, are bound in duty to give it, with your kind permission, a similar publicity. Ever since, and indeed prior to th c period when this disease became fully recognised as an epidemic, I have had the sole management of a cattle station, from which during the past three years, about three thousand head of fat cattle have been annually sent to market. Besides these over one thousand " poddies" and breeding cows have been transferred to a station on the Lachlan, belonging, as well as Perricoota, to Messrs Kirk and Goldsbrough ; and there are now remaining on this run about four thousand five hundred head. The valuable qualities of Perricoota as a fattening country have led to its being stocked from time lo time by the purchase of store cattle, in preference to breeding. These apparently egotistical details would gladly have been omitted, but that they appeared necessary to enable your readers to form their opinions on the value of what follows. About fifteen months liave elapsed since pleuro-pneumonia was, by means of store cattle, iniroduced among the herd immediately uuder my charge I commenced at once inoculation, adopling a system which I have since found to lie identical with that recommended in a letter to tho Melbourne Argus by Mr Bredires, of Dordrecht, in Holland, and I have, up to this date, operated upon fifteen thousand head of various ages and both sexes. From Mr Miscamble personally 1 received the initiatory lessons necessary to enable me to continue successfully the performance of the operation. Exercising always the greatest care iii the selection and preservation of the virus, as well as in its use, the issue has convinced me that the process is a highly valuable preventive. Secondly, I have observed that the attack is more acute, and its progress to a critical point or a fatal termination more rapid in hot than in cold weather. Thirdly, that store caltle are more liable to exhibit evident symptoms of the disease soon after they exchange the antiphlogistic regimen of the roads for the indolence 'and abundance of a fattening run ; whilst station-bred cattle on the same or adjoining; runs are comparatively exempt. Fourthly, I find that calves bred from cows inoculated whilst yet bearing the calf, are not less liable to disease than those dropped by cows which have not been inoculated at all. Fifthly, in general the attack is more sudden and acule, the progress or' the disease more rapid, and the mortality greater among fat caltle ; but the number slightly affected, and who (so to spsak) linger longest, will be found to preponderate among store stock. To render my meaning as clear as possible, on a point which I regard as of grent moment, I might say that in the former case the disease may be called acute, in the latter chronic. Whilst, i here fore, what experience I have had has rendered me a firm beliexer in the efficacy of inoculation rationally conducted, I am bound to say that ' I also have seen sufficient to satisfy me that putrid inoculation is chargeable with all the sins both of omission and of commission urged by Mr Mitchell against it. Surely, however, it were a pity to condemn a valuable therapeutic agent because it is adopted by a quack ; and snch, it appears to me, would be the case if we at once and imperatively reject all inoculation because in some eases it has been injudiciously applied. The simple facts* above staled may perhaps assist in constructing a sound theory, and an effective practice; but whether these ends can be obtained by inoculation or by vaccination is entirely immaterial so that we get the best. In any case, to arrest the spread of the disease, it must be attacked ot the very fountain head, and although the appointment of special slaiighterina: inspectors is highly desirable, not only as an additional security and guarantee to consumers, but also as a means of amassing authentic observations, still, unless inoculation, vaccination, or whatever remedy is selecled, be made compulsory on the stockholder, the public may be saved from imbibing disease in their dinners, but they will never believe it; and the' idle, tlu* ohdu.rate or the. ignorant among the squatters' will inflict on their class and themselves a double injury ; on the one band tney will perpetuate and disseminate the scourge ; on the other, they will cause the present serious falling in the demand for beef to go on, progressively increasing until all arc involved in one common ruin. At the present time, as I learn from the very best authority, there is a decrease in the number of fat cattle required far She supply of Melbourne and ife vicinity, of fully three hundred (300)' head per week; BendjgQ takes' b«e hundred (100) per week less than she should do, and to the dread of pleuro-pneumonia alone do the best informed persons connected with the trade, stocli-agents, drovers, slaughtermen, and butchers attribute the decrease. It does not appear t,b,at the cattle owners have hitUe.rtg^' regarded the matter in {his I(ght, but it is beyoud a ,do,ubi' Uia,t unless they promptly hestir themselves, and organise a system which, with renewed confidence in its wholesorneness may restore the good old British appeiite for beef, they may as well let the free selectors have possession; of their runs, and make them a present of their stock for manure. Concurring, so far my experience extends, in Mr .Mitchell's opinion, that " as long a,s there is sufficient lung surface left to p.urify"; i;lie' 'fresh'Wy be eaten wish ' vh.p^nity,'' i" would add i tb;at' Y.e.ry ievv beasts in the more advanced stages o,f the disease ever .reach Melbourne, because they knock up, arid are "dropped" on the road; or if at all perceptibly affected, but still able to travel, .Vliev-: are gene i ally disposed of io.snwill lots to the various classes of road-side purchasers. In conclusion, sir, lei- me assure you, and your readers that I cou^-'n.^V'e.riiaye ventured to anpsap before the •public in print had \i not occu,rred to me, as I hope it will to oihers, "tUst "'miles ' make mosses j,'.'. and X' scarcely know -whether most to. hope or to fea,r that my." mite may prove the least of the lot. I am, Sir, your obedient servant^