The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1903. ANTHRAX.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 181, 3 August 1903, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1903. ANTHRAX.

Farmers are, owing to the sudden outbreak of tbis dread disease in Hi Waikato, everywhere asking for information regarding its symptoms and the remedy. With the view of assist ing farmers, Mr Gilruth lately gave t most interesting lecture on the subject in Palmsrston North, in the course o' which he said the ravages of anthrax formerly exacted a feaiful toll from tht farmers, and in Europe, America, anl, indeed, in every part of the civilised world to-day, the disease hag a toct hold, and even yet causes enormous annual loss. Bacteriological investigation had been of great benefit in help iog to deal with this virulerit disease—a disease which causes death with ap palling suddenness, and is even inoculable to man. It was difficult to conceive that the microbe of anthrax, comparatively hrge as it is, was only observed and demonstrated fur th<first time 50 years ago. It was long after that, however, before tfce germ was cultivated exterior to the animsl j body and the disease produced by the injection of artificial cultivations Nevertheless, the determination and recognition alone of the fatal germ gave a method of deciding the presence of the disease in suspected animals, and so it was a distinct advance oi< the previous empirical methods of diagnosis. In a disease, such as anthrax, where death occuts with such rapidity, that no cure could bo hoped for, and, as the germs were found to be pr«sent in the soil and practically in eradicsble, a method of prevention 01 of min'misaticn was eagerly sought, for. In this, as in so many diseases. Pasteu- came to the rescue. By dint of laborious and tedious fxperitnflnts, hr aswrtai- ed th if, generations of t-h< ge-m, f-ultivated undfr certain arti tick: co I'ifuis, liad their viruknc decreat-eu to such a.i extent that levtain qu'n'it <.« »• usd not c use deiM, j when i-o fc( j U nd t the s'iin. Ful j lowing sa "b?e Vitions, he fu-tno j asc. rfcnitiod that uiiirmh iropulated Jwith the weaken*d germ diso'ayei! I a ii.-uunie afterwards to I the muni, v.rultint microbe of anthrax I Then it was not far to build up a system of preventive vaccinatum, and thi Pss'eur did so suwes-,fu !y that millionof animals are saved annually. Fortu mitely, fofsr in this colony, vaccination has not had to be resorted to; although, sad to relaie, the dis»aW hasbeen introduced very frequently-, i'. ha.- j happily not si cured a permanent f ( .o -| h ild, 60 far rs can be apceitair.fii) *i>. 11

jld, 60 far rs can bo npcoitaijjed, tb limplo precautionary measures talcn l>y fcho J>pa> 'm-iifc having, nppnre'iMy proved fcfffoHv.-, thatkr t- 0 Sfiif-utißo jri-s-a<'ch. PrrvTus fri 18y5 there vat- • to reason t'j believe that untt-.r.-x had ever made its appearance iu New Z.<a-

land. Tha 1 ; it was found to b9 import ;d Mr GilrutU had foreseen, owing to the importation of large quantities of bones from Australia and India, both of which countries were and are badly affected by anthrax, It had been r piatedlv prov.d that, given favourable circumstance.', tha spores>f the germs of anthrax would live in the banes for an iuJefioite period, Whevi he urged ths necessity of prohibiting she admission of bones from such csuu tries, the absolute mel for their im portation was placed before him, an no doubt (said the lecturer) it was di' ficult for as yooa to understand th what had not been could be As are suit of the detection of the disease an its origin, attempts have been made b every "legal" means possible to pre vent; its further introduction, but with out avail. Besides the large numbe of stock—cattli and pigs pirticularly—which have succumbed, two hum it. beings have " crossed the bar," During the past year alone the number of ou breaks of wh : cb the Department had cognistucf, and was able to comple'el; prove, was nine, whilst one man sue cumbed and several were affected, In addition to these, the Department n* reason to btliove that many cas<> occurred which were not no'ifisd. Now chat the authorities have the near for urgent interference, it was to tt fervently hoped that the colony wouli once more re.uma iis proud position o! being the oidy part of the globe free from this grave disease.