The Daily News. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1904. "BLACKLEG" IN CATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 29, 4 February 1904, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1904. "BLACKLEG" IN CATTLE.

it was reported last week, through tin.* medium of the Opunake Times that tho -disease known as blackleg was causing some heavy losses in that district, ami more especially about Rahotu. The CJovernment Veterinarian, however, slates thut the trouble with the majority of yowngi slock in the -district referred to is lungworm, from which a gretit many animals are dying. Blackleg, it is a'dimiitted, is present in tho district, but H is now being stamped out by tile eiiorts of the local ullicers oi the Stock iVpartment. The inoculation of yoking calves with blackleg vaccine is now becoming a very general practice, with bvuelicial results. An instance is givtn of a farmer in tJie Okato district who for four years lost lifty per cent, of nis calves. Last year he had them all vaeci-nated, with t'iv result that only one died. Mr Young considers that while inoculation wiMi thb* \accinc may not be an absolute preventive of blackleg, yet out of every hundred calves thut might be liable to attack ninety-live would be icndered immune by vaccination. Inoculation had passed the experimental stage in New Zealand as well as in oilier countries ; and though possibly blackleg had come to stay, .so also had \acoiuation. There are people who oppose inoculation, just ufl there are pwoplc against vaccination in the human species, and against every other proposal brought forward, whether the end aimed at bo apparent or doiiblful : but it seems incomprehensible that with instances of honelicinl operations in their inrdst any settlers should be so shortsighted as to neglect this precaution of having their joungl stock inoculated against this terrible disease. For, an animal having contracted the distemper, nothing can save it. There is at present 110 kno'Wii cult; for a case of blackleg/ after it has taken hold. There is only one course—the employment of a preventive Tho results of the veU-j inari'ans' work so far in the practice of inocul-ation have proved, and are proving every day, its ellicacy as a preventive. Tnis is daily pHoving a fact in other countries as well us New Zealand—or, rather, since tilve counties of Taranaki and (Mifton are the only districts where the disease is known in New Zealand. Applications were sent to the (lowrnmunt this year for vaccine for ttouo calves in the two bounties named, and haif of t,hese are no( yet inocula-t<<f. Indeed, the Oovernnient has had some d'iiliwilty in keeping up a supply of the vaccine, owing to the (Unnan-d for it abroad. Mr Young considers the banners' Unions phgtuld be urged take tlrts

matter up, a s being one so vitally alTeciing tiheiu. '1 he treatment, or vaccination, is not it diHie-ull, matter, and if Che animals are gathered together 400 could be dealt with in a day. If tiie operator lias to visit separate urms Jie can only manage 'JoO in that, time, or less. A thorough a i lit I comprehensive system is required in the treatment, so that ,I'he veterinarian may be a'ble to go rigid, across live country and do bis work completely. The nge at which calves a''e mostly affected is between two and twelve mouths, and the fad that those farmers who had their cattle inoculated last year have come back with fresh orders to the department again this season proves that they recognise the worth of tiie treatment. Fimajly, we would remind dairymen and stockbreeders generally that Ux> 'dmdase comes' within the scope of the Stock Act, and cases must be reported to the authorities, or the owners of the cattle uill bo subject to the same penalties as obtain in connection with anthrax.