THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1906.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7975, 28 February 1906, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1906.

The charges that have been made in Taranaki against the Veterinary branch of the Agricultural Department in connection with the disease "blackleg." are of a serious nature. "Blackleg" is praotioally confined to Taranaki, and has oaused serious losses amongHt oalves. In 1904 the Government took vigorous steps to prevent the disease spreading to other parts of the oolony. The whole of the area between the Mokau and Wanganui Rivera was quarantined as far as young oattle were concerned. None of the oattle were alio weri to be removed therefrom unless they had been inoculated with vaooine. All the diseased carcases of animals

iu that area had to be burned or buried. The Taranaki dairy farmers had suffered enormous losses before these regulations were brought into force. "Blackleg" is supposed to have been imported originally to the oolony in some bone manure, about twelve years ago. New Zealand is the only country where it has spread to any extent. Mr Gilruth, the Chief Veterinarian, states that at its flrat introduction "blaukleg" oould have been stamped out for less than £IOO, whereas two or three years ago calves were dying in hundreds, the annual loss amounting to thousands of pounds. ***** A little over two years ago many dairy farmers voluntarily began to inoculate their young cattle with imported vaccine, with satisfactory results. It was not until the Government made notification and vaccination compulsory that the practice was general. Upon these regulations being enforced, the death-rate dropped in a most remarkable manner. In his report last year, Mr Gilrutb mentioned that the germs are so persistent and can remain in the ground with unimpaired strength for so long that he could not hope ever to completely stamp out the disease. There has been a ( very marked reurudescenoe of the disease this year, and the mortality amongst 'calves bad been heavy. The farmers in some parts of Taranaki allege that this is due'to the vaccine used by the Government officials being too strong. It is further alleged that some of the vaccine is unhealthy, and it is suggested that the syringes are not sterilised after each animal has been vaccinated, and that it is therefore possible that infection has been carried from a diseased animal to a healthy one. * * * * * Until lately the Department imported the vaccint in the shape of tabloids, each of which, being dissolved in water, was a dose for one animal. Now the Department makes its own vaccine in the Departmental laboratory at Wallaceville, and uses syringes capable of holding several doses. The Department will not recognise vaccination performed by unauthorised persona, and only animals bearing the Government brand can be sold in the yards or removed from the district. Consequently the farmers are compelled to have their animals treated by the Government officials. A serious obligation rests upon the Department to inves tigate the whole matter most thoroughly, as yie' exoessive mortality amongst calves is at present a reflection upon the Department's methods. However, it is quite possible that it may prove to be due to other oauses.