OUTBREAK OF ANTHRAX.

Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1073, 15 October 1901, Page 2

OUTBREAK OF ANTHRAX.

TO THE EDITOR. ?ib, —I notice in to-day’s issue of the Waikato Argus a paper on Anthrax by Mr Ross, Stock Inspector, and also a recommendation from Mr Clayton to sow the infected land with a white crop and burn it off. As lam the owner of the land where the outbreak took place it may be of interest to you to know a few of the facts of the erse I sold my turnips to a neighbour, and the first beast died about loth July (which was the only beast that died on my place, the owner removing them to Ids own farm, as the turnips were finished). When Mr Clayton came out a few days afterwards, accompanied by Mr Ross, 1 asked him what 1 had to do with the paddock, and he said J was not to do anything until I heard from Mr Ross or himself, not even to plough it. I waited about a fortnight end then I wrote asking them to let me know at once what was to he done, as I wanted to plough up the paddock and sow it. Another four weeks elapsed and I began to think the Stock Department could not have received my letter at ad, whrn I received notice from Mr Ross to lime the padlock with six cwt, of lime to the rose, and then I would he at liberty to plough and grass it down. When 1 had the liming done, and the land ready to sow, and the grass seed Imre, I received another recommend - linn from the Stock Department, to grow two white crops in succession before cr«z ing stock on the land. And now, after I have the paddock sown in grass we have Mr Clayton’s advice, i,e., to sow with a white crop and burn off.

Now, Mr Editor, might I ask why the Slock Inspector or Mr Clayton could not tell me in the first instance that it would he better to crop the land, or oven to grow a crop and burn it off, and I would gladly have done so if it would have been beneficial towards the disinfection of the land. Surely there is something radically wrong somewhere unless the Department of Agriculture glory iu putting a man to as much trouble and expense as possible, when all this bother could have been saved Iryt staling positively in the first instance what really was best to do.—l am, ctu , J. T. Bryant. Tamahere, October 12th, 1901.

TO TUB S'XiITOH Snq I see in your last ,Saturday’s issue that Mr Ross made a statement in his address to the Farmers’ Club that the first outbreak of anthrax in rhe Auckland Province, and as far as he knew in JNcw Zealand, cccurre 1 at Ohanpo, Now there are a few things I wish to bring before your readers’ notice in connection with this ease. Mr Kusahs had a valuable horse which got a kick from another horse in its thigh. The injury was attended to, and in spite of all their care it got worse, and its leg broke cut in many places, almost like a honeycomb, and finally died of mortification and was left in a paddock unbnricd. Then after a time cattle got chewing the bones and died from blood poisoning. (This information was given to me by a man who worked for Mr Kusahs at the time and helped to attend to the horse, and who is still living in this neighbourhood). When Mr Kusibs applied to the Government Vet. it was attributed to imported bones, and wo farmers have had to pry pretty dearly for our manure since. 1 quite agree that every precaution should be taken, but at the same fine facta should he brought to light. Now in reference to the Tamnhere case, Mr Rons says the paddock was m mured with imported bones. Now Mr Ross is labouring under a mistake. The manure ns-d for the turnips was the New Zealand Drug O.impany’s special turnip manure and it is for them to say whether the bones used in that mixture were imported bones. Then again, if it was due to the manure, as stated how is it that other persona who used special uir nip manure escaped the disease, bemuse it ill list t'O borne in mind that the above company do not mix their manure in small lots, Inu in large quantities, To my mind it is clear (hat some diseased nii'ini! strayed into the run at Timahero (for it was an op m run until about four years ago) and died, hence the bones found in the paddock, and instead of saying it was due to imported bones, it ought to bo attributed to cattle chewing the hones of the diseased animal, and dying of blond poisoning, Mr Ross also states that the place where the skeleton was found was heavy titiv c I hrouJi which the hottest lire had pissed, Had the titree been fallen and burnt in the usual way it would have been correct,but as it was, two years ago the farm was set on fire by someone or a spark from the railway engine, and the lire ran through the standing titree, and its eifecls wi re just enough to kill the titree, Hence ' the fiie could not have been ns severe as slated.--1 am, etc.. John A'. Hkyant, Tc Awmnutu, October M'h, 11)01, i