Bush Sickness.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXIV, Issue 3753, 9 April 1908, Page 2

Bush Sickness.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. Interviewed by a Truth reporter this morning, the Hin. R. McNab made a brief reference to the "'bush sickness" among sheep and cattle, which is peculiar to the country between Tauranga and Taupo. Some time ago, he said, preliminary investigations were carried on by Mr Gilruth to determine the nature of the disease, as it was unknown to science. First, before leaving Wellington, he had completed arrangements giving authority to the Veterinary Department to carry out a complete investigation, and one of its ablest veterinary surgeons attached to the Department would be detailed by Mr Gilruth for the work. A piece of land in the affected area on the Selwyn Estate was available for the experimental work. The "bush sickness" affects sheep after they have been about three months on the ground. They begin to give way, and indicate weakness, gradually get weaker, pine away, and ultimately die. Strange to say, post mortems reveal no cause of the wasting process. The treatment of the disease is comparatively easy, being merely a change from one place to another outside the affected area. The Department hoped to be able to ascertain the cause of the ailment when they get control of the disease.