INOCULATION FOR PLEURO PNEUMONIA.

Waikato Times, Volume V, Issue 283, 5 March 1874, Page 2

INOCULATION FOR PLEURO PNEUMONIA.

The publication of the following, which has boon issued from the GoTernment Printing Office, ia requested by the Chief Inspector of Stock :—: —

• Melbourne, Jan. 29, 1374. E. M. Curr, Esq., Chief Inspector of Stock. Sir, — I bftTe the henorto acknowledge tb« leceipt of your letter of the 27th instant, requesting me to furnish jou with such complete informaMon ;ia way be npcecsaiy for persons who nre desirous of inoculating their cattle for pleuro-pneu-monia* and have much pleasure in complying with your request.

CONTAGIOUS rLETTRO-PNETJMONIA OP CATTLB May be properly defiued a blood disease or fever peculiar to horned cattle, communicated bv contagion, does not develope spontaneously, and was introduced into Victoria by imported stock from England, — (Foot and nioutb disease wa* also introduced by imported stock • vide Report Victorian Royal Commission, 1873,') — terminate* in exudation nnd 'eposit of the fibrino-albuminous portions of tlie blood into the interlobular lung and surrounding tissues, proving fatal by destroying more or les* the structure and functions of these vital organs ; medical treatment is useless, and the disease can only be successfully eradicated by the adoption of stringent preventive measures, early isolation of suspended animals destroying and burning the carcases of diseased ones, and inoculating all animals exposed to contagion. Amimals once attacked are liable to relapse, acting as centres of contagion, and perpetuating the disease.

GBNBHAL SYMPTOMS. Infected animali separate from the herd, feed tparinglj ruminate irregularly, with the heads held low, necka stretched ou*., backs arched, bn athing short and quick, «how iv disinclination to move, cough and grunt on being driven, flanks tucked up, hnggiird apprannce, &c.

HOW TO. OBTAIN INOCULATING LIMPH. Having leleoted an animal suffering from pleuro, slaughter in the usual way ; the carcase bring properly bled, open the ohe*t, and if the disease hat reached the proper stage (second stage) the lymph will be found round the consolidated lung, frequently enclosed in eella like a honeycomb of coagulated fibrino. Lymph may also occnsionally be obtained from tbe substance of the lung, in that portion only, of a salmon colour. The proper inoculating lymph is recogniied by being of a sherry wino colour ; it coagulates on cooling into a transparent jelly, has no offensire smell, and hat a sticky feel when rubbed between the finger and thumb. Mistakes are frequently marie by using the watery effusion or soriim found in the chest and substance of the lun<r. and the efficacy of inocculiition is frrquently condemned in consequence ; such mistakes must therefore be carefully avoided, as the siicceus oi the operation depends upon using the proper lymph, which should be strained before being used, and . supply tor future usr placed in •mall phials and prebcrved, by adding an fight h pnrt, of pure glycerine, and kept iv a toolplacc or under ground.

HOW T) IM3CPL\TE. A number of simll f-pajinp n<- dies, with white worked t hi end and i wu't inonthril p 1 lal <ontßinin!rthi» ljmph, into which the thread is clipped a3 rrqimed, should be hold in readiness by nn ii'H"-tnnt , tin* nnnraln liavincr been secured m bails or oru«-h. the ( n<l of thn t.i.l should I c turned up and held slack, so that whpn the utumnl lno^^ > » it will not be jerked out of the opeintni-'s haiii!. The hair of the brush or bulb (on the inside portion where the skin is thin) should be laid on each aide co as to e\rose the afcin ; holding the tail in t'uo left ht*nd, between tho linger and thumb, ur.eedle and saturated thread should be parsed under and along the skin to «,bout on-i iiu'i in <-\u i I I'lvrnwurds towards the

end of the tail. ± poitfon of fie throad may br left in th wound to insure letentiou of the lymph Tne needle el ould not penetrate dot- per than tho skin. If am of the tails subsequently swell, toe parts sliould be freely s>ht open.— l have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient servant, Graham Mitcttpt,, M X C V.S. Veterinary Surgeon umler the Diseases in Stock. Act.