PLEURO-PNEUMONIA.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1207, 23 March 1880, Page 2

PLEURO-PNEUMONIA.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— From correspoiulenoe which has appeared in the columns of your paper, it

is almost beyond » doubt that pleuro is in the provincial district. I certainly thought from the number of Australians that I know of, some of them would have suggested some practicable remedy to arrest its progress or stamp it out for any one who has had the experience must know that the process is so simple and so easily applied. Besides it is an imperative duty, I presume, on any one having a knowledge of the remedy to i, communicate the same to his neighbour. The virus should be obtained from the lungs of a heifer full grown, if possible knoivn to be diseased and slaughtered for the purpose. You only then require some woollen or worsted thread and a packing needle, not triangular on the point, but flat and sharp. Saturate the thread in the virus after putting it in the needle. You then insert the needle between the skin and flesh, on or about the third joint of the tail at the lower extremity, using the precaution to hare about half an inch of the thread on each side as a key to prevent it falling out. On or about the third day of the operatian, if affected, the tail will become hot and slightly swollen, in some cases the swelling on both sides the root will become very large, and if so, you should make an incision of at least three inches, at the lower end, at the same time dressing the cut with venus turpentine, when you may rest satisfied the animal is safe from pleuro. Now to satisfy the most sceptical or incredulous how we happen to have such knowledge of this terrible disease, I will briefly state : In the autumn of 1663, living near Wollongong, in N.S.W., in the same locality for over twenty years, for the first time during that period this distemper (pleuro) made its appearance. The consternation it caused may be imagined. It spread through the whole dTstrict. The population consisted of dairy farmers; all sorts of quackery were resorted to, such, as burning brimstone, inserting a piece of garlic in the dew-lap, and even blistering under the shoulder, but to no purpose. However, the Government were quite equal to the emergency. A Mr Wright, of Balgownie, was at once appointed inspector of cattle and inoculator, being a man of considerable experience and knowledge of the pleuro, as well as a Magistrate in the Yass district for 40 years. Not knowing much of the by-roads of our district, he applied to me for my eldest son as a guide and to assist him, and I readily complied with his request. Some three days afterwards it was known that the pleuro was amongst the cattle of Mr Andrew Thomson, of West Horsley, within one farm of ours. Mr Wright sent me a bottle of virus — something like an ounce bottle ; I then inoculated forty head (thirty-six dairy cows and four working bullocks), and lost only one; but, unfortunately, the most valuable of any that I was owner of — a pure shorthorn. Mr Wright examined the cow, aud said it was not unusual ; as cows just at their profit always undergo a risk of the virus affecting the system, and, strange to say, the calf died also. Therefore, I assert, without fear of contradiction, that there is no remedy but inoculation. — I am, &c, Peter Coleman. Ravensdale, East Hamilton. I should have mentioned that we inoculated a large herd of dairy cattle for Mr Haworth, member then for our district, and who lived between me and Mr A. Thomson, and he did not lose a single beast, although the cattle were dying outside hib fence. — P. C.