THE OUTBREAK OF Pleuro-Pneumonia.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1217, 17 April 1880, Page 2

THE OUTBREAK OF Pleuro-Pneumonia.

Mr Naden paid a second visit of inspection to Maclean and Co.'s herd of Devon cattle yesterday morning, tie reported no change in the symptoms, which he still thinks are those of catarrhal fever. The cows are strictly isolated, and even were the disease proved to be pleuro no danger of infection need for the present be feared. The two veterinary surgeons expected from the South to consult with Mr Naden, will, on arrival, immediately inspect the cattle, and so remove all doubts upon the subject. The letter of a correspondent "Virus," in our last issue having such an obvious reference to the herd of Mr Fantham, has induced us to make inquires on the subject, and we are now enabled to lay the fallowing facts before our readers :—: — Mr Fantham has authorised us to say that his shorthorn bull Lord Darlington is, and has, since November last, been suffering from pleuro-pneumonia. He contracted inflammation of the lungs ou his way down to the show held at Auckland on the 9th of that month, and was treated for that complaint. About ten days afterwards he suffered a relapse, and the disease became aggravated until it grew into pleuro-pneumonia. Mr Fantham accordingly sent for Mr Naden, under whose treatment the animal has since remained. The disease, however, must not be confounded with epizootic pleuro, and is neither contagious nor infectious, the bull having been allowed to run with the rest of the herd ever since his return to Waikato. Furthermore, no secret has been made of the case, several settlers having seen the bull for themselves, and been made acquainted with the nature of his ailment. In November the matter was referred to in these columns, and the opinion was then expressed that the bull woiild not recover. Ibis opinion is still held by those most competent to judge, but no danger to the rest of the cattle is apprehended. We may also state that a red cow (Lady Don), belonging to the same herd is suffering from bronchitis, and, as she is near her calving, is not expected to survive long. Our only object in making these facts public is to remove a disagreeable impression which has got abroad, the nature of which is very palpable. Qn Thursday evening we were favored by the following telegram from Veterinary Surgeon Naden, M.R.C.V.S.L. : — C \mbridgf, April 15, iB3o. I h.ivc this d.iy examined, with Mr Fantham and Inspector Rnnriman, three Devon cows, the property of Messrs Maclean and Co., at the Pah Farm, near Cambridge, supposed to have pleuropneumonia. I must sec them again before giving a positive opinion, but the symptom^ arc more like catarrhal fe\er than pleuro-pneumonia. They will be kept isolated from all other cattle, and will be inspected daily by me until I can state positively whether pleuro-pneumouia does exibt or not.