H.—29

WALLACEVILLE VETEEINAEY LABOEATOEY. REPORT OF C. S. M. HOPKIRK, D.V.Sc, OFFICER IN CHARGE. Staff.—Mr. W. M. Webster, B.Sc, M.R.C.V.S., left the Laboratory at the end of July to take up a position at Massey College. The services of Lt.-Colonel H. A. Reid, 0.8. E., F.R.C.V.S., D.V.H., F.R.S.E., were therefore retained. At the end of the year Mr. L. W. N. Fitch, B.V.Sc. (who had been appointed to the Department three months previously) arrived from Australia to take up the duties of a veterinary officer in the Laboratory. Dr. I. J. Cunningham, the nutritional research officer, was given the opportunity to obtain his veterinary degree in Sydney and obtained three years' leave of absence, less long vacation, when he will return for duty at Wallaceville. During his absence Dr. Marion Cunningham is undertaking his work. Mr. S. W. Josland spent some three months at the commencement of the year in a visit to the Animal Nutrition Laboratory in Adelaide where he was able to carry out work under the direction of Mr. Hadley R. Marston. This work was performed at Mr. Josland's own expense. Mr. R. D. Thompson was transferred from the Laboratory to the clerical staff at Christchurch, and Mr. I. G. Watt, M.Sc, has been employed in his place. Mr. J. Evans, Farm Overseer, has been away for several months sick, and it is not anticipated that he will be well enough to return. Diagnostic Work. —Specimens have remained varied and give a fair indication of the troubles of stock in the districts. Hamilton Laboratory is keeping up the number of milk samples examined in the mammitiscontrol scheme and at Wallaceville such examination is increasing.

The following material has been received for examination : —

Blackleg vaccine prepared and issued : 32,300 doses ; tuberculin issued : 2,032 c.c. crude ; Johnin issued : 182 c.c. crude. CATTLE DISEASES. Johnb's Disease. We are much indebted to Mr. G. W. Dunkin, of the Mill Hill Laboratories, for supplies of Johnin which have been donated to the Department. Mr. Dunkin has been most helpful not only in the supplying of Johnin but in information on the disease generally, and also supply of cultures and special media. It is hoped later to make Johnin successfully for our own use. Ten new farms have been found definitely affected during the year, and it will have been noted that forty-seven positive specimens were received while of the twenty-seven negative specimens a large number were suspicious but the organism was not proved to be present. Measures for the control of this disease are urgently called for.

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Wallaceville. Hamilton. Mastitis milk-samples— Routine — Positive .. .. .. 417 Negative .. .. .. 533 Miscellaneous milks .. .. .. .. 5,578 Mammitis-control scheme — A Group .. .. .. 3,200—72 per cent. 24,216-69-4 per cent. B Group .. .. .. 1,038—24 per cent. 7,878 —22-5 per cent. C Group .. .. .. 182 — 4 per cent. 2,854 — 8-1 per cent. Quarter samples .. .. .. .. 1,199 Tuberculosis — Milk samples for biological test — Positive • • • • . • ... Negative .. .. . . 265 Whey samples for biological testPositive .. .. .. (at six weeks and three months.) Negative .. . . . . 77 Agglutination test for contagious abortion — Whey samples— Positive ...... .. 74 Negative .. .. .. - .. 219 Blood samples—■ Positive .. .. .. 450 159 Negative ...... 878 438 Cattle specimens .. .. • • 218 Johne's disease — Positive ...... 47 Negative ... .. .. 27 Sheep specimens .. .. •. . ■ 268 Pig specimens .. .. .. .. 390 Horse specimens .. .. .. • • 27 Poultry specimens .. .. .. 195 Miscellaneous specimens .. .. .. 87 Tumours .. .. .. •. 91 Biochemist's Analysis— Blood .. .. .. .. 474 Urine .. .. .. .. 18 Bones .... .. .. 148 Total .. .. .. 9,030 42,615