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IV.—OUTBREAK OF DISEASE IN THE CATTLE DEPOT, Kennedy Town.
During the month of April, 1904, another outbreak of Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia occurred in this Depôt. The outbreak was not extensive. The symptoms presented by the animals were identical with those described in our preliminary report, namely, an initial and persistent elevation of temperature, with subsequent characteristic diarrhoea.
Such post-mortem examinations as were made, showed nothing beyond what was repeatedly found by us in animals dead from such an Epizootic.
During the course of the outbreak an opportunity presented itself to ascertain whether the serum which the Manila Authorities have found efficacious as a pre- ventive of Rinderpest had any effect on the disease with which we had to deal. Mr. APCAR, a large exporter of cattle from Hongkong to the Philippines, brought back with him to Hongkong from the Serum Laboratories in Manila a large quantity of Anti-Rinderpest serum which had been prepared there. He was kind enough to hand this serum over to us for experimental purposes.
We made extensive use of the serum in doses varying from very large to very small amounts. The animals upon which it was tried were aged from under one year to old working oxen. Neither age of animal nor size of those had any effect and no reaction of any kind was obtained; the inoculated and un-inoculated died with equal facility.
"Virulent blood" and serum were also tried according to the "simultaneous method." The results, however, were of a most unsatisfactory nature. No method of inoculation appeared to have a beneficial action on the course of the disease. From our results, it would appear that cattle suffering from Hæmorrhagic Septicemia, --and this disease is symptomatically very closely allied to Rinderpest-are not benefited by the methods at present so strongly advocated for Rinderpest.
It is intended, however, to continue these experiments, in order to be able at some future date, to pronounce a definite opinion as to the true value of these fashionable lines of treatment. During the course of this Epizootic, one of the animals in the Depôt died suddenly. The bullock was to all appearance perfectly healthy. The temperature was normal on the date of its admittance to the cattle Depôt. Following the usual course in such cases blood films were prepared and fixed by heat. The carcase was forthwith cremated. Several hours later the blood films were stained. A surprising result was obtained. The films literally teemed with one of the forms of Trypanosoma. Further details in regard to this result will be given under a separate heading.
V. OUTBREAK No. 2 IN KENNEDY'S DAIRY.
During the past three months a disease of an indefinite nature occurred amongst the cattle in this Dairy.
The cattle in this establishment are of European extraction either born in Australia or bred in this Colony. The type of the disease was not acute and the mortality amongst the animals affected was practically nil.
A careful clinical inspection and observation of the affected cattle led us to conclude that in this outbreak we were dealing with a disease entirely different from Hæmorrhagic Septicemia. It was widespread amongst the animals,
The symptoms exhibited were briefly as follows:-
The temperature in the forenoon was normal and rose in the afternoon to 103.5° or 105°. In one or two cases a temperature of 107° was reached. Notwith- standing the high temperature no symptoms of disease beyond an accellerated pulse and respiration could be observed. The appetite remained good and in the earlier part of the disease the yield of milk was unaffected. As the disease progressed the animals lost flesh but in no case was there anything approaching emaciation. yield of milk became less, and curiously enough with the morning low normal temperature the yield of milk was well maintained but the evening's milk was very sensibly diminished, ie., during the elevation of temperature.
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