CO129-473 - Individuals - 1921 — Page 354

ENTRANCE TO

MAINS OF POKFULUM.

HOSPITAL SHEDS.

99

66

INOCULATION.

¡

THE RAVAGES OF EPIDEMICS.

The ever-present possibility of serious diseases and epidemics in the Company's herd has unluckily on several occasions become translated into grim and crippling reality. It was due to such causes that for many years real success eluded the grasp of the directors, despite the fairest pro- mise and the most careful and skilled management. Here, for an example, is an indication of the grave situation that rose in 1894. At a meeting of the Sanitary Board, presided over by the Hon. Mr. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, the Acting Secretary (Mr. E. A. Ram) stated that the following letter had been addressed to the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon "relative to the recent outbreak of Pleuro-pneumonia among the cattle at the Dairy Farm's pre- mises, Pokfulum " —

SANITARY BOARD ROOM,

HONG KONG,

14th May, 1894.

SIR, I am directed by the Sanitary Board to inquire whether, in view of the further outbreak of pleuro-pneumonia at the Dairy Farm Company's premises, you have any recommendation to make as to the desirability of slaughtering the whole of this herd of cattle,

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant, EDWARD A. RAM. Acting Secretary,

C. V. LADDS, Esq., Colonial Vet. Surgeon.

To this Mr. Ladds replied as follows:-

SANITARY BOARD OFFICES,

14th May, 1894.

SIR, I have the honour, in answer to your letter of this date, to inform you that as I am of opinion that the disease (contagious pleuro-pneumonia) which exists at the Dairy Farm Company's premises at Pokfulum may be successfully combated by inoculation, it would be putting the Colony to needless expense to recommend the immediate slaughter of the whole herd of animals. The former process costs nothing, whereas, the latter would mean an expendi- ture of not less than from $15,000 to $20,000.

Seeing the Board did not think it advisable in the first instance to order the destruction of the herd in question, I beg to suggest the postponement of the further consideration of the matter until such time as it is found that the milder measures as previously adopted are of no avail,

I have the honour to be, Sir.

Your obedient servant,

C. VIVIAN LADDS.

To the ACTING SECRETARY, SANITARY BOARD.

67

350