Sessional_Paper_1904 — Page 778

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In the Philippine Islands the question of a cattle industry was raised immedi- ately after the administration of those Islands by the American Government. The industry was commenced almost at once. Instead of proving an expected success, the scheme soon became beset with a complexity of difficulties. These, for the most part, resolved themselves into the occurrence of frequent widespread and sudden outbreaks of disease amongst the breeding herds occasioning great mortality and almost a failure of the industry. Since then the subject of cattle disease in Manila has been undergoing a searching investigation. The results of this research are becoming more and more complicated and have reached a point opposite our own experience, namely, that there exists in this part of the world a group of complex and obscure diseases hitherto grouped together under the heading "Rinderpest." The most significant diseases so far isolated are true Rinderpest, Hæmorrhagic Septicemia, Pyroplasmosis and Trypanosomiasis. Doubtless there exist a number

of others.

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The symptoms and physical signs of these diseases are by no means always obvious and the mortality from them may be very great. Attempts have been made to import good stocks and to improve the grade of native bred animals so that material of a high order might be at disposal for slaughter, food and dairy purposes. So far the results of such attempts have not been favoured with the much desired

success.

In Hongkong the question must be looked at from the same point of view. In our opinion, it would be premature to speculate as to the result of commencing such an industry at present. Before doing so it would be as well to sift the question of cattle disease to the bottom. There can exist no doubt that the factor of disease is one of the greatest with which the industry will have to contend.

That cattle breeding in the Colony will become an established fact, in the future we see no reason to doubt, but before this end is attained much has yet to be accomplished along the lines of scientific research.

The Honourable

J. M. ATKINSON, M.B.,

We have, &c.,

WILLIAM HUNTER.

ADAM GIBSON.

Principal Civil Medical Officer.