Sessional_Paper_1906 — Page 517

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Annexe L.

REPORT OF THE COLONIAL VETERINARY SURGEON.

GENERAL STATISTICS.

Cattle and sheep were scarcer than in 1904. This is attributed by importers to a scarcity of animals in the interior and to restrictions and duties imposed by the Chinese Government or local authorities. The stall-feeding of cattle appears to be gradually in- creasing in the neighbourhood of Canton but it is to be regretted that Manila by the induce- ment of higher prices still gets the best of the animals.

The total number of the cattle dealt with at Kennedy Town was 49,412, a decrease on 1904 of 8,993. Hunghom admitted 5,046, a decrease on 1904 of 565. This gives a total decrease over all of 9,558 cattle, as compared with 1904. The rejections as unfit for slaughter amounted at Kennedy Town to 672, against 499 in 1904. At Hung Hom 219 were rejected, against 34 in 1904, and 406 in 1903. The chief cause of rejection is simply cinaciation.

DISEASES.

The following are the most noteworthy diseases met with during the year in the Depôt and Slaughter Houses.

Anthrax,--Four cases occurred, one each in January, April, May and Jaly. In all cases but one the animals (cattle) were imported suffering from the disease, and died within twenty-four hours after landing. In the remaining case the animal, a bullock, had been in the Depôt for ten days. Infection is supposed to have been conveyed in the fodder though direct proof is wanting.

Hæmorrhagic Septicemia. There was only one outbreak when thirteen cattle in all were attacked. Of these, five died und eight recovered. The disease was of a milder type than that met with in former years and did not extend beyond the lot first attacked.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease. This disease is practically always present in the Depôts and is freshly imported with almost every lot of cattle. It is always of a mild type and causes, except in very young calves, little or no constitutional disturbance.

Tuberculosis.-There were no cases seen in Chinese cattle. Only one case was met with in a European cow at the Slaughter House and the chief interest in this case lies in the fact that apart from the commoner lesions seen in the viscera, the meninges of the brain round the base, under part of the cerebellum, and medulla, were sprinkled over with small tubercular nodules about the size of a mustard seed. The animal had shown brain symptoms before slaughter but was otherwise in good condition.

PARASITES.

Parasites are daily met with and often in considerable numbers. In addition to those mentioned in former reports the following have been noted :-

Distomum Pancreaticum.-This distome is found in the pancreatic ducts of Chinese cattle and water buffaloes. It appears to cause little alteration in the substance of the gland. The ducts became dilated and are at times so packed full of the parasite as to appear like dilated and tortuous veins running through the substance of the gland. The presence of the parasite even in large numbers appears to have very little effect on the general health of the animal infested. This parasite closely resembles in size and appearance the Distonium Lanceolatum of the liver of the ox and sheep.

Distomum Crassum.-This distome was found in the intestine and stomach of the pig but seldom in large numbers. Three to ten or twelve were usually seen.

Echinorynchus Gigas.-This is a round worm found in the intestine of the pig. Its anterior end is furnished with powerful spines by means of which it fixes itself to the wall of the intestine producing a deep ulcer which often extends into the muscular coat of the bowel. It seems to attain an especially large size in Hongkong frequently measuring nine- teen inches in length and as thick as a common lead-pencil.