Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 895

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The disease, however, still extended and the cleansing and disinfection of this shed was hardly complete when a shed about 20 yards away became affected. It was decided to try the effect of serum inoculations on the lines of anti-rinderpest serum inoculations. The net result was that out of 82 sick and in-contact cattle there were 29 deaths or 35.36 %- The efficacy of the serum treatment was seriously interfered with owing to the fact that the serum was also the means of conveying Piroplasmosis to many of the inoculated animals. In the majority of instances a prolonged convalescence with an intermittent temperature was the only indication of the disease. In a few a severe hæmoglobinuria with multitudes of parasites in the blood supervened. Some cases were also further complicated with abor- tion. In this connexion it may be mentioned that Piroplasmosis is met with in the dog in Hongkong and is known to many dog-owners as "black jaundice."

Stomo.rys (Colcitrans?) was found in great numbers in the sick cattle sheds and these in the opinion of The Honourable the Principal Civil Medical Officer might be intimately concerned in the spread of the disense. To verify this Dr. Hunter and myself as instructed by The Honourable the Principal Civil Medical Officer are now making investigations.

The general condition of the cowsheds has been good and, with the exception of one Indian dairy, the owners of cowsheds have been most willing to carry out all suggestions for their betterment. In the case of the dairy mentionel successful prosecutions were instituted by the Medical Officer of Health, Kowloon.

MARKETS AND FOOD SHOPS.

New Western Market.- This Market was complete and handed over to the Sanitary Board. It is more than filled by fish and poultry dealers frò n the old market. The removal of these men has to some extent relieved the congestion of the old market.

Des Voeux Road Market.—This Market is in a far from thriving state and the unwillingness to take up stalls in it, seems to be due to a belief in its ill luck.

The condition of the other markets is practically unchanged since last year's Report.

The importations of frozen beef and mutton for the year were 211,643 lbs, and 264,933 lbs. respectively. The Dairy Farm Company are practically the only importers. A sinall quantity of corned beef is imported from Shanghai to private customers during the winter months.

ORDINANCE No. 15 of 1903.

Under this Ordinance 157 visits of inspection were paid to ships leaving the Colony with more than ten head of cattle on board, and certificates of fitness to carry cattle granted. Except for a few going to Macao, the cattle exported all go to Manila. I have again to record the kindness of the Shipping Agents in giving me the use of a launch to go and in- spect the ships.

NEW TERRITORIES.

Almost coincident with the appearance of Hæmorrhagic Septicemia among the dairy cattle in Hongkong, several bullocks belonging to the Kowloon-Canton Railway got sick with this disease. The same treatment was adopted as in the Dairy Farm outbreak with the result that out of 52 cattle sick or in-contact, 12 died and 40 got better or did not con- tract the disease. In none of the inoculated native cattle did Piroplasmosis appear. This is in accord with the results obtained in Manila and elsewhere confirming the observation that Chinese native cattle are immune to the disease owing to the fact that they have passed through an attack of it and seem to tolerate with impunity the presence of the parasite in in their blood.

Towards the end of the year The Hongkong Milling Company were making preparations to conduct pig feeding and breeding on an extensive scale in connection with their flour mills. The successful development of this undertaking will put the Colony in possession of a new and valuable source of food supply.