149
Armed with the information contained in these reports, and backed by
Regulations regarding the importation of animals from affected areas, we
would be able to safeguard this country from disease brought from other
countries.
I am glad to state that the matter is now under the consideration of the
Government of India.
733. It may be asked why the above is included under the Cattle Section
of this Report whilst horses are referred to; the reason is that horses are
immune, that they do not contract the disease, but that they are the means
of carrying the tick, to which the disease is traced to cattle.
734. To show the virulence of the disease, and the necessity of guarding
this country against the introduction of the pest into India, I would quote
extracts from the Melbourne Age of 17th October last:—
" Townsville.—The Pastoral and Agricultural Association has decided to adjourn its annual show sine die
in consequence of the exceptionally dry weather, and the tick pest. Four hundred head of horses are to be
shipped here for India in the Chemnitz."
"Ingham.— The Tick Fever still prevails here and cattle are dying daily. Two dairies have closed, the
whole of the milking herds having died."
At the request of the Government of India, I collected all the information
obtainable on the question of Tick Plague, and prepared a full memorandum
on the subject. I do not purpose entering into the subject of the actual
disease, but would give the proposals made by me as to its relation to India:—
"Bovine Tick Fever in its relation to India."
"It now only remains for me to consider the question of Bovine Tick Fever in its relation to this country
and the question which presents itself most forcibly to my mind is whether the disease prevails in India or not."
"The Bacteriological Survey has made but little progress, and has not disclosed its existence yet ; we, how-
ever, know that zemindars frequently refer to a symptom as a disease, and it is no uncommon thing to hear
them describe 'Red Urine;' whether this is the disease with which we are now interested or not remains to be
discovered. Again we know that one of the great symptoms of ' Surra ' is extreme wasting, and that where
this disease exists amongst horses, cattle have been known to die with somewhat similar symptoms, although the
micro-organism of that disease has not as yet been discovered in the blood of cattle. Bearing in mind that in
Jamaica, before the actual nature of the disease was discovered, it was spoken of as 'the wasting disease.' I
would ask whether it is not possible that we have the disease in our midst without being aware of its existence.
Again, we know that at Hapur and at Kurnal, at certain seasons of the year, horses grazed in the paddocks are
infested with ticks, and although they do not succumb, still this may be due to the fact that horses are immune.
The points, therefore, that require to be settled, and which I purpose placing before the Superintendents,
Civil Veterinary Department, who are mainly connected with cattle, and especially before the Assistant to the
Inspector General, Civil Veterinary Department, are:—
"(a)—A careful microscopical examination of the blood of all cattle on which ticks can be traced, with a
view of ascertaining whether the micro-organism described in this memorandum and of which I
append a diagram, can be discovered.
"(b)—The extent to which cattle are infested with ticks in this country.
" The Superintendent will also be asked to forward specimens of blood from cattle found to be affected
with ticks, as well as specimens of ticks in their various stages, and I purpose asking, in a separate letter, that
sanction be accorded to me to place myself in communication with the Bureau of Agriculture at Washington on
the subject, as I feel convinced that the authorities will kindly assist us, as they did the Commissioners sent from
Queensland, in deciding whether the ticks and the micro-organisms found in the blood are identical with
those causing, and found during, the disease known as Taxas Fever in the United States.
"The question, irrespective of whether the disease exists or not in this country, is, how should we protect
ourselves against the invasion of this pest from countries where it exists; and as our only importations from
affected country are from the various Colonies of Australia, we need only interest ourselves with these.
"A certain number of cattle are introduced into India annually from Australia; they are, however, so few
in number that no hardship or interference with trade would arise if their importation was interdicted from
any place in any way contiguous to any infested area.
"I think that it has been conclusively proved that although horses are immune, stil. that they are a means
of conveying the tick, as ticks are found on them, and are known to have matured on them and to lay eggs;
in fact, in the very shipment of horses which were landed in Madras from Queensland, and which were shipped
from Townsville—this being the shipment which opened up this question—ticks were found.
" Now, we know that ticks will live for a lengthened period, either in the egg or the larval stage, and we
further know that young ticks will adhere to grass awaiting an opportunity to find a host on which they can
thrive. We thus have every reason to fear that the disease may be introduced by shipments of horses brought
from infected areas and by fodder—a large amount of which is frequently landed by shippers with horses.
"I have carefully given in this memorandum the various quarantine arrangements which now exist in the
various Colonies, and have done so with a view of enabling the Government of India to decide on the measures,
which, without interference with the horse trade more than is absolutely necessary, will at the same time guard
this country against the introduction of the disease.
" I have already recommended that no cattle from infected areas should, under any consideration, be
allowed to land in this country, and would further recommend that no horses, coming from an infected area,
should be allowed to land unless they are quarantined for three months, and are regularly dressed during that
period under the supervision of competent authority. The infected area, as far as Queensland is concerned,
might be laid down as being that lying north of a line starting on the eastern coast at about the 24th parallel,
and generally following that parallel westerly to the 144th Meridian, thence in a north-westerly direction to the
South Australian border at a point about midway between the 20th and 21st parallels.
"Until the various Colonies of Australia are declared to be free from the disease, no fodder of any kind
should be allowed to be landed from any ship, unless it be immediately burned.