[Report 1927] / Medical Officer of Health, Sheffield City.

  • Sheffield (England). City Council
Date:
1927
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1927] / Medical Officer of Health, Sheffield City. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    111/120 (page 101)
    ]01 REPORT OF THE CHIEF VETERINARY INSPECTOR FOR THE YEAR, 1927. Diseases of Animals Acts and Orders. The following is a list of the Contagious Diseases which are scheduled under the above :— Anthrax, Foot and Mouth Disease, Parasitic Mange of Horses, Rabies, Sheep Scab, Swine Fever, Cattle Plague, Pleuro Pneumonia, Sheep Pox, Epizootic Lymphangitis, Glanders and Farcy, Epizootic Abortion of Cattle Of the above, no outbreaks of Cattle Plague have been reported since 1877, nor of Pleuro Pneumonia since 1898, nor of Sheep Pox since 1850, nor of Epizooitic Lymphangitis since 1906. Anthrax. Four suspected outbreaks of Anthrax were reported on premises in the City. Each outbreak was investigated but the presence of the disease was not confirmed in any of the cases reported. Cases of Anthrax in animals occur periodically and the great importance of not attempting to cut or dress an animal taken iU suddenly and found on the point of death or an animal found dead is impressed upon stock owners because of the risk of human infection. Rabies. No case of Rabies has occurred in Great Britain since 1922, and with a view to preventing the introduction of Rabies from abroad, imported dogs have to be detained and isolated for 6 months on premises approved by the Ministry of Agriculture unless brought in for performing purposes. They are licenced to these places by the Ministry and kept under supervision by the Local Authority. In the latter case they are permitted to go from different places of performance and detained and isolated at these places. These regulations are carried into effect when imported animals arrive in Sheffield. Suspected cases of Rabies are also reported to the Department, such as dogs suffering from hysteria and convulsions. These cases are investigated and kept under observation. Foot and Mouth Disease. One case of suspected Foot and Mouth Disease was reported on premises in the City. This was investigated and the existence of the disease was confirmed. This led to the discovery of two contact outbreaks. The affected and contact animals were slaughtered and those found affected were sent to the Corporation Destructor and burned. It was found that the source of infection must have originated from some of the surrounding cattle markets from which the affected animals came to Sheffield The usual precautions as to disinfection of the premises and everything which had been in contact with the affected animals were carried out. In connection with this outbreak all movements of animals were controlled by hcences issued by this Department or by Inspectors of the Ministry of Agriculture. During the period when these restrictions were in force, a weekly average of 682 cattle, 1,747 sheep, 921 pigs and 90 calves were hcensed to city slaughterhouses for slaughter. This number of live stock therefore represents the weekly average used by the City for its fresh meat supplies. Parasitic Mange. Three suspected cases of this disease were investigated during the year, but the disease was not confirmed in any of the cases. One of the first Orders dealing with Parasitic Mange was granted by the Ministry of Agri¬ culture and Fisheries to Sheffield, and the value of the precautions taken under the Order is shown by the fact that the disease in Sheffield is now almost non-existent.