THE MILK SUPPLY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13876, 29 October 1910, Page 9

THE MILK SUPPLY.

T HE CE_R_Srn-U IcH CASE.

IN THE HOI-SI--

(s.E-i.a 10 "'-ire rr.i:ss. J | Wl-LLIX-M'ON. lh-i .l»"i" -"■'• | m, ihvov r.i'-m reu-rr-d in the Iteu'. ~.'.•- oi a g>rl at Christ-i 1:i l;rl-,;»h Ward --'id .the Public | IjSth' ferment v... fi ,_,v_. _._.■».,.« , %S:IS, Ma,:k„.«, -aid hoi .ireinrislrou. hi.-, -hVer- bearing ou . T_.t He nad a reiK.it 110:11 V-fjSS iVoirin-ry Division, as Vol- : "ie .NHU.,t. i. reported v, h_v,; Yat-1 that tho -_•-*. was one ol old .and a" hem;u ll Ui>uld ai,i '""'i U V 'V. tlf "c ol it, an e.-Uvm-ly d,llicult Sit or, to _ay the l.ast ot it,. 10 doter- „& how or by what moans the toe a »-t up at the banning; ,2) the C-d from **• hieh the yrls launly derived its milk supply lias been tested with tub_r.ul.-n, and every tow in it found Irce irom tuberculosis; (_) Hie statement that 20 per cent, ot the co.-s eunplying Christchuicb arc affect.', with tubert-ul'i.ij is wrong. Evory endeavour is niade to eliminate Jre.l the herds every cow 111 the slightest degree dangerous 111 the direction of impurity of milk, and so far A3 can lie ascertained the percentage of OOW3 in any degree affected with tuberculosis __ a very long Way below 20 per cent. Specimens of the collective milk of Chri_.teluii.-h dairy herds are from time to timo sent to the Wallac-villo laboratory', and so far no ■trace of tuberculo bacilli lias heen •found in any ono of them, though a 'most-exhaustive examination is made. Tbe dairy insjvecters, both experienced and capable men, arc engaged in the inspection of dairies and dairy herds ia conjunction with the Inspector of fitock, together with the Veterinary .HEcer stationed at Christchurch, and {ia inspection is very thorough and comprehensive. In the case of tho li'ird in question, the tuberculin test was applied by Mr J. R-. Charlton, M.E.C.V.S, and in addition a tliort.u&h examination of each individual cow was made by Mr Finch, Government Veterinarian Tho Department of Agriculture is responsible for tho inspection of dairy farms and cow's; tho Health Department is responsible for the inspection of tho milk after it leaves the farms. Mr Mackenzie also read the Departmental circular regarding inspection '>f dairies apart from those sullying factor:'*.. In this it is stated: —"Each animal's udder must be carefully examined. The dan_er to human health involved by tlie existence of tubercular disease in particular among dairy -owa ia bo great that every endeavour must bo made tO t eliminate from milking herds cows giving tuberculous milk. It must be borno in mind that a tubercular cow may yield milk containing tubercle bacilli even though no indication of disease can be detected in the udder itself. You should at once consult the veterinary supervisor in the case of all animals concerninjr which you have reason, to entertain e-en the slightest suspicion .f tho existence of tubercular disease, sad pending his decision, tho milk >f _*.<__ cows must not be allowed to be used for human consumption." The circular goes on to urgo cleanliness m connection ivith the handling of the milk at tho farm, and states:—"Dirt of any kind is dangerous in milk, and an especial risk is involved by particles of cowdung gaining entrance to it during milking. Seeing that the frecis of many tubercular cows, even though the animals exhibit no marked clinical symptoms of disease, contain tubercle bacilli." Mr Mnckenaie, referring to what had been said in "another place" regarding tiio supply of milk to the people of. Weliington, said he waa pleased to Bay tbeu was nothing like this extent prevailing amongst tho cows as had been stated by tho hon. gentleman in that speech. Out of 928 cows examined 131 We tested, and only 3-t re-acted 'Ito <_£ tuberculin test. -Ir Massey: Tha* does not neees--i-ily mean that they are tubercular. Mr Thomas Mackenzie : Sometimes srncn it re-acts they have not got tuberculosis. Mr Massey: Hear. hear. _Ir Mackenzie: AH our information tew* to show that tho number is far Its- than was previously believed to bo |tli. case. Far too serious a view liaa lifcn taken of the matter in Christchtircli. They had had one of the most -al»-.l inspectors, and he had done his ■isink well, so well that he (Mr MacktMiiic) had been requested to shift him away from the district. _lr RiwvH (Avon) said that it was *<*«. gratifying to know that tho statem.iits. r.V-vJe at tho inquest by Dr. >_.. Wear had been disproved. Ho knew of "jo part of Now Zealand where the dairymen showed greater care. He regarded Dr. %me_. s statement as a -.ander upon a large number of his constituents. There Was an amount of politic, behind the statements, because in m interview Dr. Symcs had declared that tiie ialhng back in tho quality of tho rails was the result of tho retrenchment *"»»*. and he specially referred to tho removal 0 f Mr Macpherson. Ho would » 1 th i* Mr Macpherson was a very -ww-s officer, but in many cases he had »-W very harshly. The officer who fcs-L* P^ s ?"** doing the work was porlormmg it JUB t as effectively and with"H* .any irritation. .fl'J/***. r< Y defended Dr. Symes in die f__ _" 1 , l had been mado u ™>» l"- 1 * 1----ne had been a zealous officer on behalf c ' ™. Government, and had tho wel\i 'W-f 10 P CO P Ie at heart. k ;s r Wlt *y said Christchurch dairymen «w now bam freed from any imputaWtts cast fpon them. They had been fongh- condemned. Tho statement S? 1 * V'^, 20 P° r cent * clclifeeased Christchurch was simply 2Ssr_2r were no cleaner dai " J for l Jj ay,or .greed that the member oU;!° Q wa . Justified in defending any •A- Z, k?? tlt - ,eat , s a ß«in-t a false lfc. ~d ..; when ho ,lsed s «fli terms as a _n_* n i re ? ard t0 Dr * %mcs he went *Hk£± h °i™t 2cnious advwatcs of *«9-thm\V y e , »n te rests of public a sfcm,rf v! and he was also "tteitii * a^? r,ol °B ist - Ho had called with £ ntle ?, mor * Vovrer in dealing <^ a .^L d, ? v Dot . t!,ink Dr - S - vmes tical ihrt. P i, 15 hngers for any poli- «« tf» 1, r ole country by cmphasis0 / »*-»l«tion giv.t'ig the *^ sse «ed at the present time.