HYDATID DISEASE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23445, 27 September 1941, Page 6

HYDATID DISEASE

STERNER MEASURES URGJfID LAXITY OF, FARMERS PUNEDIH, -September 25. Keen disappointaient at the poor results so far obtained by the hydatids prevention campaign because of the persistent lack 0.l sympathy and co-op-eration on the f<art of a large proportion of country* dog owners, was expressed in an interview to-day by Sir Louis E. Barnett, emeritus professor of surgery at the Otago Medical School and chairman, of the Hydatids Committee. In starting how a large amount of the time fend money expended on preventive propaganda 2-ad been to all intents and purposes wasted, Sir Louis said that further legislative measures ,rnay nave to be considered, and, if passed, should be enforced with the full authority of the law. “The Government has so far favoured persuasive methods only,” he stated, “Last year legislation was passed making fit illegal to feed dogs on raw offal. bfit, so far, no steps have been taken bo enforce this measure. There are practical difficulties associated with Vts enforcement, I know, but at least some effort should be made to make, it operative. The Government also distributes annually worm-expel-ling (medicine in the form of arecoline tablets, with full instructions for their use, to every dog owner at the time he registers his do By law the dog owners have to pay an extra registration fee of one shilling to cover the cost of the tablets, but there is no law compelling them to dose their dogs, and a very large number neglect, or /refuse, to do so. One reason for refusal 'is the unwarranted scare that the arecoline tablets upset dogs badly, and may even cause death. Actually, among the thousands of dogs that have been dosed and reported os', there have been very few that have shown an exceptional susceptibility to the drug, but these cases are so rare that, in the interest of the community as a whole, there should be no relaxation of the recommendation regarding the regular dosing of dogs with arecoline, a drug which caret - -.1 research in this and other countries has proved to be the most satisfactory, worm medicine for dogs known at the present day.” Vital Considerations Sir Louis said that the committee had concentrated mainly on attempts to drive home the importance of the two outstanding lines of prevention: (1) not allowing dogs to feed on raw offal, such as liver and lungs of sheep; and (2) dosing dogs regularly with a safe and efficient worm-expelling medicine, “Over and over again,” he continued, “these recommendations and the need for them have been brought under the notice of dog owners, in the hope that they knowledge imparted, plus a little common sense, would lead to their widespread adoption. “And now, after years of educational propaganda, what is the result? A considerable number of the more intelligent dog owners do try to keep their dogs free of parasite worms—they do feed them properly and dose them regularly. And on their farms, and in their districts, it has been noted that the prevalance of hydatid disease has been reduced. But unfortunately there is also a considerable number of dog owners—perhaps, indeed, the majority—whose attitude is apathetic, or neglectful, or even scornful. A No tori us Reputation “New Zealand' remains a country notorious for the prevalence of hydatids. Let me emphasise my point with some figures. There are about 200,000 dogs in this country, about one to every eight of the population. Most of them are country dogs, and about one-third of these are carriers of the hydatid tape worm. The dog, be it remembered, is the only animal that harbours the parasite in the worm stage, and it is therefore the sole distributor of the hydatid eggs, which, if swallowed by other farm animals or human beings, grow into cysts. Every year 100 or more new cases of hydatid disease in human beings are admitted to our hospitals. About 14 per cent, of these end fatally, and the others may suffer from years of disability.” Sir Louis said that there were approximately 32,000,000 sheep in New Zealand, and that nearly half of them harboured hydatid cysts in liver and lungs. If the farmers could be made to see that this represented' a definite and substantial economic loss perhaps they would tqke a more active part in the prevention of hydatids. “Last year,” added Sir Louis, “the Govern- , ment actually received £400,000 for exported livers. That sum was earned for clean livers only, which represented half of the total inspected. ’ A CANNING SUBSIDY Australian papers state that pastoralists in that country are becoming anxious about the fate of old sheep, the anxiety being stimulated by the fact that there are more sheep in the Commonwealth to-day than ever before—approximately 121,000,000. The Minister concerned recently said, when announcing the agreement with the British Government involving an increase in the latter’s purchases, that if necessary the Commonwealth Government would subsidise the processing of any non-exportable surplus of meat to guarantee prices. Suggestions have since been made by graziers’ meetings that great numbers should be boiled down for tallow, but as most of these sheep are suitable for canning, efforts are being made to induce the Federal Government to take action in regard to their utilisation. At one meeting the following resolution was passed unanimously: "That the Minister for Commerce be requested to encourage the canning of aged mutton by the following means: (a) subsidising firms already operating, to allow them to enlarge their existing facilities, for the purpose of dealing with the increasingly large quantities of mutton, which must come forward in the near future; (b) allocating the required supplies of tin plate, and. if necessary, granting priority over less essential preserves, to this end, and (c) by the Government taking over the marketing of these products.” The resolutions are in conformity with the Minister’s promise, and it will be interesting to have experience of such a scheme in operation as a possible lead to Government policy in this country. The canned ewe without some form of assistance to producers, will yield a poor return compared with that which has been paid for the carcase. LINCOLN COLLEGE FIELD DAYS NEXT MONTH Field days at Lincoln College this year have been arranged as follows: October 10 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Also on a day to be arranged in December. October 11 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)—at Ashley Dene. Tea will be provided for visitors at these gatherings. If the weather should turn out wet, and postponement is necessary, due notice will be given on the morning of the day concerned.