N.Z. PENICILLIN PRODUCTION

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27427, 13 August 1954, Page 12

N.Z. PENICILLIN PRODUCTION

NOTABLE DOCUMENTARY FILM Almost as much penicillin is now used on the farms of New Zealand as in its hospitals and a substantial proportion of this antibiotic is prepared in Palmerston North. The dramatic story of this Dominion development is told in a 1300 ft documentary film which has been showing in Christchurch. From the discovery of penicillin as a powerful • aid to medicine in war time, the film switches quickly to its pharmaceutical applications in New Zealand hospitals and then to the spectacular change it has brought to the livestock industry. As an example the losses in dairy production through mastitis, formerly estimated at £ 1,000,000 annually, are shown to have been largely eliminated by penicillin injections made with handy tubes by the farmer himself. Other treatments illustrated are the checking of calf infections, footrot in pigs, blood poisoning in ewes at lambing, and the freeing of lambs from arthritis in 24 hours. It is an engrossing presentation for town and countryman alike and New Zealanders will compliment the producer and photographer (Roger Mirams) for authentic representation of life in this country. The farms are typical, not model; the characters are not dressed for the occasion, they appear in the assorted garb of hundreds of farming folk; and the scenes, though common to New Zealanders, give no impression of carefully-chosen tourist material. . Contrasting sharply with the natural imperfections of the average farm buildings . are the spotless Glaxo Laboratories where farmers are shown examining careful research, preparation, testing, and packing of penicillin cerate. It is these producers of penicillin who have sponsored this worth-while record called “Weapon for Prosperity.”