WHISKY OR TEA?

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 204, 22 May 1908, Page 3

WHISKY OR TEA?

"STIMULANTS FOR STOCK. • In .the course of his lccturo to farmers at Pahiatua on Tuesday night (writes our W.iirarapa correspondent), Air. J. A. Gilruth, Chief Government Veterinarian, roforred to the necessity at times of a stimulant for cows which had just calvcd. Three or'four glasses of whisky were very good in theso cases, in addition to Epsom salts. Later in tho ovening, ono of tho audienco, a Ballance farmer, created some amusement by gravely asking Mr. Gilruth if ho did not think that tea would be as effective as whisky. . Mr. Gilruth. appeared almost aghast, at the question, and ho looked searchingly at his interrogator, in order to "ascertain if some joke, in the interests of total abstinence, wore not at the back of tho query. The man from Ballance stood firm under tho keen ■ scrutiny- of the grey eyes, and, grasping the back of' the seat in' front of him,-awaited expectantly the answer. The audience applauded vociferously. "I am afraid that I shall have to disappoint you," said Mr. Gilruth at last. " Alcohol as a medicine has been proved to be absolutely the finest stimulant-. I do not mean that it is good as a beverage, but there is really no doubt as to its medicinal powers. Three or four glasses of whisky administered to a cow is nothing more than a mcdicinal dose."

The questioner sat down with a look of disappointment, and the audience again applauded. That night and yesterday in the Bush Districts the opponents of No-License talked gleefully of the incident. If there is an outbreak of insobriety amongst the . Bush Districts stock in the next"'few months, ono will know upon whom to lay tho blame.