HYDATID MENACE

Evening Star, Issue 22723, 10 August 1937, Page 7

HYDATID MENACE

METHODS OF COMBAT ADDRESS TO YOUNG FARMERS The possibility that the_ administration of anti-hydatid medicines to dogs every three months may be made compulsory was stated l by Sir Louis Barnett in an address on ‘ Health ’ to young fanners this morning. Mr A. C. Cameron was in the chair. The speaker remarked that prosperity was no use to anyone without good health. Farmers worked a great deal with their hands, which were. a very important part of the farmers’ equipment. Sometimes when they were cut and hurt they healed, up very well under the beneficial effect of sun and air. Sometimes, when the wound was deep and dirt entered, poisoning and festering set in. Frequently a poultice was put on which was not antiseptic and merely helped the poison. The speaker urged his listeners not to allow such wounds to go too far, but to see a doctor. The best thing to da was to wring out a pad of cotton wool in an antiseptic. Fortunately tetanus, or lockjaw, was very rare in New Zealand. It occurred sometimes in horses, but only rarely in humans. The speaker said that the theory that tetanus resulted from a cut in the web of the thumb was groundless, as the germ could develop only if driven deep into the skin. The clanger of conveying the germs to the mouth by the hands was stressed. Typhoid was frequently transferred in that way, hut a particular danger arose todafidfei SBfeis

verv> grave matter ■in New . Zealand, and must be checked or there would be great trouble; It was a disease which caused illness, and.in many cases death. More than 1,000 cases of hy-. datids had occurred in tlie last 10 vears, and the death rate was about 15 or 16 per cent., while those who Hved were disabled, sometimes permanently. The prevalence was far higher in animals. Of the 31 million sheep in New Zealand, about one-half were infected with hydatid cysts. Lambs were usually free from infection, but in aged sheep the incidence might go up to 80 per cent. The disease was caused by a tapeworm which inhabited the intestines of dogs in large numbers. Each produced 500 eggs, and these were easily spread. A great deal had been done in the way of sending out literature and posters to farmers, but many were apathetic and old-fashioned. The dog was the only animal which harboured the adult parasite and - became infected by swallowing, cysts containing the heads of microscopic worms. These would be harmless to humans, but they developed* in the dogs arid are transferred to other' animals and humans. The worm must ’ have two hosts for its full development, and'one was the dog. :

In conclusion, Sir Louis stressed the necessity for killing the tapeworms by dosing the dogs with medicine. He said that it might he made compulsory by Act of Parliament, and every dog owner would receive a year’s supply when he registered.the animal, with instructions to administer it every three months. This would mean a little trouble to the owner, but would be well worth while. A strong- plea was made for the liver and lungs of sheep nob to be thrown to the dogs in the raw state. These would be harmless if boiled. After Sir Louis had answered a number of questions a vote of thanks was proposed!;by. Mi- „W.. M. Cavanagh. and eso&isL