CONTAGIOUS MAMMITIS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 10 March 1925, Page 8

CONTAGIOUS MAMMITIS.

PREVENTION BY VACCINE.

SUCCESS IN WAIKATO. TARANAKI BEEEDEES ! INTEREST. The dread disease of contagious mammitis in dairy cattle has for years constituted a formidable problem - to dairy farmers and veterinarians, and, though a great deal of research work lias been devoted to the question, no curative or preventive measures which could be regarded as realising anything approaching a. satisfactory solution were discovered until Mr •). G. Smith, a Hamilton bacteriologist, produced- a vaccine, trials of which, made in the Waikato district, indicate that it is remarkably efficacious in ensuring immunity from attack, and that it will give beneficial results when applied to cows affected with the disease. First used sonie three years ago. the vaccine treatment has latterly become verv extensive in the Waikato district, where 'its supporters claim that the whole of over 20.000 animals inoculated have since remained free of infection. It is widely known that the ravages of contagious mammitis entail enormous annual Josses to the dairying industry throughout the Dominion, and, should the. sanguine expectations held regarding the treatment be fully realised, it will confer a. benefit the full extent of which is difficult to estimate. Its supporters, however, made it understood that no claim is made respecting a. curealt for mammary troubles: but as the result of their experience they sincerely believe that the vaccine - will keep clean animals free of “ contagious mammitis, ’ ’ which is the most severe form of the disease known as “mammitis ’ 7 or, more correctly, “mastitis. -5

In response to requests made by prominent breede -- s in Taranaki, Messrs E.. C. Day and IV. G. Phillipps, two of a number of Hamilton business men who have combined in the endeavour to make the discovery more widely known, and to afford the opportunity for securing treatment to those desirous of having their herds inocluated, are at present on a brief visit to the province. On Saturday evening, by invitation of the Kaponga Jersey Cattle Club, they attended a meeting called under the club’s auspices at Kaponga. There was an interested audience, members of which listened with keen appreciation to the address delivered by Mr Dav and to the explanations he afforded, together with Mr Phillipps, during the general discussion which followed. Visitors were present from Mangatolci, Malioe, Rowan, Ttiverlca, Awatuna, Auroa, Piliama- and other parts of the surrounding district. Mr D. P. F. Malone (club president), who was voted to the chair, formally introduced the speakers. ME DAY’S ADDRESS. i Throughout his address Mr Day stressed the adage “prevention is better than cure. 5 ’ After thanking club members for the invitation extended to Mr Phillipps and himself, and expressing their pleasure in viewing such a representative gathering, he proceeded as follows: In 192 J, Mr J. G. Smith, who is bacteriologist at the Waikato Hospital, commenced investigations on the relationship between infections in . Hie cow’s udder and. in human beings, especially trouble in (lie- ear, nose and throat, and in trying to prove this relationship inoculated a cow with a vaccine from the human organism to study its effect —this being the recognised form of treatment in humans. Until recently Mr Smith’s name was not. disclosed, for the simple reason that he was 'a civil servant and therefore not allowed to engage in outside practice. However, he resigned from the Government service #n'd was supported in a similar capacity under the Waikato Hospital Board, which gave him every encouragement and its full authority to busy himself in this great work. PRINCIPLE OF VACCINE. The principle of a vaccine treatment is perfectly simple. The genu, known as “streptococcus mastiditis,” is taken from the affected quarter, cultivated into millions in the laboratory, killed, and is then injected into the blood stream of the animal. The action of the blood is. to devour these killed germs, giving off anti-bodies, thereby setting up an immunity against the disease. In other vyords, an artificial immunity is set up, and this is based on the recognised soundest principles of acquired immunity, but the greatest point of immunity is not. realised until some time after inoculation.

Jn tlie ordinary course of events a natural, immunity against a disease is brought about by succeeding generations acquiring the disease, bill this takes years to achieve. For instance T.B. has decreased 10 per cent, during the past 50 years owing to human l>eings working up an immunity against it. 11l 2000 rears we will probably have no epidemics of influenza. 'Of course there is no such thing as an absolute immunity against any disease. Research had invariably shown that odd cases are likely to.occur. Even alter cows are inoculated they cannot safely be brought into contact with massed in lection of the disease. If a man were inoculated. If a man were inoculated against typhoid it would still be possible to give him the disease by allowing him to drink large quantities of typhoid germs. Ordinary precautions must still he taken, hut the vaccine is a great help in assisting cows to ward off attacks. IMMUNITY INSTEAD OF CURE. For three years Mr Smith lias been working on this vaccine. At first he made the same mistake as many others, for if you will refer to a leaflet published by Dr. Reakes in 1916 you will find that vaccine treatment had been applied by the Agricultural Department at that time. No hopeful results had then been obtained. The Department had tried to cure cows suffering from contagious mammitis with vaccine, but they did not succeed. It then occurred to Mr Smith that it would be advisable to concentrate on giving cows of the future generations immunity from the disease. Cows inoculated hv him three years ago have so l'ar proved immune from contagious mammitis, and cows inoculated two years ago have also remained immune. PERIOD OF IMMUNITY:

\Yc do not know for how long a period immunity can he given. The greatest length of tune over which the treatment has been tried lias been three years, hut if immunity for any time at all can be given, the treatment is well worthy of a trial. One of the most difficult things with which a bacteriologist must contend is the isolation of the exact germ which causes the disease. In the (irst vaccine used by Mr

Smith on Mr Church’s herd four different organisms were used, but by careful elimination and research he lias reduced l his to one geiffn, the '‘streptococcus mastiditis,” which is Hie actual germ causing tills particular form of mammitis. and it is this perfected vaccine—l mean perfected as near as itis humanly possible—which we are now using. Science has proved that curing a disease with a vaccine is a long and tedious process. Except in very' rare instances, it- would not- be worth while to expend the money entailed. In Mr Smith’s first experiments it was necessary in some cases to give as many as six inoculations. However, from the experience gained by him. he has found what he considers the correct dosages to give immunity against the disease, and this is our objective. MODERNITY COMPELS CARE. In 200 years time there will probably be no such thing as contagious mammitis. It must be remembered that it is only in comparatively recent times that cows have been required to do more in the way of milk production than was intended by nature. It is only within a few years that milking machines, butter-fat producing lecords, and intensive cultivation have been adopted. The more artificial the conditions become the move care should he taken of tile animals that are being milked. In short, we have to compensate the animals for wliat they aredoing for. us by looking after them. We have a duty to perform to them as well as to the ‘farmers generally. Contagious mammitis is the worst of udder troubles, and it is our duty, if possible, to free the animals from this trouble. Laboratory tests taken by the Agricultural Department show that 43 per cent, of the udder infections among cows are caused by contagious mammitis, while 57 per cent, are due to all sorts of other udder troubles. It should be remembered that this vaccine will not treat everything from which a cow may be suffering. We believe we can give cows immunity and relief from contagious mammitis. To assist, you must keep your cows in good condition.

INOCULATION AN INSURANCE, It must be considered that inoculation is in the nature of insurance. You insure your house against fire, so why not insure your herd against this awful disease? You do not wait until your house is on fire before attempting to insure it, so why wait until disease attacks your herd? Inoculate your cows while they are clean, and you liave a good chance of keeping the disease off your farm. When there was a. smallpox scare a few years ago it was not the affected persons but the general public who were treated with vaccine. VACCINE NON-INJURJOTJS. We can guarantee nothing. In this business you are banking in good iaitli and the reputation ol tne men betnnd n, Tiie one tiling, pernaps, that we can guarantee is that the vaccine can have no injuries effect on tile cows. This is fully borne out by the Government, who are tlic farmers sponsors, tor it would have been tlieir duty to issue a manifesto advising larmers not to allow their herds to ue clone had they ally suspicion -that its effects would be harmful.

Mr Smith learned his business from Mr E. \V. Allen, a lending Harley Direct (London.) specialist, with whom he worked for two years. lie then continued his training m New Zealand, and is regarded as one ol the coming bacteriologists in the country. it is a mail with a reputation like that who is making the vaccine. Every scrap of vaccine used is thoroughly tested by him before if is sent out. of the laboratory. Only the other day a quantity ol vaccine sufficient to, inoculate 3600 cows developed a cloud. Mr Smith was a little doubtful of it, and ho poured the whole lot down the sink. That in itself shows how conscientious ho is.

The principle of the vaccine is similar to the T-A.Jb, No. 1 and No. 2 which Were given ,to soldiers during the war to give them immunity.against typhoid, it should be pointed out that some humans do not respond to a vaccine, •and it is a tact that a certain number, of troops actually- contracted typhoid after they had been inoculated. The same thing may apply to cows. That is -the reason why we do not claim a cure. You cannot claim everything with a vaccine. I might state in passing that we have conducted blood tests with cows before and after inoculation, and the blood shows a similar reaction -as the blood of humans inoculated with anti-typhoid vaccine. The inoculation has no harmful effect upon the cow's; they- do- not even lose a chew of the cud. The idea of giving .the .first dose, which is smaller than the second two, is to sensitise The system and prepare the cow for the others. The aim of Mr Smith’s tutor (Mr R, IV. Allen) was to give the maximum amount of organism ’ with the minimum amount of reaction, and this is effected by dividing the doses. FAY6URABLE PERIOD.

It is generally during the off season, when the mammary glands are resting, that the mammitis germ remains dorma»t t but when the cow comes in she quite often has contagious- mammitis, the disease then becoming manifest as the mammary glands are working at high, pressure. If tlie vaccine is injected during the off season the blood of the cow has a much better chance of absorbing the vaccine and the cow is more likely to come in fit and well. - When the sponge of the udder is completely gone it- is impossible for the cow to come hack sound in that quarter. You do not lock a stable door after the horse is gone; you lock it before the horse can go. iiy inoculation before the disease reaches your cows you have a chance of keeping them free from contagion. Should you wish to: know for certain whether your cows are suffering from the disease, all you have to do is to send samples of the milk to Wallaceville laboratry, Wellington, and a report will he returned free, of charge. The point I wish to stress is this: We have not had absolutely definite proof of a- case where a cow that has been absolutely free from this tlisease before lias contracted it since inoculation. We have had cows that have had contagious. mammitis before that have had a recurrence of it after inoculation, but the attack has never been so severe, and the cows have become {ipparently sound after a few weeks. * A METHOD OF INFECTION.

An experience after, a few years ago on. a training, farm, where a number of cows were infected, shows that' contagious mammitis is picked up from the ground. Some wet sacks were drawn over the ground under some pine trees where Hie cows hail been in the habit of lying, and when the sacks acre examined they were found to contain mammitis germs. This shows that once it is on tlie farm it is terribly hard to stamp out —hence the value of immunising the herd. Great care is taken by our staffs to minimise the risk of carrying infection from one herd to another. Every cow is painted with iodine on tlie skin where the needle is inserted. Tlie inoculation is usually given behind the shoulder, hut any spot will do, as it is only a matter of getting the vaccine under the skin so that it finds its way into the blood stream. Aif apparatus

it; sterilised between, each {arm and a new needle is used for each herd. •Since December 2(i last, when the New Zealand Herald' announced our experiments, we have received hundreds ol' letters form alj parts of New Zealand from people inquiring about our vaccine, and they are still pouring in, Some of these fetters are heart-break-ing. One man with a herd of 50 cows had purchased no fewer than 123 cows to replace those that have been discarded owing to contagious mannnitis during the past three years. LOSSES IN PRODUCTION. The great point to be considered in the benefit the vaccine is giving is the question of loss of- production. It lias been assessed by a conservative statistician that New Zealand loses £1,000,000 annually from the loss of revenue through impure milks, caused principally by contagious mammitis. This —in conjunction with the ravages this disease makes in the herd (and experience has shown that it is always the heaviest milkers that are affected), and the time spent daily in applying external applications to’ reduce the disease —shows how greatly farmers will benefit when we achieve our objective, which is to minimise the risks of epidemics of this disease, and 1 venture to say that if we receive your support New Zealand will he fairly free from contagions mammitis in the years to come. Think of the legacy you are giving to posterity. I do not pose as an authority on matters of science, nor do I claim any veterinary knowledge, hut we are most fortunate (and in this I include you) jii having a gentleman of Mr. Smith’s knowledge and reputation behind these researches and experiments. All I have attempted to do in response to your invitation to-night is to place before non facts relating to our bona tides," the origin of this vaccine, experiments carried out, and results. No doubt you are aware that we have several field staffs and are going at high pressure inoculating. To date some 22,000 cows have been done, and there nre bookings for some 22,000 more, and we are being inundated with inquiries from all over the Dominion, Australia, and even as far as the Argentine. Though we would have preferred to start a little later with our held work, we felt that the pressure oi requests, from farmers was too great to defer it • any longer. and so decided, though at great expense, to get right to work, GOVERNMENT CO-OPERATION In this connection the Government are co-operating with us in doing experiments at Wraltaceville and Ruakura. They anticipate it will be two years before they are in a position to give their verdict. The nature of the tests at Ruakura are as follows : The Government have bought ten cows, which by testing they have found to be free from contagious mammitis. These have been inoculated with our vaccine. These are being milked with another ten which are badly infected, the idea being to see whether the ten clean cows remain free from infection next calving season, and we are. confidently of the opinion that- they will. Anyone is free' to watch the tests at Ruakura, and the Government will be pleased to- give any information on the point. In this matter we are assisting the Government bv collecting scientific data ourselves. We have been in touch with most herds' that have been done, and next season we intend to forward to every farmer who has had his cows inoculated a card to be completed and: returned to us. giving lull particulars, both favourable and adverse, of ill© effect on his cows. We do not consider our liability ceases when we have colloid, ed payment. When 200,000 cows have geeii done we hope to have sullicieut .data available materially to assist the Government in making tlieu* pronouncement. f, venture to way that in- no other country in the world ha« such an ambitious project of inoculating: cows by the thousands ever been launched. We have, constantly been asked why th© Government -has not- taken over the vaccine and made its use compulsory, -ant* /there >s usually the idea conveyed that 'administration should be gratis. However, gentlemen, I ask you. would it be wfc all likely that they ioukl do this before they have tested it out? You must remember we are the foremost dairying country in. the world, arid the eyes of the world look to us in these matters. It is the bounden duty of the Government to use the ; most stringent tests -.before they set their seal on it. Dr. Reakes

say® this cannot be done under two years. We had to be satisfied with our tests before we .put the vaccine on t(he market, and the Government must be absolutely satisfied with theirs before they can give their unqualified approval. SYSTEM AND CONDITIONS. Concluding his address, Mr. Day outlined the system of condition and treatment as follows: If farmers will organise a district or territory, and obtain 2000 cows, ■or more, we will start inoculating. The only exception made in this rule

being the case .of a farmer milking for town supply. Other islolated herds cannot be done. There are three inoculations at weekly intervals, and the work is carried out on the respective farms. We insist on all female stock on the farm to be milked next season' being treated. We hope to have, arrangements completed next season to do any odd animals that may have been added to the herds treated this season. Our charge of os per bead, payable at the third inoculation, is as low, as «e can possibly do the work, commensurate with efficient service, as our travelling expenses, etc., are high and we engage only men of undoubted reputation and ability to undertake the work. Our aim is to conduct the business in a dignified and up to date manner, and we claim that it is in no way allied to the usual quackery canvassing with which you are so pested. A general discussion followed the address, and a number of questions ■were answered by Mr. Day and Mr. Pbillipps. Replying to a query a<s to whether contagious mammitis and the complaint known, as gargets were closely allied, Mr. Day said there was no relation between the two. The latter was ■ caused by a distinct organism, though a cow* affected with gargets migjht be regarded as having a predisposition to contract contagious mammitis. The only certain, method of ascertaining whether or hot an animal wa.s affected with, the- disease was by lab oratorical examination of the milk. Would treatment of a cow insu;e iimmunity, to its ,subsequent 1 offspring was another question to which Mr. Day replied that wait could not bo definitely assured, though, as the calf wouild- naturally have the same blood cha-ractcristies as its treated dam, it was quite feasible that the .former might remain immune.

Mr. Day further .said it was absolutely necessary th.pt every omv ou the farm .should be treated, in i lust ration of which he quoted a.s an analog}- the uselessnessi of trying to clear land of noxious weeds by exterminating the growth in, patches only. In reply to a - question as to. whether 00w.9 affected would come in- all right

the year following treatment, it was stated that absolute cure was not claimed, although it - was sincerely believed that immunity from attack would be given- provided the cow had not previously been affected. Treatment, however, would improve the condition oi’ affected. animals, and, if the sponge was not too- far gone, it was quite -likely -that the cow would comein all right after inoculation. Asked; if ho knew of a, case of an affected quarter subsequently becoming perfect!v normal. Mr. Day replied in~the affirmative, and amongst other, instances cited one of a- cow with one affected quarter being treated, after which 'it wa.si impossible to- detect any difference- between it atid the other normal quarters. . . . The definite maximum period of mini unity was not vet known, but- examination of cows; treated three years ago /showed that they,"were still liccfrom contagion. Answering further questions, Mr. Day and Mr. Phillipps explained thatthe disease.- took the form of an. epidemic, and there was no knowing where it would strike, an instance being given in which an -absolutely clean herd kept-' under unusually clean Conditions ' had been stricken. There wore many ways by which infection could be carried, pne of the most common, being by means of hay or straw brought in from infected areas. The treatment of heifers in calf was essential, and, was insisted upon when henls were- being inoculated, though, as the mammary glands were not futnlctioning before the heifer commenced springing, treatment was only necessary after that time. Further, it would be inadvisable previously, as it would-lessen by a. season the maximum period ,of immunity. COMMITTEE FORMED. On the conclusion of.the discussion, it was unanimously decided, upon the motion of - Messrs. R. D. Dagg and J. Gardner, to - form, a committee to organise a-. Iv!a po ng at girbulp and arrange for the treatment -of herds in the district. Messrs. J. Gardner (Riverlea), A. L. Hooper and L. Holland (M’alide). a,ml D. P. F. Malone and R. Grace (Ka.ponga) were appointed to the committee, and owners whose herds aggregated over 1000 heati made application for treatment.

AT HA. WEE A. A GOOD MEETING, The meeting of farmers heid at the A. and I*, rooms on Monday was well attended, farmers being present from all. parts of the district. Mr E. A. Washer was gin 1 the chair, and he briefly introduced Messrs - Day and Phillipps to the meeting. „ At the, conclusion of the address by Mr Day questions were invited. In reply, Mr Day said be could not guarantee a cure, but a cure had been effected in numbers of cases. ■ They did claim that the-remedy gave immunity. He said the -only unfailing way to prove if there was contagious mammitis was by bacteriological, examination. .Symptoms w-eye high temperature generally and heat in the udcler. The presence of :a.. hard quarter without a shivering might or might not, be the diseasd. He knew of cases of burst udder which were not contagious mammitis, and emphasised that low condition generally always tended to make cows more liable to pick it up. It was always found that the bug of germ affected the blood as well as the milk. Shivering was generally a sign. Mr Day said that this year huge numbers of cows came in with swollen quarters, and this treatment gave great relief. Mammitis- attacked different cows in various ways, and immunity might be secured in either a natural or an artificial way. They gave the latter to the animal by their treatment.• He said that the idea, was to keep cow's- free by maintaining them in the very best condition.’ The disease might come in by a dog, on straw, or lay milkers handling! affected cows. The theory of the experts was that immunity was passed oil to the calf. In reply to a, question as to the possibility of. the disease being passed on by the bull as it might be passed on from cow to-calf, Mr. Day said it was a nice point that had not ' yet been, raised, and he would look into it carefully. He stressed the point that, although it would not cure all cases, it was- really an insurance, and that udder troubles were a fine breeding

"round, 'and a- low .condition w o til cl tend to- make a cow liable to attack. Tlio longest te&ts they hs-cl. nmdc was three years ago, and in most of those the cows were free from trouble. »~o far’they had experimented our hundreds only,. • and they wanted longer time and more cases to give definite proof. The. best time to treat the cows was just before coming in, and he believed it would give immunity to the calf. They did not like doing calve-, as it was little use inoculating before the mammary glands were mature. . It would not injure the calf at all. Even if there was no appearance of the disease they believed it- was wise to treat •them because they believed in keeping clean- stock clean. The process was ’/similar to blackleg treatment, except that they gave the cows the germs dead and saved the blood th© trouble of killing them. Dealing with the -very practical part of the business, Mir. Day said that they required 2000 cows in a group, because they had to practise .economy in the men’s time, and only by cooperation with tiie farmers were they able to carry out the work at so low a figure. . .They could do parts' of any district within t?n miles of a- centre. They must have also all the female stock on the farm to he milked during the coming season. They could arrange later to do any additions to the herds. The men employed were well experienced in handling stock quietly and efficiently.

As a result of an informal canvass between 1000 and 2000 cows were promised, and arrangements were made to appoint a committee and convenor to form a group. - On the motion of Mr. Sutherland a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Messrs Day and Phillipps,. and on MiDay’s motion a similar vote to the chairman. The latter said that any use at all could be made of the society’s hall, in connection with the scheme. This concluded the meeting.