LECTURE BY GOVERNMENT VETERINARIAN.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 227, 29 September 1902, Page 4

LECTURE BY GOVERNMENT VETERINARIAN.

HEREDITARY' UNSOUNDNESS IN

HORSES.

The lecture delivered in E wart's Hall on Saturday afternoon by Mr Reakes, Assistant Chief Veterinarian, was largely attended, fully 250 farmers being present. It was at the instance of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association that the meeting was arranged, and Mr R. Bell, President of that body, was in the chair, while members of the Committee occupied seats on the platform. The lecturer succeeded in gaining the close interest of his audience, and the meeting was a thoroughly successful one. Mr Reake opened by saying that he had selected the subject of hereditary unsoundness in horses as being an appropriate one for consideration in connection with the horse parade that had taken place that day. The subject was one of great importance, and did not receive at the hands of the general body of horse owners the attention that it deserved e There was far too much hereditary unseundness in the colony; and this wa3 due principally to the criminal carelessness of stockowners in not taking sufficient trouble to see that the horses from which they bred were sound. It did not necessarily follow that in all cases the progeny of a sire or mare affected by a hereditary disease revealed the same defect; but it was born with a predisposition to the unsoundness of the parent or parents. Mr Reakes then went on to describe in detail a number of the more common of the hereditary diseases, dealing particularly with ringbone, sidebone, bone spavin, roaring, navicular disease, fibroid, growths, and bad hoof. Ringbone, he said, was very prevalent in the colony—a fact which was not thoroughly realised until the question of buying horses for South Africa was tackled. The lecturer dealt with this and the other diseases mentioned in interesting style, showing how they were to be detected and explaining the proper treatment. Bad hooves, he said, were an unsoundness worthy of serious consideration, and horse owners should be very careful in examining the feet of sires and mares before breeding from them. In the event of the compulsory examination of stallions this should certainly be included in the schedule of hereditary diseases. In his general remarks Mr Reakes impressed upon his audience the necessity of exercising tke closest of care in the selection of breeding stock. In his travels through New Zealand he had come, into contact with a large number of entire horses, and he had seen as good horses as there were in the world ; but at the same time he had seen some " thundering bad ones." (Laughter). He thought that ©n the whole there was a bigger proportion of real bad and useless stallions in this colony than in most other countries in which he had had the opportunities of seeing enough 3tock to form a reliab c opinion. The proportion was far too great. As for some of the stud horses (draught), lie questioned whether, if they were made geldings, they would briug more than £25 in a sale yard ; and some of the stallions as hacks would probably not fetch £15. This was a state of things they should all try and improve. The Bill before the House this session was framed with this end in view, but it was put aside for the present; the Stock Committee thinking that it would be wise to have the question more thoroughly thrashed out before such legislation was enacted. There was no question as to the necessity of the measure; the difficulty was as to the methods of procedure and enforcement ; and the desire to thrash the matter out thoroughly was not unreasonable. Copies oi the Bill and the evidence taken by the Stock Committee were being forwarded to the various A. and P. Associations; and he hoped that the Mariborough Association would give the matter their earnest consideration and send forward a complete expression of opinion. He only hoped that their Gliding would be what he thought should be the general decision —that the sooner an effective measure was passed the better for the country. He could quite understand that the owners of a certain class of stallions would not like to be punished. As tbe Bill presented during the ses-ion was framed, it only applied to entires under the age of three years ; but tha<- would mean that in a few years' time the stud stock tr veiling throughout the country would be free from hereditary unsoundness. Mr Reakes went on to remark that the defects transmitted to the progeny did not always come from the sires. Breeders would have to look to the dam also, ami should bo very careful in the selection of mares. It would be going too far, perhaps, to make it a crime to breed trorn unsound mares (laughter) and it had to be borne in mind that a defective sire did more damage than an unsound mare, for it was responsible for the birth of a far larger number of foals than a simrle dam ; nevertheless, breeders must look to the mares. He had known marcs who were a veritable perambulating museum of hereditary diseases —ring bone, spavin, bad feet, and a few other tilings thrown in—used without scruple for breeding purposes. Some owners of such animals, of no further use for work, say " Oh,we will get a foal from it," and think they have done a smart thing. (Laughter). That was an everyday occurrence. Then perhaps the breeder of such a foal sells it to some unfortunate buyer. It would be difficult to deal with such cases, unless, perhaps, they could be regarded in somewhat the light of the practice of obtaining money under false pretences. He had not had an opportunity of examining many stallions throughout the colony under the present condition of things; indeed he had refrained from doing so, because under existing circumstances one could hardly officially set up an interference with the owners of the many unsound horsers beinsr used for stud purposes. But recently he examined a batch of ten stallions, and was only able to pass four as being free from hereditary defect. He could not say whether this was to be .accepted as a typical case ; he was merely giving his experience ; but the locality in which he made the examination was certainly not one of the worst districts in the colony. "However," said Mr Reakes, in con elusion, "I am not pleading for the Bill ifcself, I am only pleading for the principle." (Applause).

A considerable number of questions were put to the lecturer, aud were given thorough replies.

Mr Reakea was asked what was the best preventive of bots. The best thing, he said, was to keep the horse from getting the eggs into him. (Laughter). It was known what would kill the bots, but the trouble was that what would kill them would kill the horse also. There was a certain period when the bot came away naturally. But his own opinion was that only in very rare cases did the bots cause the horse any inconvenience. (Applause) Ho was not prepared to say that a horse had never died from the effects of bots ; but there were strongly seated fallacies in connection with the pres ence of tl c bot in horses. There wore bots in nine tenths of the horses running out in the colony. Another popular fallacy was that bots eat their way through the coating of a horse's stomach. Why should the bot do this when he was quite comfortable where he was and would be out of his natural element if he remoA red himself ? Nature had so ordained it that the horse's stomach was the place where bot could live during his laryal stage of e#is>

ence, and why should the unfortunate bot be hurried and the horse troubled when the former was resting in his natural home, and the latter was quite content on the subject? (Laughter).

In reply to another question, Mr Reakes said strangles was a highly in> fectious disease, and its gr».at prevalence was largely due to the carelessness of horse owners. The lecturer also gave information as to corns, seedy toe, broken wind (which, in his opinion, began in indigestion) and other ills to which equinal flesh is heir.

Mr S. Tapp asked Mr Reakes for information as to the scheme of lectures proposed by Mr Gilruth, the Chief Veterinarian. He said that in this district we had almost cbmo to the conclusion that we had been left out in the cold, but, Mr Reakes having come over, it was pleasing to know that this was not quite the case. Could Mr Reakes give them any idea as to how the district could claim the ser vices of the veterinary stall iv this connection ?

Mr Reakes said that perhaps one reason why the veterinary surgeons had cot been seen hare more frequently was that this was one of the healthiest stock districts in the colony. He was very pleased to explain the scheme of lectures now being instituted. As they know, some sucli scheme had been under consideration during the past year or two ; and Mr Gilruth and himself were only too glad to arrange for the delivery of these lectures in various parts of the colony. It had been found, however, that in many instances the delivery of single lectures was not followed by that good result which they wished to see. It was not possible to do in the limits of one address com plete justice to the various subjects, or even a particular subject, on which it was desirable farmers should be educated ; and Mr Gilruth had in view a course of lectures which would be of a more comprehensive character. There were very few qualified veterinary surgeons practising privately in the colony, and the Government officers bad their time pretty well taken up by their departmental duties ; but it was hoped that the Department would be able to set on foot a complete course of lectures for the winter months, during which season several freezing companies were closed down and the Government officers were more free to give their attention to such a scheme. The Department did not expect to train veterinary surgeons, but hoped to be able to educate farmers, and especially farmers' sons, at least on " first aid " lines. The idea was that these lectures should be arranged by the various A. and P. Associations, which would guarantee a certain number of students. With a view to keeping up interest in these lectures, it was proposed that everyone attending (the attendance would of course not be confined to young men) should pay a fee of, say, one guinea a year to the Association. The Government did not want these fees ; they could be retained by the Associations. He thought the payment idea was a good one, as being calculated to ensure steady application on the part of the classes. Tiie young New Zealander was rather too prone to enjoy himself in his spare time —and he could not, of course, be blamed for this—but the trouble was that in many cases young fellows might come alon^ for a night or two and then fall off. A dance might be a counter attraction, a race meeting might take off his attention, or he might get tired of the lectures and waat to see his girl instead (laughter); but if a fee was charged he would be the more anxious to get his guinea's worth. A regular attendance would be necessary to obtain the full benefit of the proposed series of lectures. The scheme had been drawn up, and it was hoped, would be brought into operation shortly. " Only get us the students," said Mr Reakes, " and we will find the teachers." (Applause.)

Mr S,. Tapp brought up the question of the registration of veterinary surgeons practising privately. In different districts many persons practised as veterinarians without technical quail fication. Some knew nothing about the business, and against these stock owners needed protection. On the other hand, there were many unqualified men practising — self - taught persons, with considerable practical knowledge and experience—who did very useful work and whose services were of valuo to stock owners. These were entitled to some form of registration which would give them a defined status. Could Mr Reakes give them any idea as to what was the best process to adoot with this end in view ?

Would the Government bring in a registration Bill which would set up for the stock-owners in the smaller districts a guarantee as to the "genuine article" in the way of "vets ? "

Mr Reakes said he was fully in sympathy with Mr Tapp's ideas. He thought that some system of registr i tion was very necensary. At the presont time there was nothing to prevent a man calling himself a veterinary surgeon and even writing M.R.C.V.S. aftor his name. As far as the use of the initials was concerned, the only way to get at him was to prosecute him for obtaining money under false pretences. But as Mr Tapp had said, there were many unqualified veterinary practitioners in the colony with experience and practical knowledge (not perhaps of a highly scientific nature) who did good useful work. Putting on oae side the question of qualification, he thought that these men were entitled to registration. It wonld be better for themselves, and would be a protection for the farmers as a means of weeding out the incompetent. There were many unqualified men calling themselves veterinary surgeons who were not only incompetent, but positively dangerous; and it would be far better to leave a horse in the hands of Providence than submit it to such men. Ho had the case of a horse a few days ago which was iv a very serious condition simply on account of wrong treatment. No doubt the individual who dosed it tried to do his best, but at the same time such a state of thingn should not exist. Mr Reakes sug RRsted that some kind of test should be set up for the purposes of registration —not a highly scientific test, but some kind of examination in practical knowledge, and that any man who showed himself to be lacking in the necessary knowledge should be refused registration, and the qualified veterinary surgeon should be properly protected. I c would like to see some legislation of the kind introduced in the not too distant future. (Applause).

The Chairman spoke in approval of the scheme of lectures under the con sideration of the Government Veterinary Department, and said that he would be glad to have an expression of opinion on the question from such a well attended and representative meeting.

On tho motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Bishell, a resolution was passed imanimously expressing cordial approval of the proposed course of lectures.

A hearty vote of thanks, carried by acclamation, was accorded to Mr Reakes on the motion of Mr R. Bell, seconded by Mr F. Redwood. The latter said ho only regretted Mr Reakes did not go further and deal with other diseases, the conformation and colour of the proper stamp of horse, etc.

Mr Reakos said that it was impossible to deal satisfactorily with a whole host of subjects in one lecture, and ho did not believe in making his addresses lengthy and tedious. He had adhered to the title of his' lecture, and endeavoured to impart some practical information on most of the hereditary unsoundnesses which the recent conference of veterinary surgeons had

agreed were most deserving of attention, which he hoped would be scheduled in the event of legislation being passed.

Influenza is always mere or less prevalent at this season of the year. ' This disease is very similar to a severe cold, and if allowed to take its course is liable to cause serious results. The best treatment for influenza is to avoid exposure and take Chamberlain's Cough Remedy. This medicine gives immediate relief and if used as directed will ward off all dangerous consequences. It leaves the system in a natural and healthy condition. It always cures and cures quickly. J. Benning sells it.