AMAZING LETHARGY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22539, 2 October 1936, Page 17

AMAZING LETHARGY

DISEASE WIDESPREAI) NEGLECT OF TUBERCULOSIS PIG INDUSTRY THREATENED lIY ItOHKfIT DUNCAN" Will anything adequate ever be dono to deal with the menace ol tuberculosis in our stock? Ono asks tlx; question with a feeling somewhat akin to despair. Of the fact that it is a menace thero can be no possible doubt. In the course of a series of articles recently published in the Hkkai.d, incontrovertible evidence was advanced to show that the disease has already assumed alarming proportions, both among our dairy cattle and among our pigs. Not only is it widely recognised that tuberculosis is firmly established in the country, but it is also known that the scourge is spreading Vet no effective measures for its control appear to be even contemplated Why must we habitually temporise when faced with such difficulties, until hundreds of thousands of pounds have been lost and wellnigh irreparable damage has been done to our industries? It would almost appear that, as in the campaigns against pests — the case of the white butterfly is only one of several illuminating illustrations —and against such weeds as ragwort, we must postpone effective action until tho losses have reached a impressive figure and the enemy have so marshalled their forces and fortified their position that .a thoroughly spectacular and enormously expensive war is assured. An Alarming Position If this be the explanation of the mysterious lethargy so far displayed in dealing with bovine tuberculosis, we should not have much longer to wait for the declaration of hostilities, because the figures are rapidly mounting Recently a public statement by a wellknown New Zealand doctor was reported in tho llkuat.d, in which he declared that, even on a conservative •stimate, 20 per cent of tuberculosis the children of the Dominion was ferived from milk. In view of the facts '■hat onlv about one ner eent of tuberunions cows give tuberculous milk and that only a similar low percentage of our total supply of milk is directly con turned by drinking, the disease must hi alarmingly widespread in our herds But perhaps this threat to tho health of our children is not of sufficient inerest to awaken the concern of the commercially minded. If not, then surely even the most sluggish should spring to attention when prodded with the facts relating to the dairy industry From the measire sources of evidence already available, it is estimated that 10 per cent of all dairy cattlo in the Dominion are tuberculous. In certain areas of tho North Island the proportion ranees from 25 to 30 per cent. lhes« figures have been arrived at Irom slaughtering records. Obviously, these are most inadequate. If a thorough m■estication were made and our herds vere tuberculin-tested, it is certain that an even more disquieting situation would be revealed But the really d> turbine; feature of tho tuberculosis ricnaco is that, whatever the real figures ire. they will neither remain stationary lor will they decline. The disease is •ontagious by nature find must increase ■inless adequate measures are taken to ?heck and control it. To any thinking ran it is incredible that these facts are known, widely known and yet no effective campaign against this spreading scourge is being launched. Ravages Among Pigs But perhaps oven such facts are not sufficiently disturbing to jerk our heads quite out of tho sand in which wo appear to have buried thein. If so, a glance at tho condition of the pig industry should serve to galvanise us completely from our coma. The fact that our pork and bacon are rapidly taking a place among our major exports must make us view with grave concern tho ravages of tuberculosis in tho pig farms of this country. The percentage of animals affected is much higher than tho percentage of dairy cattlo. Reports arc constantly appearing* in the journals dealing with the industry, emphasising tho fact that an exceedingly largo number of pigs are condemned or rejected for export. So recently as August of this year, figures were published showing .that several farmers had an abnormally large number ol their pigs condemned on account of tuberculosis. In tho caso of one man tho astounding proportion of 84 pei cent was totally condemned. What is the reason of this high rate of infection? Simply that 90 per cent of our pigs are dairy-fed and are in fected from tuberculous milk, while in addition, a large number pick up tubercle bacilli frpm pastures grazed by diseased cows. In New Zealand tuberculous lesions occur mostly in th< head of the pig, showing usually in the sub-maxillary glands. This clearly indicates that the bacilli have gained entrance by way of the lining of the mouth, tho surface of the tongue or tho skin of the cheeks. The abrasionsfrequently found in these parts provide excellent opportunities for the invasion of tubercle organisms when the pig is feeding or rooting in the ground. It is noteworthy that pigs which are not dairy-fed are remarkably free from tuberculosis.

A Public Enemy It is, therefore, obvious that the tuberculous cow is a nublic enemv not only to its herd mates, but to all prospective porkers ami baconers within range. The mention of baconers reminds one of the fact that, since Great Britain can absorb 380,000 tons of bacon, as compared with 45,000 to 55,000 tons of pork per year, a very promising future lies open to New Zealand in the bacon industry. But it is precisely hero that tuberculosis will prove our most dangerous enemy. The disease alfects the baconer much more seriously than the porker In conclusion, then, if we are not sufficiently moved by the threat which bovine tuberculosis offers to the health of our children, nor by the undoubted menace of its ravages to the dairy industry, our name will become a byword for crass stupidity and wanton heedlessness if we do not arise while there is yet time and save from impending ruin the industry which oilers New Zealand the chance of the century.