COMPLETE SURVEY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23026, 2 May 1938, Page 12

COMPLETE SURVEY

SUGGESTION BY FAKMER MICROBE INFECTION FEARED SYSTEMATIC RESEARCH A complete survey throughout the country—district by district and farm by farm —and a comprehensive comparison of conditions is advocated as the first stage of research into the facial eczema epidemic by a prominent sheep farmer possessing a largo holding near • Auckland in a letter to the Herald Ho mentions the possible importance of svmptoms of jaundice in affected sheep. * "I cannot agree with those who maintain that the so-called facial eczema is only a result of the disarrangement of the natural balance of chemical constituents of food, duo to unusual climatic conditions and a lush growth of feed," he states. "Nor can I agree entirelr with those who blamo the presence of ergot on rye grass or paspalum. It seems that systematic inquiry into the incidence of the disease will provide the clue a 9 to its nature and causes, hut I can see, so far, little evidence of this. "By systematic research, I mean a thorough investigation throughout the whole country and a tabulation of the nature of the pasture on the infected farms and also on those which have ' escaped. In the case ,of infected farms, ! it should be ascertained if sheep have been takfen there from infected farms or infected districts. So far as I can discover, no such inquiry has been made from any farmer in. the whole of the county in which I live, although several have infected flocks." Recent Development There had been sea'sons of growth equally luxuriant, but little or nothing was heard of the present plague until the last few years, tho correspondent continues. This fact, coupled with his own experience, leads him to belies e that, in spite of what is said to tho contrary, facial eczema is a disease caused bv microbes and transmitted, from animal to animal. Another name for this disease appears to be sheep "The 6 use of the word jaundice recalled to me the prevalence of a disease that was very common among troops in the Great War." he continues At first it was thought to be brought oil bv improper diet, but when it became prevalent research showed that it was caused by a germ. X have discussed this phase of the question two medical men, who were both of tho opinion that facial eczema could also well be caused by a germ. One. twio had actually contracted the disease thought to be jaundice while on bailipoli, referred to the similarity in this trouble and the present ailment among stock. . .

Quarantine Advised

"The doctor advised me to quarantine mv farm to prevent any possibility of infection and to avoid contagion from wandering dogs which he suspected to be carriers of the disease In addition, I baye had a talk with an overseas agricultural expert '! e is: definite in his opinion that this sheep scourge is contagious anrl as nuicn a menace as foot-and-mouth disease.. As an and mcxjiensive precaution, the correspondent suggests that all saleyard pens should be regularly disinfected, together with lorries used for transporting sheep. "It certainly has not been proved that the disease is not contagious, he says. "If the epidemic wanes with the colder weather it does not mean that it will not recur or that the need for precautions and research has vanished. The Government could easily mobilise 200 or 300 competent farmers or other qualified persons to make, a rapid survey of conditions and the information gained could be tabulated for future reference."

LACK OF VITAMIN F EXCESS OF CHLOROPHYLL AUCKLAND EXPERIMENTS GOOD RESULTS REPORTED A survey of experiments conducted in recent weeks in Auckland, which suggested that an excess of chlorophyll, or colouring matter, in the grass and ft lack of vitamin F in feed might he a prime cause,of facial eczema in sheep, was given by Dr. G. B. Chapman, speaking in the Town Hall last night at a meeting organised bv the New Zealand Women's Food A alue League. Vitamin F was a comparatively new vitamin which was found in whole grains. Dr. Chapman explained. The Auckland investigator had treated mice with chlorophyll, and they had developed the characteristic conditions of facial eczema. However, when they were treated with vitamin F, plus one of its elements, a cure was effected. The work was then extended to a flock of 200 sheep, of which 80 or 90 head were severe sufferers, and an excellent result had been reported. Dr. Chapman said that chlorophyll, which was tho colouring matter in green plants, had a tremendous affinity for fats, and, in drawing and _ excreting these from the blood stream, it brought on an eczema condition. \ itamin I', however, had the effect of breaking down the chlorophyll when it reached tho stomach and allowed it to bo absorbed before it caused harm. Dr. Chapman agreed that other factors might play a port in causing the disease. However, he had been informed that in tho flock in which the experiments had been carried out from 10 to 30 sheep had been affected each day before the treatment was applied. Now the number was reduced to one or two and there had been uo further deaths He mentioned that the peculiar season had resulted in the pasture being kept cropped, and, as a result of its not going to seed, there had been an excess of chlorophyll without an intake of vitamin F. _ Another speaker at the meeting. Dr. Ulric Williams, agreed that the cause of facial eczema would be found in vitamin and mineral deficiencies in the soil, intensified by artificial manures. Another factor which should not be omitted was the poisoning of the pastures by ergot.