ANIMAL HEALTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23181, 29 October 1938, Page 14

ANIMAL HEALTH

ELIMINATING DISEASE IMPORTANCE OF WORK THE NEED FOR CO-OPERATION EARNEST APPEAL Tp FARMERS [ny TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] HAMILTON, Friday Reference to two destructive animal diseases was made by the GovernorGeneral, Viscount Galway, in officially opening the Waikato Royal Show this afternoon. His Excellency warmly commended the campaign inaugurated by the Department of Agriculture and centred at the Ruakura State Farm for tho study and prevention of facial eczema, and made an earnest appeal to farmers to co-operate with the Government in the eradicating of hydatids in the Dominion. , Tho maintenance of healthy livestock had a direct bearing on tho health of the people, .paid Lord Galway: He was particularly pleased to hear of the activities at Ruakura, in which he understood the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, had solicited the co-operation of local organisations, with the result that advisory and management committees of competent persons were joining with the department to ensure that Ruakura, as regards staff and equipment, took its place as an animal and health station in keeping with the importance of tho Dominion's livestock industries.

Comprehensive Programme The Government fully recognised the seriousness of the position in regard to facial eczema, especially as it affected Waikato farmers, who had been the heaviest losers. The Minister had informed him that the programme at Ruakura and out-stations in tho Waikato was, perhaps, the most comprehensive pieco of work ever undertaken in New Zealand.. Tho team of workers consisted of veterinary officers, chemists and pasture experts, under the direct supervision of a ■ local committee. ■ All NewZealand would wish them every success, ■ Need for Urgent Action Referring to hydatids, Lord Galway recalled that at the opening' of last year's Royal Show at Palmerston North he had urged the immediate need for action to eradicate tho disease or, at any rate, arrest its spread. "In New Zealand," he continued, "thero are approximately 30,000,000 .sheep and approximately 150,00Q dogs, and when it is remembered that a large number of sheep and one-third of our country dogs are affected by the disease, the need for urgent action will be apparent. Moreover, during ]936 thero were in our hospitals 136 patients suffering from hydatids.

Treatment ol Dogs "Now, is there any reason why we should tolerate this parasitical malady any longer? Last session the Government brought down legislation under which dog owners are held responsible for treating their dogs periodically, but unfortunately, owing to the fact that there was not a sufficient quantity of suitable tablets in the Dominion, it was necessary tg postpone enforcement of the Act until early next year. "The necessary directions for tho treatment of dogs have already been issued,' and I take this opportunity of appealing to all dog owners to co-oper-ato' with the Government in an earnest endeavour to stamp out this malady, which is causing so much sickness and suffering, loss of life and economic loss. Special Appeal to Women

"In particular I would like to appeal to the wives of owners of dogs to help us," continued Lord Galway, "as so much can be done by them if they only interest themselves in the care and supervision of the dogs. "If they would make sure dogs are given the prescribed dose once every three months, that clean bedding and clean water are always provided, and, above all things, that dogs are not fed on raw offal, then a very definite step forward would be taken to»eradicato the pest, and this surely would be a very small premium to pay to safeguard the health of children." Exhibit at Royal Show

Lord Galway's remarks served to support propaganda already being carried on at tho show by tho Department of Agriculture, which, in its very comprehensive exhibit, has a section dealing with the prevention of hydatids. The display drives home its message in a startling Medical School chart showing tho ravages of the disease in the body. Dr. E. W. Bennett, hydatids research officer at the school, gave demonstrations to-day of the procedure in treating dogs against hydatids, and these attracted * many onlookers. Dr. Bennett said later that he found farmers were taking a real interest in the matter and he believed tho educative campaign would produce effective results.