HYDATID DISEASE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24249, 15 April 1942, Page 7

HYDATID DISEASE

PREVALENCE IN CANTERBURY ' HUMAN BEINGS AND STOCK The prevalence of hydatids in Canterbury, not only in stock, but also in human beings, has been discussed recently by two authorities, Sir Louis Barnett, chairman of the Hydatid Committee, and Mr. E. E. Elphick, superintendent of the livestock division of the Department of Agriculture in Christchurch. Sir Louis Barnett, in a recent interview, said it was generally known that hydatid cysts were common among farm animals in all parts of New Zealand. but Canterbury appeared to be far worse in this respect than any other district. Mr. Elphick. a keen worker, who had paid special attention to hydatid disease and its prevention, had noted that, the sheep, young and old, sent to the freezing works in Can- - terbury, were infected to an extraordinarily high degree, ranging from 60 per cent to 100 per cent. "It is, of course easy, but it may be unjust, to say that the Canterbury farmers are more neglectful than those in other parts' of the Dominion in carrying out the two main preventive precautions that have been so consistently advocated," said Sir Louis. "I refer to the regular dosing of dogs with efficient and reasonably safe worm medicine, such as arecoline, and the withholding of raw offal, liver and lungs, of sheep,as food for dogs." As further evidence of the special prevalence of hydatid infection in the Canterbury district, Sir Louis Barnett quoted the following comparative tallies for, recent years of the admission of patients suffering from hydatid disease to the four main base hospitals:— Auck. Wgt-n. Dunedin Chcb. Three years end- \ -ing 1940 20 25 25 69 ■\,Three years ending 1937 14 24 27 84 Tl. six years 34 49 52 153