ANTHRAX AND CANCER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12564, 19 January 1903, Page 6

ANTHRAX AND CANCER.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin,—Anthrax having been imported with bones for manure, T. would like to know if the health authorities havo taken into consideration the likelihood of the spread of cancer by the freo use of bone manures that now exist in the cultivation of turnips on which the sheep are finished in their fattening, and on which the dairy cows are fed during the winter. If a' cancerous beast is killed and its offal and bones are converted into manures to grow turnips, which aro fed off by stock, is there not just a likelihood of the stock (or some of them) picking up a particle of diseased matter that may causo a cancerous disease? I am certain that s-ince the practice of using artificial manures commence:! cancer has heon on tho increase in this country, and I believe that there is Sot the same percentage of cases of cancer in the back blocks, where beef and mutton are fed on their natural food (grass), as there is in the agricultural country and in the large towns, where most of the meat used is finished off on turnips or rape-, forced by artificial manures. I am quito confident that there are manures sold and sown to make plant food that must contain many disease germs which are most dangerous to both man and beast. Why, if a diseased, animal on the farm is killed, it generally goes to the dr.ng heap, or may be buried juct deep enough to clear tho plough share. For safety all diseased stock when killed should be cremated. As we sow, so shall we reap. Hoping this may be tho cause of some consideration'by the Health Department.— I am,.etc., AV.