The Otago Daily Times. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1909 A DISEASE AND ITS REMEDY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14702, 9 December 1909, Page 6

The Otago Daily Times. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1909 A DISEASE AND ITS REMEDY.

Disease is ono of thoso unpleasant subjects that are avoided as far as possible in the course of politp, conversation, ami medical journals hare no popularity as literature. If t-im public will take no steps to enlighten itself, however, m respect *© certain matters, it should not necessarily on that account lie left unenlightened The la-test nuuiuer of the New Zealand Medical Journal contained an article entitled "The Prophylaxis of Hydatid b y D >" Bai-nctt, of tins city, which imparts with reference to an important subject knowledge that everybody should possess and is expressed in language everybody can understand. Its educative value entitles it, indeed, to the widest publicity in the interests cf public health. With the object of giving it a larger circulation than it would otherwise receive, wo published the most material portion of it in our issue of last Thursday. Hydatid disease fortunately does not take such toll of our population as tuberculosis or

cancer do. jet ils existence is a serious and increasing cause of am | mortality that is the more to bi> deplored sinco 'ts dissemination ~oukl .seem to bo almost entirely due vo carelessness, ignorance, and the disregard of simple precautions It is not- a trivial matter that tlio statistics published by the Gove niment show that during the ten years ended in December, 1907, there were in our public hospitals alone 535 eases of hydatid disease, with sixty-sis deaths, that three-fifths of the cases belonged to the latter half of the period, showing the increasing prevalence of the disease; that tlio total number of deaths ascribed to the disease during tlio dccado was 150, and the total number of cases occurring in New Zealand in tlwt time, 011 ;i careful estimate, considerably over ICOO. , Furthermore, it is stated, and tha conclusion is based on the estimates of veterinary authorities, that hydatid disease has become so common among stock animals in New Zealand that if tlie.se live for a few years they are almost certain to be attacked by it, Fortunately, tlio ilesh of the animals thus affected is jiot impaired us food,, and it is only 111 extreme cases that- a carcase has to bo condemned as unfit for consumption owing to evidence of the presence of this disease in the organs of tlio animal. A\o can quite understand, however, why I> Barnett lays stress on the fact that fear of a scare and of injury to tho meat industry lias been bar to the publication «if the tacts, although ho feels confident that tho scheme of prevention, the prophylaxis he lias 111 view, will, if carried out, enlighten tho public, control the disease, <tnd do good rather than harm to the industry concerned. His conclusion would seem to bo thoroughly justified. Tho circuniatance that Australia and tho Argentine aro similarly circumstanced with New Zealand with regard to tho existence of hydatid disease does not .justify the Dominion in neglecting to employ such [ preventive measures as may be necessary. The effect t-hr.it can be achieved by such vneans in the case of stock has been well demonstrated in Germany

We come, however, to Dr Baniett's recommendations for fighting the disease. It cannot be too clearly understood that the dog is the chief agent in the dissemination of hydatids, and that its power for evil in tins direction can be reduced 1 to a minimum by the exercise of a little care on, the part of man. The practico which obtains at present particularly on farms and stations,' of allowing dugs to feed freely on raw offal is the chief source of the fresh infection of these animals with hydatid tapeworm The laxity that is shown in this matter is really woeful when it is considered that it. is from the dog that the disease is communicated to man and to other animals. Drßarnett enumerates a number of other simple preventive measures against hydatid; disease, such as the destruction of unregistered and useless dogs; the guarding of nil reseiToirs and their catchment areas against the intrusion of dogs, the keeping ot dogs in their place—that is to say. outside the house, and never allowing them to lick: the hand or face or plate. o ir dishes in genera) use; the boiling or filtering of all water used for drinking purposes and the exercising of care in washing imcooksd vegetables, and tlio treatment of dogs with a view + o the eradication of tho disease Again, a* the most, important- consideration u ; tlio campaign against this disease is the enlightenment of the layman respecting its peculiarities, Dr Barnett .suggests a number of measures that- might bo taken to convey information on the subject to those most concerned These includo the erection 111 a prominent position at every railway station and 1 siding m tlio .Dominion of a, largo illustrated placard indicating 1 clearly the prevalence of hydatid disease us nature, the manner of its dissemination, and tlio men,iw that ought to be taken to prevent infection, and the distribution ot leaflets and instruction oil tlio subject, .m th« State schools. Fur tho steps which, with tho co-operation of the Otago Division of the New Scsiiswl Branch of the British Medical Association, -lift i<; taking to bring this ianttwr prominently before the public and iwider the notice of the (loveniment Dr Barnett is «ntil!e,[i to the thanks ot t| m community Wo only ,'egret that' 'fhfe unenviable distinction that belongs to Otago of being pTe-eminent as regards hydatid orevalenco in the various provinces should he a- reason why medical men in this district should take a lead in this matter. It is particularly desirable that those members of the community chiefly interested ,n agricultural and pastoral pursuits should have their attention forcibly drawn to the danger of' hydatid infection and the way to avoid it, for the majority of tho?p. who incur the disease, which, where not fatal, usually neccissitates a long period of enforced idleness, aw otherwise healthy young men and ivmnen belonging to tho country districts and engaged in rural pursuits.