FACIAL ECZEMA EPIDEMIC

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4043, 4 May 1938, Page 11

FACIAL ECZEMA EPIDEMIC

SOME OB 1 THE PROBABLE CAUSES. PREVENTION AND CURE. Mr H. A. Lurman, a well known farmer of Rangiatea, Otoronanga, forwards the following valuable contribution regarding the outbreak of eczema among sheep: It is pleasing to note that facial eczema is not looked upon as a contagious disease, as this brings us a step forward in solving human, stock and plant diseases; it proves the contention that most sicknesses are oi dietetic origin, which is a very important factor, and though it may be costly, it may prove none too soon that it is a wonderful object lesson to us all. We have stock suffering all over the country from the same symptoms, through the same cause—minuses and pluses of minerals or of wrong food combination. To my way of thinking there are three probable causes, or perhaps a combination of the three: No. 1: Short young grass, which we have been taught to grow, particu larly rye grass grown with artificial manures, especially super; this grass carries a 20 per cent protein content, which is far in excess of the requirements of the animals pasturing on same. This over-plus of protein and surplus of acid formed in process ol the digestion of such food, was not caused in the last month only, but in all probability over the last eight months or more—in other words, the season has been most favourable for short grass, and during the last flush saturation point was reached —the last straw. LIKE HUMAN BEINGS. The reason that some stock are prone to disease whilst others seem immune is obvious—similar to human beings, some will eat what tickles their palates, whilst others eat what is good for them. I will venture to say that the present outbreak is only another instalment of penalty through our folly or ignorance in breaking the laws of cbmpensation; similar to the penalties we have received in the past, in the shape of mastitis, milk fever, vaginitis, blackleg and fed water, etc., with no assurance of what the future may hold in store for us. But let us hope that science may spare us from the dread of foot and mouth disease. Protein takes hydrochloric acid in its initial stage of digestion, yet the blood stream has to be alkaline and the saline constituency- of sea water: how then is this condition possible if we continue to feed ourselves on acidproducing foods. At this point we meet most of our diseases amongst humans and stock. The factor being that when acids manufactured by the body are allowed to remain unneuteralised, caused through some failure in life’s process, they invar iably attack the tissues or cells of the body, thus producing results known as acidosis, and eczema is caused by the tissues and the red and white corpuscles in the blood stream being attacked or conditions made so that they cannot live. Remove the conditions and recovery is possible if it has not been left too late. The acid seems to congest the liver, which is the store house of energy, and constrict the gall bladder, and clog the outlet, causing enlargement of the gall bladder. THE TREATMENT. The treatment which gave us the best results, was as follows: Sulphate of iron or 10 grains of calomel, ten hours previous to two interval 2oz doses of Epsom salts—together with a cup of molasses; and 2oz of common salt; put in a shed or preferably dark place on a four days’ fast. The fast is to stop the source of the trouble, protein, the cause of the skin eruptions; the salts empty the bowels, and being alkaline neutralise the acid in the blood stream, making it possible for the red and white corpuscles to increase and do their cleaning up: of course the magnesium in the salts is also very valuable. The molasses contain very many valuable minerals. Smear affected parts over with carron oil and a little vegetable black. A change of pasture which is long and fibrous is very helpful, as it is not rich in protein or so acid-produc-ing; good hay—lucerne for preference; ample exercise to use up any surplus protein which the body does not require, together with a plentiful supply of fresh water —to purify the blood. In an article of mine in the Courier, dated July, 1937, I wrote that ’’Grassland farming had failed and would continue to do so until ways and means were found to return to the soil those minerals which we are mining from the soil in the shape of exports, etc., and until probable preventative measures could be taken, this was worthy of further research. Carrying less stock will have to be given serious thought, with more of the minor elements added, and less of the manures than are at present being used. No. 2 cause: Shortage of vitamin 82. As a cause has to be considered, eczema on a sheep’s face is identical with pellagra on a human’s face and hands, and which is caused through shortage of vitamin 82, and the symptoms are very similar to that of affected cows, i.e., it affects both mentally. Dried yeast is very rich in vitamin 82. Other sources that are rich without being acid-producing are as fol lows: Carrots, lucerne dried, swedes, turnips, watercress and brewers’ yeast. Any of these could be fed to advantage. IS ERGOT THE TROUBLE? No. 3 cause: Ergot, which has to be considered as a factor and should receive more research as a possible cause of footrot, abortion, eczema and other troubles, as ergot poisoning acts on the tissues and corpuscles, destroying them; or makes the blood stream unfavourable to the multiplication of the red and white corpuscles which have to multiply at a very fast rate to defend the body in case of emergency. When our troubles are viewed from this angle, we will see the cause and the preventative measures will soon follow. Another very important pjint is to have our research workers where the cause originates, i.e., on the farm. The soil is the mother of everything living, and

it receives less research than the manufacture of even the motor car. We are breaking every law of compensation in our treatment of the soil, and are punished by our sins, not for them. Most of our research workers are too busy studying the symptoms of causes to look for the cause.

This outbreak of eczema should be a wonderful lesson to the medical profession, Department of Health, Agri cultural and Livestock Division, in proving that, most of our sicknesses and so-called diseases are of diet etic origin, and can be prevented or cured only by stopping the cause. The first logical thing to do is to fast, and then begin a normal diet. STOCK MARKET AFFECTED. THE POSITION AT FRANKTON. ALL SHEEP EXAMINED. The effect of the facial eczema epidemic on Waikato stock markets was strikingly indicated at the weekly stock sale> at Frankton yesterday when only a small entry of fat sheep came forward. Previous to the sale sheep visibly affected with eczema were put to one side but subsequently the Government stock inspector carried out an inspection of the remaining sheep, taking out the sheep that he stated were slightly infected. The sheep were sold in two divisions, one comprising entirely free and the second of sheep which, in the inspector’s opinion, were likely to be infected. A) big bench of buyers followed the sale, where the short entry of clean sheep had the effect of advancing prices from 2s to 6s per head. Only one pen of visibly infected sheep the price realised being Is 6d a head. The sheep marked by the stock inspector were killed at Horotiu to-day, but no report has yet been received as to the number definitely affected.

A fairly steep advance in prices was noted for beef, this being probably due to the increased public demand for beef in comparison with mutton. Prices for both steers and cows advanced by approximately 15s per head and calves also sold at appreciated values.