CYSTS IN LIVERS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23387, 19 December 1945, Page 4

CYSTS IN LIVERS

“Not Harmful To Human Beings” “A letter published in ‘The Tirnaru Herald” warning people to retrain from buying livers infected with hvdatid cvsts on account of the danger of contracting the disease has given the public a misleading piece of information,” said Mr W. J. Fletcher at a meeting of the Waimate branch oi the Farmers’ Union. “That article was contrary to fact. Human beings stand in no 'danger from hydatid cysts in livers even if the livers were eaten raw,” he said. “The Government veterinary officer. Mr E. J. Lukey, has gone to a lot of trouble to gather information on this subject and he has nroof that this is true. Cooking of livers destroys the effectiveness of the cvst in any case, but before the cyst becomes harmful to man it must pass through a dog. The dog is the only host of this disease and it is only after the animal has eaten raw cysts that the life cycle begins. It is from polluted pastures that the real danger comes. Infected though livers may be they are harmless to humans when cooked.” Mr J. C. Hay, speaking as a member of the Hospital Committee and of the Health Education Committee, expressed keen disappointment at the small attendance of farmers at the recent lecture given by Mr Lukey. Of those present, and the number was not large, only three were farmers, Mr Hay added. Mr Lukev had given a very fine illustrated talk on the subject, and he had shown that while the incidence of hydatids disease was high in the district, it could be controlled and ultimately prevented if effective measures were taken. Mr Hay spoke appreciatively of the report of the meeting, which appeared in “The Tirnaru Herald.” and said that most farmers would have read the information contained in it.

“We receive the rap on the knuckles in the spirit in which it is given,” said the president, Mr J. Foley, “It is to be regretted that the attendance was not larger, for there is no doubt we are vitally interested in the subject.”