TUBERCULOSIS AMONG POULTRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10303, 7 November 1911, Page 4

TUBERCULOSIS AMONG POULTRY.

The newspapers of Northern Scotland report an extraordinary epidemic ol tuberculosis among poultry throughout the Orkneys, and extensive losses are being experienced among the crofters and small holders of these far northern' districts. It is well known that, as in the western isles, human tuberculosis prevails to a deplorable oxtent among the Orcadians. This is, no doubt, largely due to faulty hygienic conditions in regard to housing—as well as-to climate—and one can imagine that if the housing conditions of the people are not what they ought to bo, tlic conditions under which the live stock is reared and kept may also shtiw room for improvement. The extent to which tuberculosis prevails among the the cattle stock of Orkney came under the notice of the Departmental Committee which took evidence last year regarding the work of the Congested Districts Commissioners. One witness gave it as his opinion that half the byres in Orkney were infected with this disease, and deaths among stock were frequent. A further statement by a farmer was that he had lost four cows in one year from what lio believed to be tuberculosis, so that the condition of matters s« far as this is concerned is a matter'of serious concern; What connection there may.be, if any, between the prevalence of human tuberculosis and tuberculosis among the domestic animals of Orkney is a matter for the experts to determine, but it is certainly suggestive that a great proportion of tho poultry population of the Orknoys is affected with tuberculosis with a consequent considerable mortality. It is, of course, a wellestablished fact that tuberculosis among domestic fowls is not peculiar to these islands alone. Those who have experience in poultry-rearing know that fowls are quite susceptible to the development of tuberculosis almost anywhere if due regard is not paid to the conditions under which they arc kept, and the abnormal extent to which the disease prevails in Orkney would point to n lack of sufficient attention in regard to housing and the need for strenuous measures being adopted in order that tho serious avian mortality of these districts may be checked. It is understood that steps in that dircction are being taken by tho Congested Districts Board, and that some "interesting investigations are likely to be instituted in regard to tho matter.