FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 39, 30 July 1872, Page 3

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.

It is pleasing- to observe that many men of pobKc spirit in different parts of the colonyhave been very ready to place at the disposal of the Foot and Mouth Disease Commission any information they may possess bearing on this malady. Amongst others, Mr. T. H. Lloyd, chemist, of Talbot, and member of the Royal Pharmacuetical Society of Great Britain, has contributsd some valuable intelligence in a letter to the chairman of the commission. Mr. Lloyd begs to inform tlie commission that " the so-called foot-and-mouth cattle disease is communicated by human beings to the animals and vice versa. In the first place, it is produced by man himself. The effect is caused by the attraction of cohesion or intense chemical affinity of two distinct compounds, governed by chemical laws and atmospheric circumst inct s, but of a strictly preventive nature, and it. is cruel to destroy such valuable stock." These principles aro abundantly clear and self-evident, and only require to be stated in the lucid language of Mr. Lloyd to be seen in all their full significance. Consequently one is not surprised to find, on further reading, that causes of such terrible efficacy are also concerned in the production of " scab in sheep, iuid many other diseases, as well as spontaneous combustion in warehouses and ships." It is, however, somewhat disappointing after believing that we have mastered the inmost arcana of nature to learn that " pleuro in cattle arises from a different cause, and is neither contagious nor infectious, strictly preventive, arising from .man's ignorance of scientific arrangements." Mr. Lloyd proceeds—" The term applied by physiologists, which takea its origin from the Greek and Latin (pyrexia), is indicated in pointing out the effects, diagnosis, &c., to a certain extent hut not the casuality, the most important and operative in reference to the quarantine laws." We fully concur in the theory here laid down to a certain extent, and believe that if we were onlv awarewwha t it is that " takes its origin from the Greek and Latin,' -there would be little wanting to our comprehension of the passage. With" the philanthropic feelings of true philosophy, Mr. Lloyd has given the Commission tl full permission to publish- freely and at length" the contents of Jettier, as the matter therein contained; wilt be ;of inestimable value to . mauUmcL" To which it is only necessary to &dd . the, caution of Jack tion'lies u'i of it.—Australa- *'

| SELF-HELP. j 'Lord Derby, in a speech delivered on the ; occasion of the opening of a new hospital, gave expression to the following excellent ; remarks :—" JvJen are very slow to learn the 1 cxi/ Mit to which their destinies are in their ! own power. Tliey are apt to be astonished ■ I if you point to 'them that riinc-tenths of the i calamities which have afflicted the human j ' race are directly and obviously the work of I ; men's own hands. They are inclined to con- - found the feeling which all respect, that of j cheerful acceptance of the inevitable, with* that other kind of resignation to evils which ! are not inevitable, which is mostly laziness | and apathy, and the prevalence of' which is ! j one of the most characteristic distinctions

between- the savage and the civilised man. And why do I say this ? Because lam deeply convinced that no sanitary improvement ■ worth the name will be effected ; whatever j Acts you pass, or whatever power you confer ' upon public officers, unless you can create a j real and intelligent interest in the matter j among the people at large. In the first'place i you can't get laws actually put into force J where they interfere with the profits or incon- j venience of individuals, unless they are 1 supported by opinion. In the next place, , whatever administrative measures can do for j public heilth —and they can do a great deal , —they can never supersede the necessity fcr j personal and private care. It is no good in < providing pure water for drinking, if those , who are meant to consume prefer less innocent: fluids, and a good deal of them. It is no good ' setting public baths or washhouses if people I don't care to use them , though, let me say, 1 in passing, I think the want of sucli institu- j tions on an adequate scale is one of the chief j defects of our great towns. It is no good I purifying the atmosphere from smoke and ! foul vapours —though that is one of: the objects which in these parts we ought to keep most steadily in view—if, when people have got clean air, they won't let it into their houses. The State may issue directions,] municipal authorities may execute them to the ; best of their power, inspectors -may travel about, medical authorities may draw upreports, ■ but you can't make a population cleauly or healthy against their will or without their; intelligent: co-operation. The opportunity j may be furnished by others, but the work must bo done by themselves. That is why, j of the two, sanitary instructions is even more essential than sanitary legislation; for, if in. these matters the public knows what it wants, sooner or later the legislation will follow * but the best laws in a country like this' are waste paper if they are not appreciated and understood. I will not waste words in dwelling on the importance of this question ! of national health. Everything depends upon : it. It is by continuous ari l persevering ; labour alone —handwork and headwork— that Englanl holds its position against other countries more favoured by nature; but without a high standard of vitality—and that, as' you know, implies more than a mere lengthening out of life ; labour, such as we require, cannot be kept up. Again, where you ; have to deal with men in masses, the connection between vice and disease is very close. With a low average of popular health you will have a low average of national morality, and probably also of national intellect. Drunkenness and vice of other kinds will flourish in such a soil, and you cannot get healthy brains to grow on unhealthy bodies.. Cleauliness and self-respect go toge her, and it is no paradox to affirm that you tend to purify men's thoughts and feelings when you purify the air they breathe. j