MAMMITIS IN CATTLE.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16652, 18 November 1925, Page 8

MAMMITIS IN CATTLE.

EFFICACY OF VACCINE. INTERVIEW WITH DR. GILRUTH. The result of the vaccine treatment of mammitis in dairy cattle was referred to by Dr. ,T. A. Gilruth, formerly Chief Veterinarian and Government Bacteriologist in New Zealand, in an interview with a Times reporter to-day. Dr. Gilruth said that while in Melbourne a short time ago he had discussed the matter with the bacteriologist and other officers'of the Wetinary Research Institute of the Melbourne University. Mr Albiston, officer in charge of the milk examination section, with whom Dr. Gilruth had spent a great deal of time, had told him that after a careful observation of the results of the vaccine treatment he was, on the whole, favourably impressed with it. Mr Albiston held that in acute cases, Vaccine, if administered early, proved very efficacious in checking the course of the disease and it was not long before the milk finally became clear of infection. Certainly a small amount of catarrh of the udder persisted for y a time, even after the organisms had. disappeared, but this was eventually righted. Bacteriological examination of the milk from treated cows clearly bore out this contention. With mixed infection, continued Dr. Gilruth, the results were, however, not quite so satisfactory. This of course was only what one would expect. Where the condition has progressed long enough to produce indurations of the udder, said Dr. Gilruth, it was questionable in any case whether the disease would yield to treatment. Nevertheless, the intelligentzia of the dairy research world on the other side considered that treatment, of such cases during their dry period might prove efficacious. Mr. Albiston, Dr. Gilruth proceeded, had been mainly concerned with vaccine chiefly from a remedial viewpoint, but lie now thinks that it might be also satisfactory as a preventative. A vaccine for this purpose was, in fact, being distributed by the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories in the same way as was being done in New Zealand.

Conflict, of Opinion. One of Ihe leading practitioners in Australia, Mr G. F. Feathers, had told our informant that he had treated about 130 cases of acute mammitis with vaccine during the last year, and bad obtained the best results when the treatment was undertaken early. He had" found it essential to make a bacterial examination of the milk so as to ascertain whether he was dealing with a mixed infection or with a pure streptococci infection. In chronic, cases, continued Dr. Gilruth, the treatment did very little good, although it might improve the condition of the milk. In addition to the vaccinejreatment, veterinary and medical aid was necessary, as every acute case presented some phase different in ihe other. Of course the veterinary surgeon was only sunimoned when the case was an acute one and when there was a temperature. Preventative vaccination, said Dr. Gilruth, had been practised in Australia for about two years, and it seemed obvious that everyone concerned was satisfied as to its usefulness. ‘‘ln New Zealand,” continued Dr. Gilruth, “there seems to be a conflict of -opinion, especially in regard to the efficacy of the treatment as a preventative measurej’ The experiments at Wallaceville, said our informant, tended to indicate that good were not obtained, hut it should be remembered that there was a great difference between a direct' injection of the virulent organism into ducts of the udder and normal infection whereby streptococci grew from the outside upwards through the teat duct. Consequently, added Dr. Gilruth, more exhaustive tests under normal conditions would be necessary before any decision could be arrived at. This was, In fact, admitted. It must always be borne in mind, said Dr. Gilruth in conclusion, that the tendency of human nature is to complain when hopes of beneficial results are not entirely consummated. When they were achieved it was only what had been expected; consequently there was nothing to be said, unless one took tho trouble to enquire.