THE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2215, 19 October 1907, Page 4

THE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT

UNSOUND HORSES

THE TUBERCULOSIS PROBLEM

(Special to Times)

WELLINGTON, October 16. In this Department there is apparently still considerable loom for improvement. One paragraph from tho report of tlie Acting-Chief Veterinarian proves this. He says: (under date 13 July last) “The work during tho past year has been practically of a routino nature. The number of veterinary officers available for field work is very limited, and tho absence of suitable buildings at the laboratory has prevented any experimenting work, in connection with tho larger animals, being tried on efficient lines. Combined with this has been tlie absence of any residental accommodation at flic laboratory for the Chief Veterinarian, lie, like myself, being compelled to resido at a considerable distance.” The Dejiartinent’s expenditure for the year was £16,450, but the sum of £9,169 was recoverable as meat inspection fees. The warnings of the Department in regard to coping with tlie spread of contagious abortion evidently remained too long unheeded by’ the short-sighted Taranaki farmers. “So far as legal enactment goes,” says the veterinarian, “we are still destitute of the slightest power of dealing with the question of this evil subject. This is the disease that absolutely costs tho colony more solid cash than all the others put together. Last year tlie loss in production that would have been available for sale was estimated at a minimium of £IO,OOO, but now, with fuller knowledge, I. am positive that double that amount would be well within the mark ”

The report contains n note regarding the necessity of legislation to prevent the transmission of hereditary unsoundners in horses. When one sees often in sales stallions and mares commanding high figures although affected with such diseases as would rentier them almost unsuitable at any figure. The futility of any endeavor is brought home to anyone desirous of making an improvement. The question of tuberculosis is dealt with at some length ns a matter demanding serious consideration. Evidence available goes clearly to prove that one of the most potent factors in the dissemination and perpetuation of tuberculosis in the colony at the present time is infected cows milk. Proof of this is furnished by the extensive amount of tubercular infection present among swine fed upon tho by-products of dairy factories. The returns furnished by the inspectors of meat and

bacon factories, and at meat export slaughter houses, whoro largo numiiars of pigs arc killed, show that a largo proportion are iound affected with tuberculosis. Moreover tho situation of tho lesions of the disease points conclusively to tho tact that the infection must have been contracted by ingestion. By far tho greater number of affected animals are purchased in dairying districts whoro their staplo article of diet is separated milk or whey. Pigs drawn From districts where dairy farming is not a staple industry, or whoro tuberculosis among cattle is comparatively rare, are themselves almost entirely free from the disease. A disquieting feature of tho whole matter is the conclusion that a large number of cows in the colony must lie producing tubercular milk. This emphasises tho necessity for ail amendment in tho Stock Act rendering tho notification of all suspicious, abnormal or recognised diseased conditions of the udder compulsory, also for a careful examination of tho udders of all dairy cows coming under tho immediate notice of the inspectors. In this, really, tho most important consideration of all is the question of human health as affected by that, portion of the milk supply of flic colony which goes directly into human consumption. Therefore it is urgently necessary that immediate stops bo taken to effectively deal with the matter. It is futile to expend money -and labor in searching out. and destroying adult tubercular cattle white each year’s crop of calves is allowed to contract infection wholesale, practically without check or hindrance by legislative and administrative methods.