AN INSIDIOUS MALADY.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 36, 5 November 1937, Page 4

AN INSIDIOUS MALADY.

Our Goyernor-General, as reported on another page today, has taken the opportunity, when addressing the farmers gathered at the opening of the Royal Show at Palmerston North, to draw marked attention to the increase in the Oominion of a disease of whlch the pnblic hear and know but very little. From what he now tells us it is obviously one to which greater attention should he paid with a view to applying some effective check on its further spread. More especially is this the ease when it is said that so large a proportion as ten per cent. of human infeetions are likely to prove fatal unless taken early in their development. It is also of importanee, as a dog-loving people, to note that the innoeent "carrier" of this so dangerous disease is the domestic animal which has well been ealled "man's best friend." It would appear, however, that this disease, hydatids, does not originate in the canine system, but is contracted there from from feeding upon the raw diseased offal of the sheep, the liver in particular. In the dog'S body it finds a hothouse in which it develops in the form of a tape-worm, whose eggs are ejected and passed on through infected pastures not only to sheep hut also to other animals grown for the purpose of providing carnivorous man with food. There is thus, as Lord Galway puts it, established yet another "vieious circle," while it is also quite possible for human beings to beeome directly infected from close contact with the dog itself or from the drinking of water from sources to which the dog has access. There is thus every good reason why, in the interests of the people 's health, means should be adopted for exterminating the disease from among our flocks and herds. According to what Lord Galway says, and he evidently speaks whereof he knows, the remedy is ready to hand if only measures can he taken to ensure its systematic application. A chemical has been diseovered that has only to he periodically administered to the dog in order to effectively check the development of the worm from which all the trouble arises. As the Governor-General tells Us, the disease is naturally much more rife among the dogs that are employed in the tending and droving of live stock, than among town dogs. It is thus among the farming community more especially that steps should be taken to eradicate it. The farmers, too, are concerned in another respect than consulting the health of the * people^ for it is said that the incidence of the disease among their stock has a definite bearing upon the expdrt value of the carcases. Germany, for instanee, is so careful on the point that she insists that no sheep or lamb carcases shall be admitted* from abroad unless the liver is left in them for inspeetion. It should thus require only that farmers' attention should be drawn to the subjeet for them to adopt the simple precautions that are said to be effective. ,Failmg this, however, this is certainly a matter in whieh tHe Government, through the health authorities, might well take a hand.