DISEASES IN STOCK.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4413, 12 May 1922, Page 4

DISEASES IN STOCK.

(.(EDITIONS on the plains. AS FREE AS ANY DISTRICT. I “The Hauraki Plains are as free from disease as any district I have represented,” were the remarks of Mr J. Costello (now residing at Patetonga), when interivewed by a "Gazette” reporter recently. Mr Costello is a veterinary surgeon of no* mean standing, having for many years had an extensive practice in the Franklin and Lower Waikato districts,, which, include the Otau and Ake Ake swamps, areas similar to the Hauraki Plains. He is also one of the oldest veterinary practitioners Li New Zealand. “It is a good country!,” continued Mr Ccstellp, “and it, is going to be more free from disease. With a little care and foresight it can be reduced to a minimum. I have seen more disease on the high country than I have ever seen on the swamps, and more starvation.” ' MAMMITIS AND GARGOT, “Inflammatory mammitis,” eont nued Mr Costello, “is due to acidity in the pastures and sour pasture. With the careful use of a proper drench 10 neutralise and purify the circulatory system, this so-called disease can be brought down to a minimuni. In my professional experience I am thoroughly familiar with mammitis, gargot, and circulatory disturbances which are due to the above causes. There is a very small of mammitis on the Hauraki Plains,” lie continued, and he emphatically stated that most of the so-called cases of mammitis, were gargot, and that 97 per cent, of the cases of gargot were curable with a proper standard drench,. Most of the troubles, in the Hauraki Plains herds were gargoi and abortion. „ ERGOT. ' Discussing other diseases, Mr Costello said there were very few cases of ergot on the Plains. Ergot required thoroughly diagnosing and treatment. When the first symptoms were shown the first thing to do should be to cleanse the system. There were t lot of standard remedies on the market, but there was now no standard remedy to deal with those cases. 1 ~ 1 THE WATER AND . SOIL. The Jack or- good drinking water was the cause of a great deal of the troubles in the herds, maintained Mr Costello. The water would have to , improve to enable better results to be obtained. Failing to obtain a better supply of water an effort should - be made to neutralise it. Good, shell I lime put in the water should get over a great deal of the difficulty. I Referring to the soil,, he said the acidity in it would be gradually de--1 creased with the growing of maize and other root crops. This would create another body in the soil and distribute the iron over a greater volume of other ingredients which would bring the contact down to a minimum in the system. The grass grows well in this country, said Mr Costello in conclusion. It is rich enough, but/it ttants, lime and should be top-dressed with lime.