CONTAGIOUS MAMMITIS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2903, 30 June 1925, Page 4

CONTAGIOUS MAMMITIS.

and the vaccine treatment. Much interesting information concerning the vaccine treatment for contagious mammitis was given at a meeting of local and district farmers held in the Town ITall Supper-room on Saturday afternoon, when two dairy farmers, Messrs J. Ct. Williams and W. L. Ranstead, of Waikato, outlined what is being done to check this disease. The meeting was presided over by the Mayor (Mr M. E. Perreau) who accorded the speakers a welcome.

At the outset, Mr Rails lead explained that he was a dairy farmer, and not interested in the company which controlled the vaccine. It was admitted that contagious mammitis was causing very serious losses amongst dairy farmers and he proceeded to describe the evolution of the vaccine treatment. During 1921, Mr. J. D. Smith, bacteriologist of the Hamilton hospital, happened to visit a dairy Larm where he came upon cows suffering from udder trouble. He therc-upon took a sample of the milk from these cows and upon analysis, he was successful in isolating the mammitis germ. At flic time there were two children in Hamilton hospital suffering from a certain disease and he /also investigated this trouble with the result that he was able to isolate a germ taken from the children which was indentical to the mammitis germ discovered in the milk of: the cows. This led to further investigations, and it was discovered that the children had been receiving milk taken from a cow which was found to be infected with mammitis. Mr Smith then proceeded to study the disease, and prepared a vaccine obtained from the children, with which he inoculated badly infected cows. The result was that: the cows gradually showed signs of a cure, and encouraged by this, lie proceeded to test out vaccine prepared from the bovine germ. Satisfactory results were obtained and an infected herd was cleaned up. Mr. Smith’s position did not permit of his going into the matter extensively, althougji the results obtained on one herd beeame known amongst other farmers who desired experiments made on their herds. Gradually the suoeess of the treatment became known, and Mr Smith was urged to resign his position and devote his time to tlie treatment. However, he would not consent as lie was not yet sure that the vaccine was absolutely a certain cure. The farmers themselves then took the matter up, and the speaker, who had lost fifty cows through contagious mammitis, became interested in the treatment. lie had destroyed two sets of cow bails in older to try to stamp out the disease, without result. He then tried the vaccine with satisfactory results, and eonvined of its value he personally approached Mr Smith, stating that he would assist him all lie could if he would gel the treatment going. The speaker told Mr Smith that he did not realise the prevalence of the disease, and he should not withhold his knowledge of a probable cure. Mr Smith was not anxious to conic out in the open, but gave the speaker enough vaccine to inoculate 500 cows, provided nothing was said about him, and that he was kept posted with the results obtained. Inoculations were made and samples of milk from inoculated cows sent to the Government laboratory at Wallacevillo for testing. Clean reports were received back', and the farmers were all anxious to try out the results. Last year Mr Smith resigned his position in order to further the work, but was reinstated and given a, free band to carry on his research work. The vaccine treat-

ment was compnritively simple—it was exactly tbe same as Die Army T.A.B. inoculation. The Company was not claiming a cure, although cures bad been effected, but the vaccine would assist towards giving a clean cow immunity from the disease. The period of immunity was not yet known, tilt hough cows inoculated in 1921 were still unaffected with the disease. He stated that 43 per cent, of the under tioiibles were due to contagious mammitis. It was known that certain cows would not respond to the treatment in the same way as there were during the war certain soldiers who would not respond to t.a.b. inoculation. However, the company which had now eight staffs in operation throughout, the North Island and had inoculated eighty thousand cows, welcomed the fullest investigation and inquiries by all dairy farmers. The company was maintaining a close watch on all herds treated for the purpose of gathering data on the treatment, and farmers were asked to supply reports of the progress. Seven hundred interim reports were invited recently ami between three and four hundred replies were received. Sixty per cent, of these replies staled that so far everything was satisfactory, but the farmers were waiting until the spring to ascertain more definite tesults. Thirty four per cent, of the replies stated that the results were very satisfactory and the farmers were most enthusiastic over the treatment. Only six per cent, registered dissatisfaction, and the company was carrying out investigations in these eases. Mr Williams also addressed the gathering. At the conclusion of the addresses the meeting accorded the speakers a vote of thanks.