PREVENTING DISEASE.

Mt Benger Mail, 26 October 1938, Page 1

PREVENTING DISEASE.

DISINFECTION ON FARM. The object of disinfection is to destroy organisms and ultra-visible viruses which cause disease. It is a job which should certainly be done after the occurrence of one or more cases of contagious disease —such as tuberculosis, contagious abortion, swine fever, influenza, and so on. Periodical disinfection of stables, piggeries and poultry runs is highly commendable as a measure of disease prevention. The extent and thoroughness of the work would depend on the nature of the disease which had occurred, and would not need to be so extensive or intensive when merely carried out as a routine measure. A common error in disinfecting premises is firstly to remove accumulations of excreta, discharges, dirt and dust. Otherwise the casual organisms and viruses contained in the accumulations are disseminated throughout the building, and may lodge in places which cannot be easily ’covered by the disinfecting solution afterwards. The proper way is first to apply liberally to all parts of the premises a suitable. disinfectant in solution, and to leave it in contact for 24 hours. After the disinfectant has been allowed to act for that period the walls and floors should be scraped (or scrubbed) and the scrapings soaked with kerosene and burnt.

Suitable solutions are phenol or other coal tar preparation (ono pint to four gallons of water), chloride of lime (11b to each gallon of water), or crude carbolic acid (one and a-half pints to four gallons water), to be thoroughly sprayed on all surfaces. If shearing sheds and yards are disinfected before shearing commences loss of stock, through infection of wounds, may be avoided.