A DEADLY DISEASE.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 272, 24 January 1929, Page 5

A DEADLY DISEASE.

“BEWARE OF THE DOG.” Mr C. S. M. Hopkirk, B. V. Sc. offl cer in charge of Wallaceville Laboratory, deals with hydatids in the current issue of the Journal of Agriculture. He writes: “The mortality rate in human beings and the economic lops from hydatid infestation of animals in New Zealand are still too high, and it therefore behoves the dog

owners of the country to attempt to reduce the parasitic infestation if not-to eradicate it entirely. With consistent efforts hydatids could in tfme be eradicated if every dog owner carried out the necessary methods carefully and thoroughly.” After describing the biological aspect of the disease, Mr Hopkirk says a number of surgical operations are performed annually in New Zealand for hydatids. Diagnosis is not diffi- , cult, and “unfortunately,” he writes, “a positive diagnosis means surgical interference in man, the operation being a serious qne.” He shows why I this is so, g.ving an authentic in- I stance of a child of three who; was I operated on for hydatids as a result I of fondling a sheep dog, contracting I the parasite when the child was two I years of age. Sheep, pigs and cattle I are the usual hostls of the disease, but I horses, rabbits and deer may suffer I from it.

Mr Hopkirk remarks that “at the present time in New Zealand very few town dwellers becqme affected, the disease being one which affects country residents mainly. This is because of the system of meat inspection in force both for home consumption and for export. Town meat in the larger centres is all inspected by trained men at the abattoirs and no affected livers eg lungs are allowed to leave such abattoirs or freezing works to be sold. Therefore town dogs must live on meat free from infestation by hydatid cysts and are unable to get the opportunity of becoming infested.” Town children are comparatively safe, but country children are liable I to take the disease from dogs fed on patrs of diseased sheep. The writer shows how dangerous dogs as conveyors of the disease may be, and he gives the following instructions for combating the disease: (X) Treat all country dogs medicinally at regular Intervals; (2) do not give uncooked j livers or lungs to dogs; (3) train children not to caress animals; (4) do I not allow dogs to eat unknown car- I casses—these should always be buri- I ed; (5) keep drovers’ dogs under control at abattoirs or meat freezing 1 works.” He strongly condemns cares- I sing of dogs by human beings, especially by children.