Weeping Eczema Trouble Attacks Favourite

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 169, 7 October 1927, Page 7

Weeping Eczema Trouble Attacks Favourite

Ultra-microscopic organisms are attacking the Epsom favourite, comments a Sydney writer. A germ, so small that the most powerful microscopes of the most eminent scientists have not yet been able to locate him, causes the “weeping eczema,” technically called “eczema madidans,” which affected Gothic’s heels a few days before the English horse ran third in the Epsom. In dry seasons, when tracks are hard and horses’ feet are in consequence tender, the tiny wog lurks in the dust waiting for his prey. Tan tracks are his favourite hunting ground. He is more dangerous than the poisonous tannic acid which also irritates cracked hoofs of racehorses who are galloped on the tan. The unnamed microbe revels in the fine black dust into which the tan bark disintegrates, and already this season the prominent veterinary surgeon, Mr.

J. Stewart, has seen between 30 and 40 horses infected with the germ. NOT ALLOWED TO START He is easily beaten, Mr. Stewart says. lodine and zinc ointment seal his doom, but all the same the tiny organism has given backers of Gothic some worry during the i>ast week or so. Eczema of the weeping variety is “catching” to a certain extent, and the A.J.C. stewards have in the past prevented horses afflicted with contagious skin troubles from competing in races because of the danger of infection to other horses. For this reason Cyllaros was not allowed to start in a two-year-old race at Randwick when suffering from ringworm. Providing eczema of the hoof is judged to be a contagious disease, the stewards will cause a bit of a stir if they declare Gothic unable to start in the Epsom. 3 YOUNG AUTHOR, limit, J. Bryce, jun 2 4 WAREPA, limit, owner *j Also started: 1 Patch, jun., 12yds. (also coupled with winner), 5 Belie Embrace, 2 Cora Locanda, 9 Adon, 8 Solomon Slow, limit; 10 Fairy Chimes, 12yds.; 7 Sid Wilkes, 24yds.; 6 Imshi, 4Syds. Won by a length an a-half. Time 2.58 4-5. BELFIELD HANDICAP Of £135; 5 furlongs. 1- 7.9, R. Beale .. .. 1 3-HURDY GURDY, 7.4, J. Doolev . . 2 2 CORN MONEY, 8.6, F. Voight .. 3 The only starters. Won by three lengths. Time, 1.2 4-5.