MR GILRUTH'S LECTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81836, 31 August 1906, Page 2

MR GILRUTH'S LECTURE.

A SUCCESSFUL MEETING. There was a very largely attended meeling of farmers in the Town llall, New Plymouth, on Thursday evening, whim Mr J. A. Cilruth, Chief Government Veterinarian, gave an address under the auspices of the Taranaki Agricultural Society. Mr Newton King (president) briefly introduced the lecturer. Mr Gi'ruth commenced a very interesting and instructive address by explaining the process connected with the birth of the calf, passingthen to the construction of the udder, which he showed to be far more complicated than most farmers ever dreamed of. The udder, really a modification of a sweat gland, was divided into two parts by a wall • f tissue; each side was again subdivided into two, thus giving the four "quarters." An elastic tissue enab'ed the udder to distend and contract as the milk increased or was extracted, and 110 inconvenience was caused to the cow. The microscope revealed that the udder was a mass of minute cells in groups, something like bunches of grapes which had been hollowed out. These cells were responsible for the production of milk from the blood that poured in by the arteries, these latter branching off into smaller and still smaller veins until they bccamo so minute that a corpuscle of blood—measuring a seven-thousandth part of an inch wide—had to double up before it could pass through. These tiny cells made the milk, and the milk contained in its 13 per cent, of solids (87 per cent, is wate;- about forty different so.ids, none of which are present in tjje blood itself. Mr Gilruth explained Nature's provision for the retaining of the milk until . it might be required by the calf or by the dairyman. As every particle of milk came from the blood it could be readily understood that a great amount of blood must pass into the udder, and must, of course, pass out again. This it did by a vein running towards the cow's belly, and c„mmonly called the "milk vein." It was not a mflk vein, but nevertheless was a very fair indication of the milking worth of a cow, for a big vein denoted much blood, and much blood pointed to much milk. Passing on to diseases of the udder, Mr Gilr.uth said the m ,st common was ordinary inflammation t.r • garget, caused perhaps by a cokl or a slight injury. The symptoms were that the animal would straddle its legs, and would show signs of pain. The trouble was primarily due to congestion, for the region was "bangfull of blood," and any injury would cause a stop, and pain would naturally follow the distension. Inflammation c ften followed calving. He advised giving a good laxative, and bathing with warm water.. Some, practical hints were given as to the method to be adopted in administei :ng a dose to the animal. Care must be taken that tho animal swallows the medicine; for ofton it entered the windpipe, reached tho ungs, and caused suffocation. Ci ntinuous application of hot water to the udder could be follwcd by an application of belladonna ointment. In bad cases it might be necessary to ''sling" the udder, and use poultices. Contagious mammitis was dealt •vith very fully, the causes and cure being practical!)' the same as mentioned by Captain Young in his various address:s. The lecturer, however, drew attention to the highly contagious nature ot. the disease, which might affect half a herd in a few days, the hands of the milker carrying the infection from cow to cow. Any cow suffering or suspected to be suffering from contagious mammitis should be milked in a spare bail after all ethers had been finished, the milk being drawn into a tin in which was a good quantity of Jeyes' fluid, or'some other germicide. The milker must wash his hands in a similar solution, and take care that the rest of the herd was not in any way contaminated. The boracic acid injections had proved fairly satisfactory, but srdium fluoride was better for the purpose. The fluid should be injected and left >ri ■ lie teat a quarter of an hour before being milked cut, this being continued for several clays. Tlie liquid must be milked into a Jeyes' fluid'solution, as before mentioned. fare mers received some sound advice not to purchase cattle with any thickening or suspicious circumstance about the udder. Dealing with tuberculosis in the udder, Mr Gi'ruth stated cows got tuberculosis with their food—it was not inha'ed. It was spread by the system of farmers receiving one another's skim milk at factories, and this he held shou'd be sufficient to make factories adopt the sterilisation of the Skim milk. "Weed out the unprofitable cows," was' the text of some interesting remarks, and the v-Uie of ensilage as winter feed was emphasised. Answering questions, Mr Gi'ruth said the growths on cows' teats could be destroyed by a touch of caustic, ointment being applied afterwards ; if one portion of a cow's udder was inflamed, milk from the remaining quarters should be boiled before using; it was not true that a cow with a blind quarter milked as well as if she had all four in order; the boracic acid solution (4 per cent.) should be injected warm into the udder, a lot of poor milking cattle would do better if properly fed in winter, but many were worthless, and would never be profitable on any treatment; he could not give infofriSati; n on the prevalent lameness in cattle until he had inspected a case. Steiiiisng skim milk would not reduce its value as food. v ' Mr H. Okcy, In moving a v>tc of thanks to Mr Gilruth, remarked that the good offices of the Departmental surgeons had given the Agricultural Society a push that it could not have got Otherwise. (Applause.) _ I he Chairman seconded, and menli'Uied that he had always received the utmost courtesy- and attention [' ™ <»« department. This was then- characteristic, "at least, so lone jis you are decently civil to them,'' lie added. 1 he yoie was carried bv hearty ac carnation. Mr Gilruth, in returning thanks congratulated (lie Sociele on having emerged from the old rut so that it was becoming of real benefit to the fanners. A vote to the chairman concluded the meeting, which was very enthusiasm-. Mr Gilruth speaks at Stratford this evening, and several members of the Agricultural Society will attend the meeting, which is held under its auspices.