DAIRY HERDS AFFECTED

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 10, 5 February 1909, Page 2

DAIRY HERDS AFFECTED

SPREAD Or MAMMLTIS. By Telegraph.—Ptobb Association, I'alnierston X., Lust Night. The Manawatn Times publishes facU connected with the spread of contagious inaiumitis, which show that the position will have to he seriously considered. An instance is given of one farmer near I'alnierston having 40 out of 00 cows affected, thus losing £4OO on his profit* .this season, as well as putting nearly ihalf his herd permanently out of use .as milkers, Mr. Gilruth first drew ntitention to the danger five years ago, ami reported strongly upon it last year, fTho Times points out that there is I great danger of infection from beasts I purchased at saleyards. Mr. Reakcs, Chief Veterinarian, interviewed on the subject, said the spread ( of contagious mamniitis is undoubtedly a serioii* matter. In their own interests farmers should take every precaution to prevent their introduction of the dis«casG into their herds, or, if they bo unlucky enough to already have affected cows, to prevent its spread from it Hose lo others. Milkers' hands are a

rommon medium for the conveyance of contagion from cow to cow. In anything hut mild wises, and not always jii nhese, no satisfactory curative treatment is known. The inject ion of a 4 per tcent. boracic acid solution sometimes gives good results ill mild cases, t'nder .the present condition of legislation, if an improvement is to be brought about, and it must be principally on the lines of "prevention/' it is partieularh \wvessary thai all'ected auimal.s should ' not be allowed to pass from the possession of one farmer to another. Captain Young, veterinarian for the TaranaUi district, was also interviewed, and testified as to the very dangerous hoUl the contagion lmd in the Tarauaki herds.