DISEASE IN COWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 169, 26 October 1910, Page 2

DISEASE IN COWS

CITY MILK SUPPLIES AFFECTED, jj INSPECTION OF DAIRIES. | By Telegraph.—Press Association. S Wellington, October 24. J The Minister of Agriculture (the Hon.] T. Mackenzie) has obtained a report] from the Chief Veterinarian (Mr. C. J. Reakes) upon the question of the trans-, mission of tuberculosis by the milk from, diseased cows, with special reference to the conditions in Christchurcli brought' to light by the recent death of a girl from tubercular peritonitis. ', "I am not quite clear," Mr. Reakes wrote, "whether there was specific evidence that infected milk was without question responsible for setting up the disease in the girl who died recently in Christchurcli from tubercular peritonitis, said to have been caused by drinking tubercular milk. It would appear | difficult to prove, this, seeing that the medical evidence showed that the diseased condition was one of long standing. It is reported that a statement was made that 20 per cent, of the milk delivered in Christchurcli came from tubercular cows. This statement is altogether opposed to the evidence furnished by inspectors' reports, and I am quite satisfied that there is nothing like so large a percentage of tubercular cows supplying milk in Christehurch or any other place in the Dominion. Inspectors working among the dairies pay particular attention to the health of the cows, especially as regards tuberculosis and the yielding of milk infected by the germs of this disease. Every effort its made to eliminate from the herds cows dangerous from this point of view, the practice being to make a careful clinical examination of each individual cow, destroying any showing outward evidences and applying the tubercular test to every animal which, while not giving definite indications, yet arouses some suspicion in the mind of the inspector. Further, samples of the collective milk of herds are collected and sent to the Wallaceville Laboratory for examination with a view of endeavouring to detect the presence of tubercle bacilli. In fact, every effort is made to eliminate from the dairy herds dangerous tubercular cows. The inspection of dairies is' much more thorough and efficient now than it has ever been, seeing that a larger staff is engaged in the work than when Mr. McPherson so energetically dealt with the dairy inspection at Christchurch. Two inspectors are constantly engaged in the inspection of dairies, and in addition the veterinary officer stationed at Christchurcli devotes a considerable portion of his time to work among dairy cows. Further veterinary services are being rendered by the veterinary supervisor for the district. The question of the adulteration of milk is one which is entirely in the hands of the Health Department, and that Department is, I understand, actively and energetically dealing with it. As regards the milk supply at Manchester, I went very! fully into the question with the authori-! ties there during my lata visit to England, and good as Manchester is, I am quite satisfied that the system of inspection of dairy cows and milking premises prevailing in Christehurch to-day is much more thorough than is the case there. In New Zealand we have a great advantage over the authorities at Home, seeing that our powers enable us to de stroy diseased cows, whereas in the Ola Country such power doe 3 not exist."