HYDATIDS IN DOGS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 December 1938, Page 9

HYDATIDS IN DOGS

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN PLANNED DRUG TO BE SUPPLIED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The co-operation of all dog-owners is being sought in a national effort to stamp out hydatid disease in New Zealand. By regulations under the Dogs Fegistration Amendment Act, passed by Parliament without opposition in 1937 and which come into operation on January 1, local authorities are required to supply owners with an approved remedy for treating their dogs, and if the instructions are faithfully carried out the prevalence of this deadly disease should be greatly reduced. During the last five years 587 cases were admitted to hospital and last year there were 14 deaths. The remedy approved is a preparation known as arecoline hydrobromide. It was decided upon after exhaustive investigation by the Hydatid Research Committee of the Otago Medical Schoo) in consultation with officers of the Health Department. Instructions as to its use are set out in the regulations and a printed copy of the instructions must, in accordance with the Dogs Registration Amendment Act, 1937, be given to each person registering a dog. Arrangements have been completed for the Government to purchase the drug in bulk and for its distribution tc the local authorities. The charge tc the owners has been fixed at Is a dog except where a dog is registered for the first time after July in any year. Then the fee is fixed at 6d. The prices are intended to cover the actual cost of purchase plus a small margin for administrative expenses.