FACIAL ECZEMA

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20501, 18 May 1938, Page 8

FACIAL ECZEMA

KNOWLEDGE OF CAUSE UNION PRESIDENT’S VIEWS EXHAUSTIVE INVESTIGATION (Special Reporter) AUCKLAND, Tuesday “Exhaustive Investigation is being made Into the so-called eczema scourge, and we hope it will be continued to try and definitely nail down the cause of the complaint and prevent further outbreaks,” stated Mr H. 0. Mellsop. Auckland Provincial president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, in his report to the annual provincial conference, which opened to-day. “The points that we insist should be covered by a most exhaustive investigation, taking nothing for granted, taking nothing as yet. definitely settled, are many and various,” continued Mr Mellsop. “Every year, somewhere, wo have at least, a few cases, and however slight they are, or however isolated, the inquiry and investigation should be continued. “That the external condition is an outward and visible sign of an inward and bodily ill must be accepted, also the fact that the outward sign is caused directly by the effect of the sun's rays, with the inward ill affecting In some way the skin's resisting power to the sun. The question to be definitely decided is, how is this done? Is it through the effect of ergot-poisoning affecting the nerve endings? Medical men claim this as quite possible and even likely, but the Department says ergot exists only on seed-heads, of which very few exist during the prevalence of the disease. We must, ask. Has the life history of ergot been fully investigated?” PROMISE OF ASSISTANCE FRANKLIN FARMERS CONCERNED (Special to Times) PUKEKOHE, Wednesday “ I have a message from the Prime Minister that the matter of facial eczema has not yet been fully considered by Cabinet, but that it is conscious of the ramifications of the problem and of the need for assistance, and that, moreover, the assistance will be given,” stated the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, at a meeting of 300 farmers at Pukekohe yesterday. “ Facial eczema has developed from a relatively unimportant malady years ago until it has become a national menace,” said Mr C. H. Williams, of Gisborne, president of the Poverty Bay Sheep-Owners’ Federation. ” The deplorable feature of the situation is that, though we have in some respects an excellent Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, it is so grossly understaffed that it cannot do its normal work, let alone grapple with a crisis of this magnitude.” “ The promises made by the Direc-tor-General of Agriculture, Mr A. IT. Cockayne, to a mass meeting of fanners at Kereone that a complete surv. / of the situation in the Waikato would be made and that every possible research worker would be made available, have not been carried out in full,” said Mr F. H. Anderson, a member of the executive of the Waikato farmers’ committee set up in connection with the outbreak of facial eczema. The survey in the Waikato had been by no means complete and there had been insufficient co-ordination in the research campaign, added Mr Anderson. A special investigation committee had been set up by the farmers themselves •lo give immediately advice in prevention measures.