If only garlic could be used to help control the midges which
spread bluetongue disease (Letters, March 21)!
We have long been
familiar with the wonderful, natural, safe disinfectant and health-giving
properties of garlic, and use it daily ourselves.
Coincidentally,
John Treeby of Tarn Road Nurseries here in Brampton, also suggests using it
to deter greenfly on roses.
Farmers would find it so much safer both
for themselves, their stock and the environment than toxic
disinfectants.
However, we fear that the usual vested interests in
other directions will once again prevent such measures being adopted. We do
wonder though, how consumers will feel, knowing that their meat may be
contaminated with insecticides.
Following our own letter regarding
homeopathy and bluetongue which was printed the previous week, we had hoped
that someone - a local farmer, vet or MP perhaps - would have contacted us
for more information.
Ironically and sadly, such contact has come
only from a sheep farmer in the Netherlands. Betty Stikkers wrote: "In our
country there were several big herds that were treated with homeopathy last
year and it worked well. I just made a plan with a friend who is a
homeopathic vet to prevent BT in our flock. Vaccine will be too late for
us."
She later wrote that she and her friend (who she says is
president of the International Association for Veterinary Homeopaths - and
please note that all homeopathic vets are also fully qualified ‘normal’
vets) are now starting with the special treatment in the hope of preventing
the disease. They will also give them willow branches "which did a great
work last year, and the sheep love them" together with "selenium licks to
enhance the condition of the animals".
Betty offers help to anyone
wishing to know more.
We have to ask why ‘officialdom’ in the UK is
so reluctant to look at natural and safe alternatives, especially in view of
the shortage of vaccines - and why so many of our farmers appear to comply
with this stance, to the detriment of both themselves and the local economy,
of course.
COLIN & SUSAN THORPE