Day 113 - 03 Apr 95 - Page 36


     
     1        could be used now were not available at that time ago, so
     2        more or less dependent on organophosphate compounds.  But
     3        we have new treatments because of the problems in sheep.
     4        I will not detail those, but they have an effect because
     5        organophosphorus compounds have a very bad reputation
     6        amongst farmers primarily because of their use on sheep.
     7
     8   Q.   I am going to come on to human health concerns.  Which of
     9        the treatments that we have talked about -----
    10
    11   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  If you are going to move to a new topic we
    12        may as well break off now and we will come back to that at
    13        2 o'clock.
    14
    15                         (Luncheon Adjournment)
    16
    17   MR. MORRIS:  Dr. Long, we were looking into some of the
    18        illnesses that are associated with cattle, in particular,
    19        beef dairy herds and the treatment.  What are the
    20        implications for human health as regards the actual
    21        diseases that are prevalent in a significant amount of
    22        cattle, firstly, and, secondly, the implications for human
    23        health of the treatment?
    24        A.  I deal with those in that order then.  Let me just
    25        exemplify, there are a number of diseases that could be put
    26        forward but they are, essentially, bacterial or viral or
    27        fungal in origin.  The major bacterial ones that we would
    28        be considering are salmonella of various sorts, I think
    29        they are general, and also there is now E.coli, what is
    30        called verotoxigenic E.coli which in this country has got
    31        the description 0157.
    32
    33   Q.   We have heard quite a lot of evidence on that.
    34        A.  Yes, you asked me the question.  I am not quite
    35        sure  -----
    36
    37   Q.   No, I understand.  You go through them.
    38        A.  So I am glad that I am going along the lines that other
    39        people have said because it is a very serious problem.
    40        That is one disease.  Another disease actually that affects
    41        the workers, because a number of these diseases actually
    42        affect the workers as well as the consumers, so there is a
    43        health concern there, is leptospirosis, not the
    44        leptospirosis that sewer workers get or rat workers or rat
    45        operatives, although that does occur, but a special form of
    46        leptospirosis which is associated with dairy cattle where
    47        the workers have to use machinery -----
    48
    49   MR. RAMPTON:  I know you do not always welcome my intervention
    50        but I do think we are straying a million miles from the 
    51        leaflet or the Defence. 
    52 
    53   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.
    54
    55   MR. RAMPTON:  There is nothing about farm workers in any of this
    56        case, as far as I know.
    57
    58   MR. MORRIS:  I was going to guide the witness there.
    59
    60   MR. RAMPTON:  Why do you not try?

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