We have an organic dairy farm in Devon, and were disappointed that the Soil Association and other groups didn't recommend Borax 30, the homoeopathic preventative for FMD which has so far protected our cows. One farmer we know gave Borax 30 to his cows housed inside sheds, but couldn't give it to his sheep outside. The sheep got FMD, but the cows did not. Sandy Evans, Okehampton. . .Or treat FMD with homoeopathyHomoeopathic borax should not be given to treat foot and mouth; it is a prophylactic. Dr Dorothy Shepherd, the renowned physician of the Royal Homeopathic Hospital in the mid 1930s, demonstrated that homoeopathic Antim. Crud. 30 can effectively treat the disease, with results in under 72 hours. The beast will come back to full weight and milk in two to three weeks, with no ill effects. This terrible slaughter, misery and irreparable damage to the farming industry could be halted quickly. Malcolm H. Stemp, Devon....

FMD is a disease of depleted soils Foot and mouth disease is transient in sheep, but severe in cattle. Flu like in sheep, yes but in cows, it is a wasting disease and most will never regain their health and productivity. Neither would they be immune 'the next time round'. Immunity only lasts six months whether activated by infection or vaccine and even then, a percentage of the immunised animals continue to carry the virus, although whether they are capable of transmitting this is uncertain.

FMD is a disease not only of intensive farming, but also of extensive farming where grassland is impoverished by overgrazing. One could say it is a disease of exploitation.

As four UK organic farms have reported cases of FMD, it should be asked whether it was the poor trace element status of the soils that made the animals susceptible. The Soil Association has for years denied the importance of trace elements to our depleted soils, averring that they would be restored by organic methods alone.

Danny Goodwin-Jones has shown the rapid response to cobalt and zinc in sheep afflicted with orf and, in addition, to selenium, copper and iodine in dairy herds afflicted with calf losses, mastitis and TB (Goodwin-Jones R, Unpublished Farm Reports, Pencnwc, Abergorlech Road, Carmarthen).