FACIAL ECZEMA IN SHEEP.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 810, 6 May 1910, Page 8

FACIAL ECZEMA IN SHEEP.

OUTBREAKS INVESTIGATED. It is, understood that the Live Stock Division of tho Department of Agriculture has made exhaustive investigations in-connection with the recently reported outbreaks of facial eczema in sheep. Tho results practically confirm the conclusions ■ arrived at by Mr. Gilnith in. 1908, and Bet out in the Departmental report of : that year. In some cases a much heavier mortality than usual has occurred. This is owing to the fact that sheep, as a reBult of the exceptionally good summer and autumn and the plenitude of feed, have in many coses a fatty infiltration.of the liver and kidneys. As a result their-, . general standard of vitality has been lowered, and- they are less able to withstand any adverse conditions. Ono particularly bad outbreak ,'in Hawke's liay was specially investigated,' and here' there were concomitant conditions which aroused suspicion as to possible contagion ■ from-;some outside source. ,The death-rate-was considerably in. excess of that usually associated witli eczema. Experiments, however, failed to reveal the preKnee: of'any organisms save those gaining access to the skin- after the abrasions had been > made by the sheep in endeavouring to relieve the irritation set tip by the inflammatory nature of the disease. Nasal bot had not been a seri-' ous factor-in connection with the eczema, though in some cases it had increased ihe . irritation already existing, but 'it could in no case be regarded as the causative agency. ■ ".■'./ . . ■ Mr. Gilruth, in his description of facial eczema,' stated that '.Only.'hoggets'. and ■two : tooth; sheep were affected. . This has not been, the caso thin season, as all classes .of sheep. have been found' sufferftoin. the eczema . ■ , ■■-,■' The' treatment recommended ; in' 1908 by Mr. Gilruth was as follows:—"This: • consists, chiedy in a changs of pasturenot alone a change of paddock, but of the nature of the pasture.. As treat-, Bient, we recommended simple boracic ointment, but it has. been found that, a lotion composed of a strong solution of lysol or creolin, both of which in.; fairly undiluted form possess anodyno principles, relieves ■ the intense irritation .jtnoro effectually than anything else; for /which observation wo are originally indebted'to Mr. Mackintosh, of To Horo. JAs a concluding remark, I desire to re)cord an opinion which many observations {bare forced upon me, to the effect that , sheep are averse to pasture or feeding composed of a single variety of plant iood, whether a grass or a clover, 1 or other herb; and, further, that, where possible, they will' endeavour to seek a ; change. Bearing upon this i.s the evidence recorded, of cczematous skintroubles : following upon confinement to lone partictlar plant food, as already reflated." - ■.-■■ . ;-■-.-