FACIAL ECZEMA

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 9, 26 January 1937, Page 3

FACIAL ECZEMA

Slight Outbreak in Sheep on East Coast HEADS SWOLLEN With reference to a slight outbreak of faciai eczema in sheep in the East Coast, Mr. P. Iiaugh, the Gisborne veterinary supervisor, mentioned that although the heads were swollen, the sheep did not seek the shade, as was usually the case «'ith this complaint. Most ot those affected at present were white-skinned susceptible sheep, with the liver slightly upset. Mr. W. L Hindmarsli, dii'ector of the veterinary research station at Glenfield", New .South Wales, interviewed during a visit to Gisborne, said that in New South Wales the disease was known as "the yellow big kead," and was associated with pauic grass, which came up on land otlierwise bare. Burr trefoil also caused photo sensitivity. According to Dr. Hopkirk, officer in charge of the veterinary laboratory at Wallaceville, the disease owes its origin entirely to a breakdown of chlorophyll, the green colouring matter in grass' "With the bright sunshine, he thought the cases on the coast would be checked. He did not expect a recurrence of an outbreak as serious as that of two years ago, when there was heavy rain with a lack of sunshine