A NEW REMEDY FOR SCAB.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 48, 24 April 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

A NEW REMEDY FOR SCAB.

(From tlie Tress.}

We had lately thought that the scab had been got rid of in New South Wales. There was so much talk about the celebrated law which condemned all scabby sheep to instant death, and so much complacent crowing as to the complete success of that sacrificial measure, that we have been accustomed to look up to New South 'Wales as a paradise for squatters where scab Was unknown, or was only known by the records of what used to be in the dark or middle ages of history, standing in the same category with witch-craft, the plague, and other annoyances to which past generations were subject.

The Legislature of Sydney some years ago constituted itself into a sort of providence to work out the doctrine of progress by "natural selection," and to stimulate the tardy procees of nature in a mode which it would have delighted Darwin to contemplate. That is looking at the question from the sheep side ; where sheep are the object to be developed into some higher type, whose cuticle and tissues should be superior to the attacks of scab. But how about the parasitic itself? The scab insect is a creature as much as a sheep, and is equally entitled to the protection afforded by nature's stem law. And so we find that, in spite of the aids to providence afforded by the Parliament of Sydney, there is a field for development by natural selection for the skin-eating insect as well as the graminiverous quadruped. If we read the_ report of a meeting in Sydney on the subject of scab,- we shall find that Sydney is in a state of as great alarm at the reappearance of this cutaneotts^ureejafiiik^law^^ad^e^n

passed on the subject. Nay, when it comes to the point whether the law shall be put in force, and the throat of diseased sheep .cut, there is a natural shrinking from the sacrifice of so much property. " A live ass is better than a dead lion," and a live scabby sheep is better tban a dead scabby sheep — ■ if it be your own. If it be another man's — cut its^throat to the bone most righteously and expeditiously. It is like the case of a fire in a street of wooden houses. The only way,to stop the fire is to pull down a house. Every one screams — "pull down a house ! '' But when the question arises, whose house shall be pulled do"wn r every one > says, "not mine." It is strange^how, though a man knows that in about twenty minutes his house will be devoured by the flames, he still insanely and savagely resists any attempt to pull it down Co save half a town. In the same way human nature and squatter nature'resists the operation of the Sydney law, and, the moment scab reappears, congregates into a public meeting, appoints a committee of six, waits upon the Land Commissioner or other presiding deity in the Government, and prays *' the suspension of the stringent clauses of the Scab Act, pending the trial of curative measures."

The curative measues are Hayes* specific, and kerosene oil. Mr Hayeses the advocate of his own specific before the meeting. It costs 1 l-2d. per gallon to the sheepowner, and one hogshead makes 2000 gallons of the weak liquid &c, &c. He had tried it in abundant cases — it was a perfect cure. Of course it was ; we have had dozens of absolute specifics. But — Kerosene oil — that is something new. Our spirity old friend Captain Towns introduces it to the meeting. Captain Towns is not advertisting a mixture which he has got to sell. He speaks in the interest of science. He has not followed the vulgar career of those who merely dipped sheep; but "he had tried an experiment on a dog terribly afflicted with the mange, and the result was wonderful." By the way the gallant captain does not tell us what the result was ; it may have killed the dog and the mange at once for ought We know ; though whether that would have been wonderful depends on the expectations of the experimenter. "If," said Capt. Towns, " any gentleman would get him ten or a dozen scabby sheep, if he didn't cure them with kerosene oil it woidd be a pity ." Well, it certainly would. "If any gentleman brought him a scabby goat, he'd uudertake to eradicate the disease with his remedy, of kerosene oil.''

Honor ! all honor to the martyrs of science ! And when odes are penned, and cartoons painted to immortalize those who have exposed themselves to pain, poverty, Or ridicule for the benefit of their fellow creatures, let one small photograph at least remain of the aged but vigorous prince merchant and shipowner, hugging to his breast a savory billy goat, and with the utmost tenderness rubbing kerosene oil into its scabby hide. We fear this good saroaritan after pouring the oil into the skin of the goat would have to pour a good deal of the wine into his own.

After all, it was a shame of the meeting to laugh as it did, for kerosene oil may turn out to be a discovery which may throw a good deal of liyht on an interesting subject ; and at all events it is quite certain that what cures a sheep dor/, a fortiori will cure a sheep. And as between goats and sheap, we know that what saves the skin of a sinner proves wholesome discipline fov a saint; so it may be with their respective types.