SCAB IN SHEEP.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 98, 7 October 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

SCAB IN SHEEP.

("From the Argus.) The following report upon an experiment for tho cure of scab in sheep is quoted in the fourth acnual report of the Board of Agriculture, just publishd : — Seventy sheep having been purchased for the purpose of testing seven solutions for the cure of scab, the experiment was commenccdon Thursday, 4th June, 1863, at the Experimental Farm, in the presence of the owners of the several solutions, as well as many other gentlemen interested in stock, wool, &c. The sheep, beiug all alike severely infected were run out of the yard in lots of ten each, and the solutions 'being prepared, the sheep were dipped in each, under the direction of the owners oi them. » Mr. Brown's Victorian Patent Fluid. — ?ive pints of the fluid to forty gallons of water, applied cold. The sheep were allowed to remain half a minute in dipMr. Bosisto— Zolforine — Ten pounds ( of the substance dissolved to forty gal- j lons of water, applied cold. The same ] course adopted as with Mr. Brown's. Oppenheimer and Co. — M. ' Dougall's Specific. — Twenty pounds of the sudstance boiled for three minutes in five gallons water, and forty-£ve gallons water added ; application of specific, lukewarm ; one minute in dip. Mr. Praagst. — Twelve pounds of the substance to forty gallons water, applied lukewarm ; half a minute in dip. Mr. Lewis. — Three pounds to thirty gallons, applied cold; half a minute in dip. Mr Allen. — Three quarts of the solution and one pound and a half of j tobacco well boiled, added to thirty gallons water; application about Sodeg.; ; half a minute in dip. Mr. Costello, — Eighty gallons of the j specific mixed previous to being brought j to the farm ; applied cold : half a minute in dip On the 18th June the sheep were examined ; each lot was found to be still infected, and it was very evident that the agency of the specifics was much more ! beneficial in some cases than in others, j r lhe sheep were re-dipped in the same ! manner as before in the several solutions j supplied by the owners of them, and the J following particulars -will show their application, as well as the effects produced upon the sheep by the previous dipping: — Mr. Erown. — Five pints to forty gallons of water ; temperature of dip, 65deg. ; one minute in the dip. These sheep much improved, the effects of dipping beneficial, but the disease still showing itself in several of them. Mr. Bosisto. — Ten pounds to forty gallons of water; temperature of dip, 65deg. ; one minute in dip. These sheep much improved, the I disease in a green state still existing in | several of them ; but the solution had been very beneficial.

Oppenheimer and Co. — Sixteen | pounds to forty gallons of water; teaip^rature of dip, 65<3eg. ,• one minute -in. dip. : . i j The effects 'of the dipping had ap- | parently nearly exterminated the disease, J | and 'although at this stage of the experiment no definite conclusion could be j arrived at as to a permanent cure, yet it j evidently showed that the solution pos- i sessed elements destructive to it in a j groat degree « the sheep wove much im- J [ proved, although the wool was very much \ discoloured. I Mr. Praagst. — Twelve pounds to forty ' gallons of water ; temperature, 85deg.*; | one minute in the dip. These sheep were in a very bad state, the previous dipping having had little or, no effect upon them, and, consequently, they -were kept apart from the others, and [placed in a separate paddock. Mr. Lewis. — Sixty ounces to thirty gallons,- temperature, sixty- five degrees ; one minute in the dip. ■ The application of 'the solution in this case had been very efficient, and the sheep were much improved, the wool showing a healthy colour, clearly indicating that the virnlence of the disease had been in a great measure overcome. Mr. Allen. — Three quarts of the solution and three pounds tobacco, well boiled, added to thirty gallons water ; i temperatuae, eighty-five degrees ; oue minute in the dip. The effect of the previous flipping Was J very similar to that produced by Mr. Lewis's, and was apparently equally efficient as to its curative properties. Mr. Costello. — Four pounds to thirty gallons water; temperature, sixty-five J degrees ; one minute in dip. ' The disease appeared to have lost its virulence, and from the improved con- j dition of the sheep, it was evident that 1 the solution contained valuable curative I properties, although it discoloured the ■wool. The shoep were examined on the 22nd inst., and found that those dipped j in Mr. Praagst's solution showed marked i symptoms of improvement, so much so that they were joined with the others. The whole of the sheep, with the exception of Mr. Brown's, appeared, as far as could be ascertained at this stage of the experiment, progressing towards a cure. On the 27th June the sheep were again examined, and, with one or two exceptions, the desoaso appeared to have assumed a much milder form ; and, in some cases, to have altogether disappeared. The sheep were thoroughly examined on the 30th June, in the presence of — ' Smallpage, Esq., — (juartermati, Esq., — ClOugh, Esq., — Dallimore, Esq., and several other gentlemen, with the following results, viz : — Mr. Brown's. — It was evident; that the effects of this solution, as a curative for scab, were most unsatisfactory. Mr. Bosisto* — These sheep were still scabby, but the disease was much subdued. Their improvement in condition was very evident. Oppenheimer and Co. — The improved condition of these sheep made it apparent that the solution had nearly eradicated the disease. There were one or two of the sheep which appeared not thoroughly cured, although at this stage of the experiment it was impossible to pronounce fully upon it. j Mr. Praagst. — The same remarks apply to these shoep as to Mr. Bosisto's. Mr. Lewis. — There was a marked improvement in these sheep. The wool looked healthy, but the solution had not effected a cure, although some of them appeared clean. Mr. Costello.— The effects of this specific were very manifest, and its curative properties unmistakable. The disease appeared to have been nearly overcome, although the wool was still discoloured. Mr. Allen. — There was a marked improvement in these sheep ; and, although the disease was not eradicated, the specific had effected much good, and apparently checked its existence. The look of the wool was also satisfactory, and very little scab apparently remained in the sheep. On the 3rd July the sheep, with the exception of Mr. Allen's and Messrs. Oppenheimer's, were redipped. Those dressed with Mr. Costello's solution were spotted. The following are the quantities used in the several mixtures : — Mr. Brown. — Three pints of solution to forty gallons ; temperature, 65deg. Mr. Bosisto. — Ten pounds of solution to forty gallons ; temperature, 65deg. Mr. s?raagst. — Twelve pounds of solution to forty gallons; temperature, 65deg. Mr. Lewis. — Sixty ounces of solution to thirty gallons ; temperature, lOOdeg. The sheep were examined on the 27th July, in presence of the several owners of the solutions, or their agents, and Messrs. Carfrae, Winter, and several other gentlemen interested in the experiment, with the following results : — Mr. Brown. — These sheep were still badly infected, and their general condition evidently showed that the effects of three dippings had produced very little, if any, improvement upon them. Mr. Bosisto. — The last dressing fully proved that this solution contained valuable curative properties. No green scab to any extent was discovered ; and although the sheep were still infected, it was probable that another dipping might pure them, considering the stage in which the disease was developed. Oppenlieimer and Co. — These sheep, which when last examined seemed nearly if not quiet free frim the disease, were still infected, and several of them showerl the scab in its earliest stages. It was evident, however, that the " compes'tion" had acted in a great degree to destroy the extreme virulence which had existed, and although it had deeply co'oured the wool, its staple was apparently uninjured. Mr. Praagft. — The effects of the third dipping in this case showed itself in a very marked manner, and clearly indicated that the " compound" contained properties which were valuable as an

antidote for the disease, but that it had failed in this instance to effect a cure.; Mr. Lewis.— This "lot was much improved ; but, although the scab still ex- | isted in several of the sheep, the solution j had reduced its virulence, and proved , that it contained very valuable properties. Mr. Allen. — Although the application of this solution had failed to effect a cure, it was evident that it contained elements which M'Q valuable as an antidote for scab. The disease existed in several of tbe sheep, although most of them appeared clean. Mr. Costello — The composition in this case had almost annihilated the disease, but it still remains in two or three of the sheep in a mild form. A marked improvement was manifest, and although the wool was discoloured, it retained its firmness of staple. It may be noted, in conclusion, that seventeen of the sheep have been worried by dogs, and have died during this experiment, although they have been yarded in the homestead of the farm. By the wish of the owners of the several solutions, the sheep have been running together during the day, and folded together at night ; and it is to be regretted that, with the loss of the sheep, the failure of the solutions as a curative of scab must also be recorded in this report.