STOCK DISEASES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 September 1939, Page 3

STOCK DISEASES

RINGWORM IN CALVES

A NEW MIXTURE. SOME VALUABLE ADVICE. Mr W. Rayner, “The Cliffs," Masterton, writes: —“In the “Times-Age” on September 5 you published an article on ringworm in calves. I was particularly interested in this because in May last when we were dehorning calves we tried a new mixture —petroleum jelly, crushed bluestone and kerosene, using enough bluestone to make it a light blue colour. It may be safe to make it stronger. We rub it round the horns before dehorning. We also use it in connection with operations on rams and calves, and it seems to work splendidly. There were 12 calves out of 60 suffering from ringworm, some with ringworms 5 or 6 inches long and 3 or 4 inches wide. One rubbing and we cured the lot. We did not take any particular care about the rubbing. There have been no cases since.

“The sheep survey speaker over the wireless at the Christchurch station a few weeks ago referred to scabby mouths among sheep, and, if I heard correctly, he said that the disease was infectious. I also believe it is in this way—-when a lamb gets the disease its lips must be almost on fire, as the lips swell very much and big. hard scabs form. I think that their lips must burn the ewe’s udder. I have seen one or two ewes very bad as a result. The above mentioned mixture is a certain cure for this disease. Rub it well in round the lips and' inside the mouth round the gums. One dose will cure, but thistle in the paddock must be cut. The sheep survey speaker mentioned gorse as a likely cause. I believe gorse and thistles are the only causes. I have also used the mixture on balantitis in rams and' wethers. For a bad case you must use a stick rounded at the end and put the mixture well inside. I have found it a certain cure. The dirt should be cleared from under the trees and 1 the ground limed if possible. There is no doubt farmers are too careless allowing dirt to collect under’ trees. It is the cause of a lot of blood poisoning in ewes and the navel' strings of lambs.

“I gave an employee a tin of the mixture to try on cows with hard udders. I put turps in instead of kerosene. Turps or methylated spiritsmight be better than kerosene for the mixture. I also use it on ewes for green udder. I am wondering if bluestone dissolved in water would' be good for the lambing, paddock. I will try some in my next mixture. I am also wondering if epsom salts would' be good in the lambing paddock for blood poisoning. I believe the doctors are using it a lot. It is very cheap—you can. buy it by the lb- at 3d to 4d a lb.

“Now I must digress a little. I put a cupful of salts in my bath. I know a person that had rheumatism very ( bad. He put Jib of salts in a very hot bath, for 6 nights, going straight to- bedafter the bath. The doctor said that it cured him.

“I think the Farmers’ Union should take -a subject at every meeting; A few months ago they had a- talk which was quite interesting. If they decided what subject they would discuss at their next meeting, and ask farmers who cannot attend to send in papers, I am sure a lot of good would be accomplished. If you can by such means set people thinking, and especially farmers, good must come of it. I feel sure more farmers would l join the Union were more lectures given and papers read at meetings. There are about “fifty-eleven” different subjects relating* to stock diseases which could be discussed. Two heads are better than one they say. In this case there would be hundreds of brains.”