FACIAL ECZEMA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22389, 30 April 1938, Page 11

FACIAL ECZEMA

CAUSES AND TREATMENT

LINCOLN COLLEGE REPORT

Outbreaks of facial eczema apparently only rarely occur in the South Island, at least three rather serious outbreaks have been noted in the Mackenzie Country. However, they have been fairly numerous in the North Island, where the outbreaks of more recent years—l93s onwards—have apparently been more serious than those recorded F?. vious^ y \» I,,?" J. Sldey. of Lincoln College staff, supplies the following observations on the The trouble is apparently due to a combination of circumstances. The skin has to be in a sensitive state and the animal is usually in an unhealthy or unthrifty state, mineral deficiency is usually in evidence, and serious outbreaks usually occur when there has been a dry period followed by rain, mild conditions, and a flush ol growth. It is not infectious, like some other somewhat similar conditions, e.g. scabby mouth (fustular dermatitis), with which it might be confused. At least some of the outbreaks in the South Island have been associated with sheep eating a weed called St. John's Wort. This plant contains a substance which causes unpigmented skin to be pnotosensitivised, i.e„ predisposed to the effects of the ultra-violet rays of the sun. It is characteristic of the trouble in sheep that pigmented skin, e.g., the coloured face of the Southdown, is not affected (as noted by the correspondent to "The Press" of Wednesday), while white-faced sheep are affected. In the case of cattle this, does not always hold true. As mentioned in "The Press" of Wednesday? the trouble under North Island conditions is worst where the grass is long, rank, and damp. These conditions probably predispose to the skin round the mouth becoming irritated and more susceptible to any effect of the sun's rays. In addition such feed conditions are not satisfactory for the health and well-being of the sheep, as has been previously pointed out in these columns in connexion with some of the sheep losses in Canterbury, particularly in lamb losses in late summer from entero-toxaemia. Like these losses, facial eczema can at least be considerably reduced by the judicious feeding of dry feed as soon as it is realised that feed conditions are abnormal. Predisposing Causes Good management could do much to minimise the trouble and this is only another case of the value to stock owners of a study of feed and climatic conditions. They shuold make preparations to forestall the possible effects of a feed supply which, while it may appear satisfactory, is really unsatisfactory. , ~..., The fact must not be lost sight of toat fn sheep at least the presence of internal parasites, by causing a form of anaemia and reducing the vitality of the animals, may be a contributing factor to the deaths which occur in the more serious cases.

Treatment

The treatment usually recommended is (l) a change of feed, and particularly the feeding of good quality dry fodder, (2) the treatment of the affected areas with an ointment containing coal-tar products and preferably black to reduce the effects of the sunlight. (3) the administration of a purgative, usually Epsom or Glaubers salts, because the liver is invariably more or less seriously affected by the trouble. . im M . , Because of the fact that a mineral deficiency is frequently a contributing* factor it is considered by the college that a serious effort should be made where possible to feed a mixture of concentrates, bran, pea meal, crushed oats and linseed, etc.. with a mineral mixture, as this should be the best way to give a change of feed, and quickly make up the mineral deficiency. If a few isolated cases of sores round the mouth are observed in South Island flocks, with the sheep still retaining a reasonable condition, it would be safe to assume that pustular dermatitis is the cause. In such cases affected sheep should certainly be isolated, the scabs on the sores should be softened with hot soapy water and removed and then treated with «n ointment m«d»> from a