"PINK EYE"

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22796, 23 August 1939, Page 13

"PINK EYE"

SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT “VERY SERIOUS -iNEAR LAMBING PERIIH)” “During- the last week or more several outbreaks of contagious ophthalmia or ‘pink eye’ among all’ 'classes of sheep have come under' notice, and while the conditiori, because of its extremely contagious nature, is serious at any time, it becomes infinitely more so in ewes -approaching, the lambing period.” said Mr G. K. L. Knott of the animal research division of the Department of Agriculture, in a statement to "The Press” yesterday. “Although the trouble.almdst invariably responds to treatment, nevertheless the pain and subsequent blindnesfe interfering with feeding naturally cause loss of condition. .In - other words, a check occurs and .as the latter is admittedly a cause of antepartum paralysis or dopiness in breeding ewes * sheepowners would be well advised -to keep a sharp lookout for the first appearance of the trouble. Again, should pink eye’ make its appearance, at lambing time it is unnecessary to draw attention to the added difficulties and work entailed in handling ' affected sheep. “The disease is caused fay a virus and is very contagious. Naturally if the sheep, are feeding out of troughs they come in close contact with one another, an'd the discharges from the eyes are liable to infect the feed and troughs, so the whole flock can quickly become affected. Its spread is greatly facilitated by cold and frosty weather, and in the summer time flies may carry it from sheep to sheep. , The Symptoms

“The first symptom is a watery discharge from ttie eyes arid the eyelids become swollen,.and the lining membrane very inflamed. In a few days the discharge changes from a watery fluid to one that is thicker and yellowish in colour and the eyeball is covered with a whitish film, and if untreated an ulcer may form. The ulcer may be deep enough to perforate the interior covering of the eyeball and permanent blindness may result. Bund sheep, besides being a source of infection, are liable, to get caught m fences, and incur bodily injury, especially as they are very sensitive to light and seek the shade. “Immediately a case is ’ noticed or even suspected the affected animal should be-removed from the others and kept apart until the trouble has cleared up. Very strict observance and careful treatment will be means of checking the spread of the disease. It cannot be too stronglyemphasised that if breeding ewes become affected they should receive very special feeding so as to prevent checking arid loss of. condition. , ' The Treatment

; “Concerning treatment, the simplest anil most satisfactory lotion to use is prepared by dissolving five grains of zinc sulphate in one ounce of boiled : water. This should be applied at least once a day. This can conveniently be instilled into the eye either by means of an eye-dropper, or, better i still, by a small oil-can which has been well sterilised by boiling, or by a bottle with a teat attachment such, as is used for feeding pet lambs. Where i practical, it is an advantage first to : clean the ewe by bathing with a satur- i pted solution of boracic. As an alter- j native; if an ointment is preferred, one j may: use 2 per cent, of yellow oxide of mercury in white vaseline. . ' “The discharges running down the face are very likely to cause scalding. In ordinary flock'sheen this may not cause concern, but in the case of stud sheep the disfigurement will probably be highly undesirable. To prevent ■ scalding, the area nmning from the inner- corner of the eye towards the mouth may be salved with an ointment such as' boracic. This will be Quite effective in affording protection. COUNTY RATES To. the Agricultural Editor ■- Sir,—This represents the cqunty rates paid: lor six. years on only one . back country , station iia. Hawke* s Bay. All Other holdings, bigandsmall, ar e , relatively affected to the same W* tent:— ; . v ' , ■ Year 1934 .. JO2 1935 ... ~ 134 1936 .. .. r* JO® 1937 .. • ~ ' - If® - 1938 .. .. ... 244. 1939 (demand) .. ~358. This represents >the state of affairs that has been allowed to creep in' by, not only the Hawke's Bay County Council, but by all the county councils in New Zealand. -', . - ■ It is Quite obvious that this avalanche of increases on costs, which our county councillors, who are composed of farmers, are content to : accept, and band on to themselves, and the rest -of the farming community,. is getting far past the stage of tolerance. ~ I suggest that the county councils put their heads together and refuse to keep piling :the rates up on the farmers, and idemand that the whole of the petrol tax be used for the maintenance of the roads; the purpose for which it was~put on in the;first place. Failing that, strike a rate dn‘ the average rating for the 1 last 10 years, and do as much work as there-is money available for and let the rest “go hang.”—Yours, etc., , . RATEPAYER. • Hastings, August 14.. k •• . ' IT • •o . *■ FARMERS’ LECTURES USB ,OP FILMS . Farmers shquld note, advertised elsewhere in this--issue l a' series of lectures with the assistaiic'e of films, given by the Department, of .Agriculture upon phases of lann management, dealing cattle, sheep, pigs and - poultry. As.' this is the only that these films will be shown in these districts, and. as they are of vital" interest to T all producers, it is hoped i tbat farmers will-avail themselves:*©^'-the opportunity of seeing on the 'screen many ; factors not noticeable with the naked ' -eye. „■ " ~ . • Seventy-five Dorset Honr flotfc rains were shipped- from Sydney on -August 4 to' New Zealand buyers. .An Aus- ; traliain comment states that4t has been ' suggested that Dominion fat lamb pro- ■ ducers hope, to use the. breed ; to raise 1 a proportlon in the : year. ; The effect .of- the -lntroductibn • pt the. Dorset' Horn site* on uniformity of- the lambs will-: be watched with, .interest by Australian -breeders. 1 New Zealand is producing high per- 1 ■ centage of first-grade lambs by the all most use of Southdown rams. ’ Under Australian conditions the Dorset . Horn is .famed for its earlyi maturity, > and it-thrives more particularly in the > warmer districts. . Though conditions ■ in New Zealand are . very different, s Australian , breeders believe there is no i reason why the early-maturing Quab- • I ties of the breed' should not help -in • I the production of an earlier lamb in the /Dominion.