FACIAL ECZEMA WARNING.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 April 1938, Page 7

FACIAL ECZEMA WARNING.

CONDITIONS FAVOUR DISEASE. .PROCEDURE FOR PREVENTION <■ in view of the fact that facial eczema has broken out in the Waikato district and already isolated cases are known to exist in the Manawatu, it is prudent that a note of warning should be issued/' stated an officer of the livestock division of the Department of Agriculture yesterday. “Following the exceptionally dry summer experienced in the Manawatu and with the recent light rains on many farms there is a pronounced growth in evidence, and it is conditions such as these which lend themselves to an outbreak of facial eczema,” he continued. Past experience has shown that treatment of the affected animals is of little avail. The facial lesion is really only a symptom. An early indication of the trouble is a jaundiced condition (the membrane of the eyes and lips take on a pronounced muddy to yellow colour). “This condition can be accepted as a warning that the sheep re liable to be affected with facial ea in course of a few day -. The digertivo upset interferes wit/ Iho nonr.il flow cl the bile from the liver to the lutes'. uies. When the bile tow uanj ca.i ; into the liver it is damagm! to ai: enormous extent, in eur: labile into the blood circulation. This sets up a yellow 7 pigmentation of the membranes and skin known as jaundice.

“On farms carrying three to five ewes to the acre and upwards the number of cases of eczema in the previous outbreak was undoubtedly high. The number of sheep affected on such farms was higher still if the sheep were recent purchases from high, dry country and were not acclimatised to the rich feed conditions in this district. Bought in sheep when they were transferred directly to rich, heavy' country suffered heavily. “Farmers who have had experience in this matter will realise that the treatment of cases once the facial lesions have appeared is almost hopeless. Treatment would, therefore, require to be undertaken to deal with all sheep affected with jaundice before any lesions show up on the skin. “To overcome the stoppage in the bile flow doses of Epsom salts, three to four packets dissolved in water, are recommended, to be given at intervals until the jaundiced condition begins to clear up. It is also advisable that better feed bo given by providing an excess of lighter pastures or giving the sheep access to hay stacks or hay placed in the paddocks. “In many cases the affected sheep will readily take to the fibrous feed. This practice provides the fibre necessary to balance the soft green growth and to restore the digestion and rumination to normal. Shelter from the sun is also recommended and the application of a black ointment consisting of lard and lamp black to the hair and face is most beneficial, adding greatly to the comfort of the sheep. “Prevention consists briefly in balanced feed throughout the season, first by giving green feed while a drought exists (where that is possible); secondly', by giving dry feed while there is a flush following rain—the most dangerous stage. “To sum up, if jaundice is in evidence, drench immediately. Every attempt should be made to balance the rain by providing fibre or hay while sheep are on succulent pastures. This point may be stressed: The treatment of facial eczema is often followed with discouraging results whereas prevention on the lines indicated is of the utmost importance.

“Where a fanner has any reason-to suspect the disease in his flock,” he concluded, “he is advised to eoniniunioate w'ith the nearest office of the livestock division of the Department of Agriculture to seek further advice.”