The Reported New Disease Among- Sheep

Southland Times, Issue 11899, 21 November 1891, Page 3

The Reported New Disease Among- Sheep

(Bt Cobin.) Some weeki lince report* were made from different parts of the colony that a disease, apparently previously unknown here, or at anyratc unnoticed, had appeared in many flocks of ibeep,and that thelotsef cauaed by it were in some caiet very heavy. In all the report* the symptom* were but imperfectly described and no very accurate diagnosis appear* to have been made, yet enough was ascertained to show such a strong similarity in the appearance of the internal organ", whenever post mortem examinations were made, as to leave little doubt that the cause of death was the same in all the cues reported. The Bangitikei Advocate says the disease 'has been responsible for a large number of deaths. The victims to it are asuary among the best-conditioned sheep in the flock, and are usually found dead, a* though they bad died suddenly, and in their sleep, One settler has lost 20 well bred valuable sheep in this way, and several others are loiing them from the same ctusr. One gentleman informs ns that the ikin becomes discoloured, and he think* that «yen previou* to death the wool might be easily swept off the Bkin by the band, bat h« knows that just after it can be so cleaned away without tke slightest difficulty. On opening^one of them lie found all the organs, with the exception of the liver, looking healthy ; part of tbe Utter orpan w, however, of a whitish colour and WBs so rotten that it crumbled away under the hand.' The disease is also reported by tbe Western Star as having appeared in the Wettern district; and that paper, referring to the repoit just quoted, says : — 'The disease above referred to, or ooe that is remarkably similar in its symptom*, is at present sot unknown in oar diitrict. In the cases that have occurred here there is the same rotten condition of the liver, but in addition there is a great enlargement of tbe gall bladder, which in some cases has been found to have burst. The sheep are apparently in good health until a short time before death. In one small flock of 150 breeding ewes which hare been well and carefully wintered, no less than 30 have died, and in all cases the symptoms have been identically the same ' There is another report from Timaru, but the writer throws no f nrther light on the subject. Shortly after the diseaie was reported from Wallace Mr Turner, Stock Inspector, and Mr Hall, agent for the district, visited the farms on which deaths bad occurred from this ctatr, with the hope of mikin? a thorough investigation, but tbe mortality bad ceased, and in no case were they able to obtain a subject for poit mortem examination. There are then only the symptoms above described on which to base any theory, and 1 am strongly of opinion that the diseaie is a form of jtundicf , and I believe that had more careful examination br en ma r e, the hepatic duct would have been found to be blocked up either by gall stones or by thick and inipii••.ted bile. Of course, a superabundant diecharge of bile would also came jaundice, but ia the cases examined we have the distended gall bladder, and indeed sometimes find it bunt. The conditions also under which the affected flocks have been treated tend to support my view. In nearly every case the sheep have been on turnip*, and have received corn and chaff in addition ; and again, the diseaie has almost disappeared wh<?n the flocks have been removed to the grass field*. It it well known that in fat sheep the liver ia ft very tender organ, and is peculiarly liable to inflammation, and wh«n iDfltmed it is either inactive or secretei bile of a vitiated quality, and in the latter case it appeara likely enough that the gall stones would be more readily formed, or that the gall would be found in the thick and inspissated condition before referred to. The symptoms of jaundice, when caused by gall stones, are not of an acute nature, and the one earliest observed ia generally tbe y llowoess of the skin and the eyes. There ii a want of energy observable, and coitivenest is an early and important symptom. Tke feezes are bard, and of ft light colour, acd the urine [is scanty in qnantity, often discharged, and of a deep brown colour. The treatment of this disease is simple enough. Remove the sheep effected to a bare pasture, and administer a purge of 2oz Kpsom salts with half a drachm of ginger, and repeat this iv half dosei for two or three •ncoessive mornings. Mr Turner is still pursuing kifl investigations .and has cleverly suggested that tie nature of tke manure used for the turnip crop may have something to do with the matter, (Be it remembered that m Wallaue, at any rate, the sheep affected were on turnips.) I recollect that many yews ago the excesiive use of mineral superphosphates was found to render the turnip crop injurious to sheep, and nearly all our turnips are grown with phospbatic goa.no*. This may be all theory, but thia much may be said in its favour— according to Fownef, bile leaves, when incinerated, between 11 and ll per cent of ask, consisting shiefly of carbonate of node, with a little common salt and alkaline phosphate. Now, increase the I proportion of phosphate and it looks as if you ' would increase tie obftOCO o! HtJl Ito&ei ! Wag formed.