Facial Eczema.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 19374, 3 April 1935, Page 4

Facial Eczema.

DISEASE AMONG SHEEP.

SIMILAR CONDITION IN COWS

TREATMENT METHODS.

The disease of facial eczema has been prevalent among sheep this autumn in certain areas. Over a long period of years it has been the experience that facial eczema is more troublesome when .conditions occur such as we had this year; a dry spell, with pastures burnt up, followed by a sudden flush of young green and succulent feed. It will be noted that where the pastures remain green throughout the summer, as where paspalum is plentiful, or rainfall more distributed, so that there is no abrupt change, the disease is absent.

. The cause is apparently a substance' in the food, associated with the green colouring matter or chlorophyll, in the plant, which acts on the skin, rendering it very sensitive to light. The liver is concerned i'n the process. Exposure to light then completes the picture, producing a burning irritating reaction in the skin, particularly white skin in the unprotected parts most exposed to the light. The symptoms are first an intense itch manifested by the animal rubbing affected parts on its forelegs, the ground or a post. There is swelling of ears, eyelids and muzzle, and later the swollen skin becomes dry, brown and cracked. Animals persistently seek the shade, are worst on bright days; condition is lost. Th<> lesions are aggravated by rubbing, and the eyes may be damaged and sight permanently destroyed.

Method of Treatment.

Separate all affected sheep and shut up during the hours of daylight in the woolshed, or place in a shaded spot. Confinement in a dark shed is most helpful, as the itch is soon allayed and the damage to eyes may be prevented. Give 2oz. of Epsom Salts in a drench. Wash affected parts with 5 per cent. Kerol, Jeyes Fluid or non-poisonous dip, and then dress with a mild ointment, say, zinc oxide and lard, to which has been added some soot or lampblack to keep out light. In Gisborne stockholm tar and kerosene was veseC with benefit.

Eyes should be bathed with boracie powder solution, but sheep in whic,h eyeballs become septic should be destroyed. The remaining sheep should be exercised, and either put on rough or poorer feed, or crowded into a small area and made to eat out green feed as quickly as possible, then kept bare for one or two days. Once the sheep become habituated to the green feed no more cases will occur. Cattle Also Affected.

A somewhat similar condition occurs in cows, both in spring and autumn. The cause is the same, but parts affected are the thin skin over teats, or whole of udder, sometimes over escutcheon from udder to tail root, and in severe cases over the body, especially on the white parts. First symptoms are misleading, as there is violent kicking at the belly, suggesting colicky pains, but really due to pain itch in the skin of the udder. Later the skin takes on a dark brown leathery appearance. Cows lick at affected parts,, switch the tail constantly, and seek the shade. Condition is lost and mills reduced.

Treatment: A dose of ;}lb. Epsom Salts, 21b. of molasses and one tablespoonful of baking soda as a drench. Put in shed or shaded place daily. Wash affected parts with antiseptic wash, and dress daily with mild ointment. A drench of 12oz. of Glauber Salts and one dram of calomel is also good. The cow is better allowed to go dry.