FACIAL ECZEMA
MANY WANGANUI FLOCKS AFFECTED
EPSOM SALTS JN DEMAND
Facial eczema among sheep j;as been spreading in the Wanganui district. Traces of the complaint have been noticed in nearly every locality and in some cases substantial losses have resulted. Losses of lambs run into the hundreds on some farms and on others 30, 40 and 50 deaths are attributed to the disease.
Remedial measures advised by the Department of Agriculture demand the use of Epsom salts, the complaint being due largely to dietetic troubles. In consequence of the marked spread of the disease Epsom salts has been hard to procure. One Wanganui Jd wholesale firm was unable to supply orders last week.
The trouble was not contagious, it has been stated by the department. If affected sheep were grazing on rapidly growing grass the first essential was to shift them to bare feed, or to a paddock in which the feed had not got away, and was more fibrous. The whole flock must be dosed with Epsom salts, up to four ounces for a fullgrown sheep, and two ounces for lambs, in about three to six ounces of water.
Shade and protection from the sun were a vital necessity. Very bad cases should be brought under cover in the day-time. Another necessary part of the treatment was the application of a black non-irritating dressing to the face and ears. This could be made by adding Stockholm tar to pure mutton fat or lard, to bring it to the consistency of vaseline. Another useful ointment was lib. of lard, 2 tablespoons of boracic powder, and sufficient lampblack to blacken the mixture, which should be smeared liberally over the affected parts.
It was desirable that the feed should be balanced by the addition of more fibre. The placing of hay in wide net ting along the fence, or allowing sheep access to a hay-rack, were suggested methods. "The trouble,” concluded the official statement, “has been proved by investigators to be dietetic, and in future seasons like the present one it will be essential for sheep-farmers on high carrying capacity country to avoid the development of liver derangement by feeding green crops, hay or ensilage, regularly during the occurrence of dry summer spells.” Three things have to be done:— (1) The affected sheep must be kept out of the sunlight, as far as possible, and their faces smeared with some light - excluding substance, such as lamp black and lard. If necessary, stock can be kept in a wool shed in the dark and let out only for short spells in the evening or in cloudy weather. (2) Green foods, rich in proteins and chlorophyll, must he cut out of the diet, and hay substituted. Semi-starvation does no harm. (3) Regular dosing with Epsom salts every two or three days to clear the bile out of ths system.
MARTON CALLING A PUBLIC MEETING SPREAD OF THE DISEASE Prevalence of facial eczema among sheep was referred to at a meeting of the Marton District Agricultural ana Pastoral Association on Saturday night, and it was decided to call « public meeting this afternoon in tht Coronation Hall, and to invite a representative of the Department ol Agriculture to address the meeting. Mr A. G. Coleman stated that the disease was rampant throughout New Zealand and there seemed to be no cure. Officers of the Agricultural Department had not visited Marton, but / were operating in the Auckland district. The disease was getting worse daily. He had experimented with sheep afflicted on his farm and he would be pleased to give the result & his experience to others whose sheep were suffering. He had resorted lv bleeding by opening the car close U Ihc head near the main veins, and the ears and eyes had greatly improved With the flapping of the ears the sheep had bled for two days and had thus been afforded great relief. They were feeding after twenty-foul hours. He would be only too willing to demonstrate his experiment to any farmers who were interested. Mr A. R. Dingwall, who was present, and is an officer of the Agricultural Department, stated that he would do his utmost to arrange for a veterinary inspector to be present at the meeting of farmers. It was eventually decided to call a meeting of all those interested, in the Coronation Hall. Marton this (Tuesday) afternoon, at 3 o’clock, and to secure the services of an officer of the department, to address the meeting.
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Bibliographic details
Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 96, 26 April 1938, Page 6
Word Count
744FACIAL ECZEMA Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 96, 26 April 1938, Page 6
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