504 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTURE. 



Even after observing the precautions here given it is not possible to ab- 

 solutely guarantee that there will be no reinfection, but the probabilities 

 are against it. 



COXDITIONS WHICH MAY BE MISTAKEN FOR SCAB. 



Any parasite or condition which causes an itching and thus leads 

 the sheep to scratch themselves or any abnormal condition of the skin, 

 may be temporarily mistaken for scab; but if the rule is held in mind 

 that no scab is possible without the presence of the specific parasites, it 

 will be easily determined whether scab is present or not. The following 

 are the more important cases to be considered: 



(1) Itching due to other parasites, such as common "sheep tick," 

 true ticks and lice, may be distinguished from scab by finding the para- 

 sites. The dipping used for treating scab will also kill sheep ticks and 

 lice. 



(2) Inflammation of the sebaceous glands. — This may be mistaken 

 for common scab. It appears most frequently in autumn. There is a 

 severe itching, the skin is red and sensitive and is covered with a strong- 

 smelling, yellowish, viscid yolk; tufts of wool may be shed. It may be 

 cured, after shearing, with any starchy lotion. 



(3) Rain rot. — In rainy weather an eruption may appear on the skin 

 which might be mistaken for scab. There is, however, no parasite pres- 

 ent; itching is absent, and the trouble disappears when dry weather 

 comes. 



TREATMENT OF SCAB. 



Proper hygienic conditions alone, though of importance in connection 

 with the subject of treatment, can not be relied upon to cure scab. 

 The only rational treatment consists in using some external application 

 which will kill the parasites. Formerly medicines were given internally 

 and even within a few years past it has been claimed that feeding sulphur 

 to sheep will cure the disease. The statements regarding sulphur were 

 such as to lead the department to try the experiment, which, however, 

 was soon abandoned as unsuccessful. The external application of scab 

 cures is in various ways made known as hand dressing, hand curing, 

 spotting, pouring, smearing and dipping. Of these methods dipping is by 

 far the most satisfactory. 



HAND APPLICATIONS. 



While common scab is the disease treated in this bulletin, as a matter 

 of information it may be stated that in case of head scab or in light cases 

 of foot scab, which appear to be rather rare, hand applications may be 

 resorted to and will frequently suffice. A non-poisonous ointment may 

 be made by taking 4 ounces of oil of turpentine, 6 ounces of flowers of 

 sulphur and 1 pound of lard. Mix the ingredients at a gentle heat and 

 rub in well with the hands or with a brush, at the same time breaking 

 the crusts. The simple sulphur ointment may be made of 1 part of sul- 

 phur and 4 parts of lard; one-fourth part of mercurial ointment may be 

 added. Few remedies are so useful in mange in dogs, ringworm and 

 other itching complaints as sulphur iodide, and it may well be given a 



