414 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 July, 1918. 



Non-Contagious Diseases. 



Turning now to some of the non-contagious diseases affecting sheep, 

 we may notice one which, from the number of animals affected, appears 

 to be contagious. Stomatitis is the technical term for an inflammatory 

 condition of the mouth. It may be either due to local irritation or 

 to a specific organism when it becomes contagious. This latter is 

 unknown in Australia, but the former is somewhat common in sheep, 

 and particularly lambs. The first symptoms noted are an increased 

 flow of saliva, which dribbles from the mouth ; there is difficulty in 

 grasping food ; the mouth is hot to the touch, and deeply injected 

 with blood ; an eruption of small blisters is next seen, which may turn 

 to an ulcerated condition, extending outside the mouth, over the lips, 

 and to the nose. After the pustules break, dark scabs form, or the 

 whole nose and mouth may present a blistered appearance. The cause 

 must be looked for in the food. The eating of rough forage containing 

 prickles or spines, such as nettles, nibbling grass around the base of 

 thistles, or the eating of plants infested with insects which exert a 

 blistering action, is the common cause. 



It is frequently reported as occurring in sheep fed on rape, and 

 here it is usually found that the rape is heavily infested with aphis. 

 It appears that this insect, when bruised, exerts a strongly irritant 

 action, especially if the rape is wet with dew or rain. In these circum- 

 stances, the irritant substance can gain easy access to the skin by 

 virtue of the water present. Therefore, sheep should never be turned 

 on to rape until the sun has dried off the dew, &c. Then, though 

 there may be some soreness produced, it will be of a mild form. There 

 being a common cause, many animals become affected, and this leads 

 to the conclusion that an infectious disease is present. In all cases the 

 cause must be searched for and removed. The immediate symptoms 

 may be relieved by Avasliing the mouth with some mild antiseptic lotion, 

 such as boric acid, a teaspoonful to a pint, and smearing the nose and 

 external sore parts with carron oil. Under this line of treatment the 

 parts quickly heal, and recovery takes place. 



Diarrhoea. 



This is a common complaint, and causes considerable loss in lambs, 

 not so much from losses as the result of the disease, but rather from 

 the subsequent falling off in condition. In the great majority of cases 

 it is due to infestation of worms of a very small variety — so small as 

 to escape the eye unless specially looked for. They resemble short, 

 fine hairs. Treatment should aim at removing the cause, and a drench 

 of from one to two teaspoonfuls of turpentine in six to eight ounces of 

 linseed oil will be found useful. Following this, the system must be 

 built up, and a lick as already suggested will induce a marked im- 

 provement in the sheep. Indeed, if such a lick is available for sheep 

 at all times they will seldom become infested by the worm mentioned 

 or any of the other parasites common to the sheep, of which there is 

 a large variety. They all produce somewhat similar symptoms — wasting 

 and ansemia. The influence of vitality is very noticeable in the effect 

 worms have upon the system. As soon as an animal becomes debilitated 

 worms increase in numbers enormously, and produce death from 



