Ill 



"Eot" has occasioned some loss in Alabama and Mississippi. " Grub 

 in the head" has been reported in very few comities. A Georgia cor- 

 respondent (Dooley County) reports five per cent, loss from "a new- 

 disease, the sore nose." It is a frequent report that there is no disease 

 among sheep that are well fed and properly treated. Cruel neglect and 

 reckless disregar-d of the comfort and health of flocks account for 

 nearly all the losses reported. Our corresi)ondent in St. James Parish, 

 •Louisiana, has lost about twenty-five sheep from the "mumps, the 

 throat swelling, the disease extending to the head, when death occurs ;" 

 and he states that he has lost ten calves from apparently the same 

 disease. The following extracts are made from correspondence: 



Bexar, Texas. — There are several, but the most alarmiug and of marked significance 

 is the disease known as the " scab," which is allowed to infect our whole pastoral 

 country. The extent of its ravages in Western Texas, in the counties of Bexar, Ban- 

 dera, Medina, Atascosa, Comal, and all adjoining counties, which are by nature the 

 paradise of pastoral pursuits, the sheep for the last three years have almost entirely 

 vanished. In Kendall County, forming a radius around the town of Boerne, the 

 decrease has been on a moderate average 70 per cent. The flock of the lamented 

 George Wilkius Kendall, once the pride of this section for Merino breeds of sheep, has 

 ceased to exist. This is but a sample of scores of flocks destroyed by this cahxiuity of 

 " scab." In the other counties the ratio of decline has undoubtedly been one-half. 



The lombriz is so much on the decrease as to be rarely mentioned last year. The 

 lombriz is now believed to exist in all lambs, and^o.s* mortem examinations of healthy, 

 young lambs, accidentally maimed or killed, have developed in the stomach the verit- 

 able reddish hair-like worm, but in small numbei's. It is believed that in strong, 

 healthy lambs these internal parasites are thrown olf by nature; while in weak, delicate 

 subjects they multiply by millions, until the poor, suffering creature is literally eaten 

 up. The cause of lombriz is to be found in the poor condition of the ewes during 

 winter and at lambing time, and consequent lack of milk to sustain and develop the 

 lamb after birth. The offspring of strong, healthy ewes are never affected by it. Our 

 remedy is equal parts of common salt, sulphur, and copperas, to be given at intervals 

 of several days for three or four times. The preventive is to keep the ewes in good 

 condition. 



Maverick, Texas. — None die from scab, but the lambs while so diseased do not thrive. 

 After the wool falls off they get well without applying any remedy. I have tried the 

 Maguey plant, which grows in some portions of this country ; simply roasting it in 

 the fire in order to make it more juicy, then rubbing the diseased parts with it until 

 all the scurf is off"; with two or three applications the disease is arrested, and a new, 

 healthy growth of wool follows on the bare places. I am under the impression that 

 the juice of this plant could be made an ettectual remedy for the scab. 



In Morgan, West Virginia, hoof-rot has existed; Merinos a failure: 

 1,500 died during the past two years. 



In Montgomery, Maryland, native sheep have been healthy; of 1,200 

 Merinos brought from Ohio here, fully three-fourths have died. 



In Marion, South Carolina, lambs dropped last spring became un- 

 healthy, and one-third have died. 



In Caldwell, North Carolina, when kept in pasture of small area sev- 

 eral successive years, they become affected with rot in many cases. 



In Washington, Pennsylvania, three-fifths of the sheep have foot-rot; 

 the most successful cure has been to remove the flock, after paring off 

 the diseased part, and dusting over with blue-stone, to a field which has 

 not been pastured by diseased sheep ; a hilly, dry, and stony field is 

 preferable ; feed small quantities of flour sulphur. 



The ravages of dogs are perhaps more injurious to sheep husbandry 

 than any disease named above. The report is full of evidence en this 

 point. 



The counties in North Carolina that report the dog disease are as 

 many as those which name ailments of sheep. 



In Virginia " dogs are more destructive than all diseases." 



In Marshall County, Alabama, the loss is 30 per cent, from " starved 

 dogs." 



