9 



SHEEP-POX. 



Definition. — A contagious eruptive fever caused by an agent 

 wliich is as yet undiscovered. 



Animals affected. — Only sheep are liable to contract this 

 disease. The possibilitj^ of its being re-introduced is remote, 

 because — although an inoculable disease — it has never 

 appeared in this country otherwise than by the importation of 

 diseased living animals, and the Orders of the Board prohibit 

 the landing in Great Britain of sheep from those countries in 

 which Sheep-Pox exists. It might, however, arise from the 

 importation of virus. 



Symptoms. — Sometimes the disease runs a very rapid course, 

 which ends fatally in a few days. This form of the disease is 

 seen mosth' in lambs. The chief symptoms are those of fever, 

 intoxication, and paralysis. An eruption in the form of red 

 spots appears on the membranes of the eyes and nose, and on 

 the hairless parts of the skin. 



In older sheep the disease begins by signs of serious ill- 

 health. The temperature is high, and the appetite is sup- 

 pressed. An eruption appears on the mucous membranes of 

 the nose, eyes, and mouth, and on the hairless parts of the 

 skin — inside the thighs and elbows, under the belly, on the 

 scrotum and udder. The eruption may, however, appear also 

 on the parts of the body covered by wool. On the hairless 

 regions it shows itself first in the form of small pimples, which 

 may grow to the size of a sixpenny-piece, or even larger. The 

 larger pimples are flattened on the surface, and the skin 

 around the base is reddened. A thick reddish-yellow discharge 

 oozes from the pimples, and forms a yellow crust on the sur- 

 face. Pregnant ewes often abort. 



Post-mortem.. — One finds the above-described eruption on the 

 skin. The membrane of the throat is inflamed, and sometimes 

 ulcerated. The covering membrane of the lungs shows red 

 spots on its surface. 



Solid grey patches are often found in the lung substance. 

 The cavities of the chest, heart sac, and abdomen contain a 

 reddish coloured fluid. The intestinal membrane is sometimes 

 inflamed in patches. 



The kidneys often show grey patches under the capsule. 



26074 B 



