584 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK vi. 



the solution of the question has at present been arrived at. Land 

 whose fertility has been increased by liming is said to induce it, and 

 some observers have seen reason to connect it with sudden changes of 

 temperature. In the Highland and Agricultural Society's Transactions 

 for 1883, Professor Williams announced the discovery of a minute 

 organism in the spinal canal, to which the affection was said to be due, 

 but the methods of investigation adopted by Professor Williams hardly 

 warrant us in accepting the conclusions at which he arrived. 



Symptoms. Louping-ill comes on suddenly, and may speedily result 

 in death or continue for several weeks. The first appearance of the 

 disease is shown by an unsteady gait, resulting in partial or complete 

 paralysis either of the hind extremities alone or of the whole body. 

 In some instances the animal bounds forward in convulsive leaps, or 

 the head, limbs, or trunk, or all of them in turn, are seized with violent 

 and repeated twitching movements in the form of sudden contractions 

 of the voluntary muscles. A bright glassy appearance of the eyes and 

 drooping ears are also marked features in some cases, and in others 

 the appetite is ravenous and depraved, to such an extent that dirt, 

 sand, and even stones may be greedily swallowed. 



Treatment. The adoption of curative measures of treatment cannot 

 at present be recommended with any hope of success. Animals attacked 

 should be destroyed at once, and attention directed to measures of 

 prevention. In this connection it should be remarked that, where a 

 tendency to the disease exists, ewes intended for breeding purposes 

 should not be less than two years old. They should be selected from 

 a sound healthy strain, and well conditioned at the time of going to 1 

 the tup. Land recently limed is to be avoided, and a high standard of 

 health maintained during pregnancy by good food and shelter. 



Throughout the lambing season special care should be taken to protect 

 the young from exposure to cold easterly and north-easterly gales, 

 and a liberal ration of nutritious food should be provided for the ewes 

 from the time of lambing onward. 



SCAB. This is a parasitic disease due to a minute parasite termed 

 Acarus scabiei (or Psoroptes communis, Fiirst. var.ovis), or mange mite, 

 which burrows into the skin, and in so doing causes much itching and 

 a scabby eruption. It is essentially contagious, and is readily trans- 

 mitted from one animal to another. The subject is discussed in Sir George 

 Brown's paper " On Sheep-Scab in its Relation to Sheep Husbandry " 

 (Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, 3rd series, vol. vi., 1895, p. 529). 



Symptoms. The presence of this disease is shown by uncontrollable 

 itching. The affected animals rub themselves forcibly against posts, 

 rails and gates, upon which locks of wool are usually found where the 

 disease prevails. The fleece presents a ragged appearance, and the 

 skin is repeatedly being nibbled at various points where the mites are 

 at work. If the body is scratched with the finger the animal looks 

 round in the direction of the part touched, and describes a nibbling 

 movement with the mouth. Examination of the skin shows the 

 presence of scabs, and of bald places where the integument is thickened 



