RURAL VETERINARY SECRETS 135 



mouth disease suspicious cases should be immediately reported by tele- 

 graph to the State livestock authorities or to the United States Bureau 

 of Animal Industry. 



SHEEP POX (Variola Ovina) 



Sheep pox is an acute, infectious, eruptive disease of the skin, 

 which spreads rapidly through a flock. It is prevalent in Europe, but 

 is not known to exist in America. 



CAUSE 



Sheep pox is caused b}' a living, filterable virus, and is contracted 

 principally by inhaling dust and air containing pox-scab material. 



SYMPTOMS 



The disease begins with high fever and general constitutional dis- 

 turbance. Round, red spots appear on the parts of the skin which are 

 free from or only lightly covered with wool. Papules soon develop on 

 these spots and are succeeded by vesicles containing a yellowish or 

 pale-red fluid. The vesicles later become pustules and then dry up, 

 form a scab which is cast ofl:'. The animal gives off a peculiar sweetish 

 repulsive odor. The disease lasts about three or four weeks, and the 

 mortality, except in severe outbreaks, runs from 5 to 10 per cent. 



TREATMENT 



European authorities advise slaughter of the first animals affected. 

 Preventive vaccination is successful, but is carried on under Govern- 

 ment permit, because of the danger of spreading the disease. 



ACTINOMYCOSIS (Lumpy Jaw, Wooden Tongue) 



Actinomycosis is a disease rare in sheep, caused by the ray fungus 

 Actinomyces bovis, which forms cheesy tumors in the tongue. Occa- 

 sionally the lips, jaws, or lungs may be affected. 



TREATMENT 



Give 2 grains of potassium iodid in the drinking water daily for 

 a period of two weeks. 



