300 DISEASES OF THE SKIN 



of lambs may be treated with creolin (1 per cent.) or boric acid 

 solution (3 per cent.). Advanced, aggravated cases which 

 obstinately resist treatment should be killed. 



After-treatment consists in giving the sheep access to 

 medicated salt (crude carbolic acid Biv, poured over ordinary 

 barrel salt, 12 quarts, and thoroughly mixed). It is also 

 recommended to dip all recovered animals before turning 

 them out on uninfected pastures or premises. A complete 

 disinfection of all pens, corrals, walls, partitions, racks, and 

 troughs should be made. The manure and surface soil of the 

 corral should be removed and the ground sprinkled with 

 dismfectants. 



Prophylaxis. — Healthy sheep should not be permitted to 

 pasture on infected ranges until a winter has passed, after 

 which the pasture is safe. Obviously with range sheep this 

 precaution cannot always be employed. No new sheep 

 should be introduced into the herd without being subjected 

 first to a two weeks' quarantine. If no cases of lip-and-leg 

 ulceration develop in this time it will be safe to place them 

 with the origuial flock. The sheep herd should be carefully 

 supervised and frequently inspected to find any chance cases 

 of this disease. All sick sheep should be immediately 

 removed and if possible given proper hand-treatment. 



BIGHEAD OF SHEEP. 



Definition. — Bighead is a peculiar condition affecting west- 

 ern sheep and is characterized by the appearance of swellings 

 about the head and ears. 



Occurrence. — Bighead is not an uncommon disease in the 

 Western States where sheep-raising is an important industry. 

 Cases are reported from Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyo- 

 ming. It resembles the so-called buckwheat poisoning (f ago- 

 pyrism) of Europe. The disease is not communicable. 

 Neither sheep nor other animals can be infected by natural 

 or artificial means. While some outbreaks are comparatively 

 mild, not infrequently the affection assiunes a malignant 

 form which leads to considerable losses causing it to become 

 a matter of importance to sheepmen. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



