344 OTHER CUTAIfEOUS ERUPTIONS. 



Erysipelatous Scab. — This is described by Mr. 

 Stevenson (quoted by Mr. Youatt) as consisting of an 

 " inflammation of the skin that raises it into blisters contain- 

 ing a thin, reddish and watery fluid. These continue for a 

 short time, break and discharge their matter, and are followed 

 by a blackish scab." Mr. Youatt says this disease is rare — 

 that a little blood should be abstracted — and a purge of 

 Epsom salts administered. External applications are not 

 usually necessary, but if there are much burning and itching, 

 sweet oil or camphorated oil will afford relief. I have never 

 seen this disease. 



"Weld Fire akd Ignis Sacer. — Mr. Youatt says: — "The 

 wild fire, or more extensive vesication and torture, (than 

 erysipelatous scab) and to a certain degree infectious, has 

 occasionally existed as an epidemic [epizootic] The Ignis 

 sacer or violent cutaneous inflammation of the skin of 

 the sheep, is occasionally mentioned in every history of 

 the epidemics of sheep. As, however, a disease to be 

 traced to any definite cause, and attacking solitary indi- 

 viduals of the flock, and thence communicated to others, it is 

 unknown." I think these forms of cutaneous eruption are 

 unknown in the United States. 



Other Cutaneous Eruptions. — I received numerous 

 letters from Texas for a few months preceding the close of 

 mail communication, by the present war, describing a 

 cutaneous eruption of very general prevalence among the 

 sheep of that State — and inquiring whether it was scab, and 

 what was its proper remedy. The disease described by the 

 difierent writers — twenty or thirty in all — appeared to be 

 substantially the same. The sheep was uneasy and rubbed 

 itself as if it itched more or less violently. Pustules did not 

 appear on the sMn, break and form sores as in scab — but the 

 cuticle was thickened, rough, and sometimes rather red as if 

 covered with a rash. I think the sheep did not usually tear 

 off much of their wool. It seems to have spread rapidly 

 from flock to flock as if contagious or epizootic. 



I recommended dipping the sheep in tobacco-water strong 

 enough to Mil ticks. I had heard from several of these flocks 

 before the mails were closed: and in every instance the 

 remedy proved effectual. 



Some forms of cutaneous disease, differing essentially from 

 scab, have appeared occasionally, tiiough very rarely, among 



