72 DISEASES or SHEEP. 



cases are, however, of very rare occurrence. It is further 

 stated that this disease may be also transferred to other do- 

 ,mestic animals, as, for instance, the dogs of the shepherd, 

 but this statement is not sufficiently corroborated. The 

 skin is sometimes in certain conditions where the prevalence 

 of itch may be suspected, but where it does not exist, as 

 in cases where the fleece is uneven or losing parts of its 

 wool. A close examination of such spots will remove all 

 doubt, the healthy skin being of a natural color and ap- 

 pearance, soft, elastic and free from moisture, and the ani- 

 mal shows no signs of uneasiness or itching. Such falling 

 out of wool happens often in spring or in the beginning of 

 summer, and is generally found in weak animals. This 

 disease (itch) must also not be confounded with mouth 

 scab, which only affects the lips or face of young sheep, 

 whereas itch never affects the face, and befalls old and young. 

 Sometimes the sheep scratches and gnavfs in consequence 

 of lice, which may be easily detected upon examination. 

 Upon some spots between the wool and skin a great 

 amount of fatty moisture or sweat is often found, which 

 must not be confounded with the moisture of itch. In 

 case of doubt the wool must be clipped off from such 

 places and the skin examined. Sometimes sheep are 

 afflicted with a tetter-like eruption ; this eruption affects, 

 however, only small parts, entirely loosening the wool in a 

 very short time, and causing very little or no itching. No- 

 body who has had any experience will confound the pox 

 with itch, and it is therefore only necessary to observe the 

 following: Pox, unlike itch, is mostly found upon the 

 bare parts of the skin, between the legs and upon the face, 

 and commences with fever, taking its regular course, there 

 being no itching and scarcely any similarity to itch disease. 

 When there is a vehement itching, a formation of scurf and 

 an eruption, followed with loosening of wool, it may be 



