STATE HYGIENE 527 



the liberal feeding of affected sheep. Sheep poor in condi- 

 tion are not only more susceptible of the disease, but are 

 more difficult to cure. 



In the extinction of scabies from the country, the influ- 

 ence of railway trucks as a source of infecting healthy 

 sheep must not be overlooked. In the early stage of the 

 disease there is nothing to seriously attract attention, and 

 sheep believed to be free from scabies may be sent by rail 

 and thus infect the trucks. Much the same may occur in 

 sheep pens in markets. 



In both the above cases the most rigorous system should 

 be adopted to disinfect these places after occupation, no 

 perfunctory measures are of any use. Each truck and 

 each pen should be thoroughly dealt with on the lines laid 

 down in the chapter dealing with disinfection. 



LEGISLATION.* 

 Diseases of Animals Acts, 1894-1903, and Sheep Scab Order of 1898. 



Diseases of Animals Act, 1903. — Is an Act to amend the Diseases 

 of Animals Act of 1894 in relation to sheep scab. It empowers a 

 fresh sub-section to be added to Section 22, given in detail on pp. 481- 

 484. The fresh sub-section is numbered xiiia., and reads as follows : 



' (xiiid.) For prescribing, regulating, and securing the periodical 

 treatment of all sheep by effective dipping, or by the use of some other 

 remedy for sheep scab." 



Under this Act an Inspector of the Board and an Inspector of the 

 local authority may under authority enter any premises, and ex- 

 amine any sheep, for the purpose of any Order or Eegulation of this 

 Act. The owner and person in charge of the sheep must comply with 

 all reasonable requirements of the Inspector, as to the collection and 

 penning of the sheep for examination. 



The local authority may provide, fit up, and maintain portable 

 dipping tanks, or, if sanctioned by the Board, dipping places may be 

 erected. The local authority will also provide the necessary appliance 

 and material in connection with these baths, and charge the public for 

 the same. The Act provides that no dipping-place shall be used, if it 

 would injuriously affect the water-supply for drinking or domestic 

 purposes. 



The Act applies to Great Britain and Ireland. 



* See also Appendix. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



