BIGHEAD OF SHEEP 275 



injections of permanganate of potash (1 to 500) or a sheep- 

 dip solution (1 per cent.). In females the same treatment 

 may be applied to the vulva or vagina. Abscesses containing 

 inspissated pus should be opened, their contents evacuated 

 and antiseptics applied. Ulcers of the mucosa of the mouth 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 5 iv, 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 

 disinfectants. 



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 

 original 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 (fago- 

 pyrism) of Europe.' The disease is not communicable. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



