"Double Scope" in Sheep. [march, 



which is now well understood in the district to which that Order 

 applied, and the new Order therefore follows as closely as pos- 

 sible the Order of 1906. The period of restrictions on move- 

 ment and markets [Art. 15 (i)] is limited to the dipping period 

 which terminates on the 15th September [Art. 15 (i)]. Another 

 provision will facilitate the admission of sheep from Ireland 

 after the expiration of the dipping period in that country. 



During the past two or three months the Board have been 



consulted as to a disease of young sheep, occurring in the 



autumn in the North of England, especi- 



*' Double Scope " ^lly on the Yorkshire moors, among black- 

 in Sheep. . , . , T . , , 



faced mountam sheep. It was said that 



the affected animals lost condition, becoming thin and poor, 

 and that their heads were found to be hollow or to present an 

 abnormal appearance. In order to remedy this state of affairs 

 and cure the sheep, certain shepherds have been in the habit of 

 "cracking the skulls" of the affected animals. After such 

 treatment, it was stated, the sheep usually recovered. 



With regard to this alleged disease, the Veterinary Officers 

 of the Board have made inquiries which go to show that the 

 statements are founded on ignorance of anatomical conditions. 

 "Double scope" appears to be the invention of certain shep- 

 herds who have, when making post-mortems, noticed that a 

 cavity (the frontal sinus) exists with an inside and an outside 

 plate of bone. This is a normal condition, but it is probable 

 that the said shepherds have believed it to be abnormal, since 

 they have only made post-mortems on sheep which have died 

 of some disease, and have not inquired whether the said anato- 

 mical condition is present in normal sheep. It is found that 

 some of these shepherds consider that several diseases which 

 are undoubtedly due to parasites in the intestines, and other 

 causes, are referable to this supposed abnormality which they 

 term double scope, and further, that they are in the habit of 

 " cracking the skull " as a remedy. 



