Medical Treatment.—The writer has tried various treatments as fumigation with different substances and injection of remedies into the windpipe by the use of a hypodermic syringe, etc., but none have proven very successful, from a practical standpoint. I would recommend placing the affected animals in a tightly closed barn or shed, in the center of which place a pan of red hot coals and cover with Sulphur.
A person should remain in the barn or shed as long as he possibly can and after the fumes become so irritating that he cannot endure them any longer, he should immediately make his exit. The sheep should be compelled to stay a minute or two longer and then quickly open the doors and windows. Repeat this treatment once or twice a week. Feed affected animals well. Give them fresh water to drink and protect them from exposure. This treatment, as above described, has given very good results, providing the parasites were not too numerous.
SCAB.
(Mange)
Cause.—The mange mite (Psoroptes Communis). This parasite is equipped with stylets which pierce the skin at the seat where the mange mite penetrates the skin, and produces small red spots followed by a blister filled with serum, which ruptures, the serum drying and forming a small scab. It is in this way that innumerable mange mites cause the piling up of scabs thus producing a very scaly condition. As Mange advances, the scaly patches eventually pile up until they attain the thickness of one-half inch, unless these scabs have been severely rubbed.
Symptoms.—Very easily detected, as a bunch of sheep that have been recently infected will be uneasy or restless, rubbing against fences, posts, brush, etc., causing bunches of wool to loosen. The itching seems to be more intense at night and during warm weather. The affected animals will even make attempts to bite themselves, due to the agony produced by the mange mite. If the skin is examined by the aid of a magnifying glass, the mange mite can be easily noticed, or by scraping the skin with a knife and placing the scabs on a dark paper and exposed to the warmth of the sun, the mange mite moving about can readily be seen with the naked eye. Mangy sheep become very poor and eventually die.
Prevention.—This is important, for although the disease is treated with very good results, the mange mite annoy the sheep until they become very weak and emaciated and the loss of wool is enormous due to the affected animal continually rubbing against fences, brush, etc.
Treatment.—Consists of using various dips, as Lime and Sulphur, which is recommended by the United States Bureau of Animal Industry. This is very effective and inexpensive. Scabby sheep should be dipped a week or ten days after shearing; two dippings are necessary at the interval of ten days. After dipping, move to non-infected range or pastures.
TICK.
(Louse Fly)
Cause.—The tick that infects sheep has a very small head sunken into its round body. The head possesses a flexible trunk or snout that penetrates the skin. Through this trunk, the ticks derive their nourishment by sucking the blood from the body of the sheep. The tick is also provided with three pairs of legs. The female lays her young in the form of a spun egg (cocoon) which is oblong in shape and brown in color. This egg is cemented to the wool of sheep where young ticks are hatched in about four to six weeks.