184
Goat
Dermatitis. A new Virus Disease of Goats in India
Following intravenous inoculation with skin material, symptoms of general malaise with high
temperature, 104°-106°F., and rough staring coat mark the onset of the disease. On careful exami-
nation the skin is studded with small circular, elevated nodules distributed all over the surface ex-
tending to the lips, eyelids and tongue. Simultaneously or within a day or two, symtoms of pneu-
monia appear and death follows invariably. At no stage of development of the skin nodules does
vesiculation or pustule formation occur. Extension of lesions takes place into the respiratory and
alimentary tracts. Greyish white nodules are mainly seen in the lungs, abomasum and often through-
out the intestines. The foci in the lungs set up an apparently secondary pneumonia almost as
quickly as they appear and produce early death. The disease was easily transmitted with blood or
material from skin lesions subcutaneously, intravenously or by scarification to pox mune goats.
Bulls, sheep, rabbits and guinea-pigs proved refractory. Light scarification on the incrase of the ear
with the virus sets up a localized lesion and is suggested as possible means for prophylaxis.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors desire to record their thanks to Dr F. C. Minett for his interest and encouragement
during the course of the investigation.
REFERENCE
Wallace, W. R. (1935). Annual Report of the Director of Veterinary Department, Federated Malay States, 39
DEFINITION OF BARODA WOOL GRADES
by N. L. NARAYAN, G. V. Sc., Wool Improvement Officer
and
SUNANDA. B. Sc., Wool Analysis Laboratory, Baroda State
(Received for Publication on 16 February 1945)
T HE Indian Wood trade-names like Joria and Bikaneri denote the tract from which the wool is
collected. At present there are different breeds of sheep coexisting. Nomadic sheep which
have to move far in search of pasture are shorn at different places at different season. Also there
is a great deel of variation from sheep to sheep and region to region of a fleece so that the wool
produced in an area is a mixture of different types and qualities. Added to this natural dis-
advantage, the crude methods of shearing and collection further deteriorate the value of the wool
resulting in great financial loss to all concerned.
The producer is too ignorant to improve upon this state of marketing of his product. The
middlemen are not interested as they are satisfied with the commission they are already earning.
The manufacturers though interested are too far removed from the wool growers and the primary
collecting centres of wool to exercise proper control over it, especially as alternative products are
available. The duty therefore falls upon the State to take up this question and make a systematic
and effective start in this line.
Accordingly, the Baroda Government had a survey of the whole State carried out under the
following heads:
1. Sheep breeds and their distribution;
2. Wool quality of sheep of different areas;
3. Local conditions of sheep husbandry; and
4. System of collection and sale of wool.
This survey not only pointed out that the conditions of sheep husbandry and wool collection were
backward, but also brought to light the existance of large numbers of fine woolled sheep in
northern Gujrat and Kathiawad which guaranteed an increased income to the producers immediately
if only their wool could be sorted out and sold in a pure form.