The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-10-07 00:00:00

SMALL-PDX AMONG SHEEP.

On Saturday evening last Mr. W. C. Spooner, of
Southampton, delivered a lecture before the Bland-
ford Farmers' Club on the subject of Small-pox in
Sheep. As the agriculturists of the district, not
members of the club, were invited to attend, the
present. The chair was taken by Mr. George
Caines, the president of the club for the present
Crownmeeting
Hotel,
placeanci
some i n the 0
or assemblyso
gentlemen r
om
o f
werethe
year, who in a few brief remarks introduced Mr.
Spooner to the meeting.
Mr. SPOONER, on rising to address the meeting,
said that it had been specially hinted to him that as
this was Saturday evening, the farmers, many of
them, would want to leave early ; and that it was
desirable the meeting should be limited to some-
thing like a reasonable duration. He should there-
fore be as brief as lie could, and at the close of his
address he would be most happy to answer any
questions that might be put to him. He was in-
duced to introduce this subject that evening before
the farmers of Blandford, because he conceived that
it was one which was of considerable importance to
flockumaters, and because he felt satisfied that the
disease by which sheep in one district in England
were afflicted, was liable to be considerably ex-
tended by ignorance as to the appearance of the
disease and the proper mode of acting as soon as it
should be discovered in a flock ; whereas, on the
other hand, he believed the evil might, to a vast
extent, be limited by a knowledge of the circum-
stances of this fearful complaint, and by the use of
proper precautions. When he told them that it had
raged on the continent to a most fearful extent,
and that it had in years gone by swept away every
sheep from the parish it had visited, they would
see bow desirable it was that they should possess all
the knowledge they could so as to lessen, as much
as possible, if they were not able wholly to abate,
the malady. We had no information that this
disease had visited the sheep of this country prior
to the year 1847, a circumstance which we, no
doubt, owed to our insular position, especially when
it was recollected that some part or other of the
Continent was seldom or never free from it. In
Germany, where it had made such havoc among
the flocks, Captain Carr had bestowed very con-
siderable attention to the subject, and some years
since had written a pamphlet on the nature of the
small-pox in sheep. Some people had objected to
the term "small-pox in sheep," but it was so ex-
ceedingly like the disease of that name which
afflicted the human race, that to prevent the load-
ing our memories with new terms, he conceived
that it was not misapplied. As he had said before,
this disease was introduced into this country in
1847, and its origin then was clearly ascertained to
havelbeen fromMenmark and Hamburg. There was
very little knowledge then in this country of
this fatal malady among sheep, and there
being then not those stringent laws which now
exist in reference to the sheep brought over here
that had caught the taint, was disseminated among
other flocks, and thus it spread over so large a
portion of England. Mr. Fielder purchased in
Smithfield market 120 sheep, and the probability
was that the whole, with the exception of one,
were at that time free from the contagion. After
he had them a few days one was taken unwell, and
in about three weeks after it died. The owner
did not examine it, and supposed that it had died of
one of the numerous ailments to which sheep are
subjected. About the time this died, some few others
were found to be unwell, and died in about three
weeks, About the time they died others were seen
to be affected, and thus it went on till out of the
whole flock only two were saved; whereas, if in the
first instance the sheep that was seen to be unwell
had been separated, or destroyed, the others would
not perhaps have caught the disease. He called par-
ticular attention to these facts, because the same
had been the history of many other flocks
among which the disease had broken out.
In a flock which came under his own ob-
servation in 1848, one sheep at first was
affected. It was the only sheep that failed for
about a month, when others were seized like it, and
thus the whole fleck successively caught the dimmer.
The case related by Professor Simonds., of the flock
of sheep near Windsor, where one animal alone was
at first affected, was precisely similar. This showed
that, when flockmasters were alive to the character
of the disease, they possessed, in a very great
degree, of the means of stopping it at the onset from
ravaging the whole of their flocks. When one
animal or two had the disease, they did not neces-
sarily communicate it to the whole of the flock—
only to 1, 2,3, 5, or 7, as the case might be, of their
compauions caught it with which they had come in con
tact. When a sheep had caught the contagion, in 10
or 11 days it would break out lull kind of rash, and in
about a fortnight afterwards, if the disease was
allowed to run its course, other sheep would fail.
So fatal was it that there were instances of 65 per
cent, of the whole flock having died. Happily, how-
ever, we had the means within our reach whereby,
if we could not stop the disease entirely, its ravages
might be limited. And this led him to remark that
some complained of the great noise that was made
about it. Now if a person had an infected flock,[the
worst possible thing he could do for his neighbours,
and for the district in which he resided, was to keep
silent upon the subject. Silence could by no possi-
bility do good, whereas, by letting their neighbours
know of the circumstance, they would be put upon
their guard, and by careful management the disease
might be stamped out in a very short time in that
district. The spread of the information then could
not do any injury, and might be the means
of much good. It was not his intention
to go into a scientific history of the small-pox in
sheep ; his object rather was to give them such in-
formation whereby they might, themselves, detect
the disease should it break out, unfortunately, in
any of their flocks. It was too frequently the case
that people acted in a spirit of partizanship. They
pinned their faith to this or that system, because of
their party, whether the thing was right or wrong.
Now this was a bad custom, because it often shut
,las eyes to truth, and had a tendency to prejudice
the mind against others of a different opinion. If
men were to calmly and dispassionately reflect upon
what they agreed with their opponents, they would
often find that they agreed upon ten-fold more
points than upon what they disagreed, and that
there really was not so much difference between
them am they expected, after all. The time from a
sheep taking the infection, till that of its arriving at
its crisis, was about twenty-eight days. His own
experience, and that of Professor Simonds was,
that if a sheep took the contagion naturally it made
its appearance in about ten or eleven days, but in
inoculated cases earlier—in about eight or nine days.
There appears a dulness and langour of the whole
system, a lopping of the ears, an indisposition to
feed, a falling off of wool—especially about the
breast and legs, and small rash, like flea-bites,
which increase in size until they become filled with
lymph, and are confluent. [The lecturer here produced
drawings to show the appearance of the disease in
its different stages.] There was reason to believe
that the disease, in its earlier stages, was not in-
fectious, and this showed the great desirability of
separation and isolation as soon as a sheep was
known to have taken the disease. He had before
were
y t tor ea t
circumstancese d und e e
producede r yvopua rictretyniyhntf
d.t
00 :Tftekb
extentmhc
im-
portation that the first introduction of the small-pox
in sheep in 1847 was clearly traced to two or three,
which had brought the contagion from abroad. It
continued its ravages in 1848; it made great ravages
in Hampshire in 1849, and it existed in Cambridge
and Norfolk as late as 1851. One writer told them
that it existed in Norfolk as late as 1853, but
he (Mr, Spooner) thought that must be a mistake.
A very large number of sheep during that period
died, and to that circumstance might, perhaps, be
partly,'not wholly, attributed to the scarcity of sheep
since that period. It was rather unfortunate that
they were unable to trace the origin of the disease
on its present visitation • for became this could not
be done, many supposed' that it was spontaneous—
from bad management, or some other cause. He
hoped and trusted that such was not the case; for if
it should be found that it was spontaneous in its
origin, it would in a very great degree tend to de-
teriorate the value of the animal, as no one would
then consider himself safe. His own opinion was
that it was not spontaneous ; if it were, as before
and that appearance
in
01178, t
as hneceepi
as
consequence
was
ailitbpannedrweoisi t.euribhentewronfnotarbbeur
therefore
geitfoti
ofiohbf first
ietr!hhtnmontettvohiei
knowledge
extinct
el
most
foreignsnido
esneidgptncter present
e ddf
country, makethe
di to
ease. Then
sheep which
introduced now, as before,
of the skins of infected sheep slaughtered
I Wiltshire, and three in Berkshire were the extent
of the contagion, and there had been no fresh break-
ing out for some days past ; so that he treated that it
would now extend no further. With respect to inocu-
lation, there were various opinions. Some strongly
objected to it bemuse they said it was calculated to
spread the disease, and this would undoubtedly be
true, provided everybody inoculated their sheep.
Others again, on the contrary, as strongly supported it.
Dr. Carr spoke of it very highly, as practised in Ger-
many, where it had been most successful. Thus in a flock
of sheep where inoculation had not been resorted to,
the lose had been
.65 per cent., where inoculation was
practiced, the loss was 6 per cent, of sheep and 2 per
cent, of lambs. His own opinion WU that where it was
feared that a whole flock would take this contagion,
they might, perhaps with advantage, be inoculated.
Where, however, such was not the case, if only one or
two cases existed, and they were Uiscovered in the
early stage of the disease, he would prefer separation
and isolation. But then the flock would require turn-
ing over nearly every day, not by the shepherd whose
epiatttmiuhtignilebnlehragtebtfifhlthrreveeo:itnish.

*I

aty was to be with the sheep,
ibieugrotwboyuunitddhfloryaßsdrieuorporaso.ainboydr
others. Where inoculation was resorted to, the
lyeapth should be taken from the best cases. Where
t'inhil'acutulielfaatnilti:e'nbd‘cisoteuals'ele.l;ebcrief notytobiedrteel taken artificially, would be
infections, then inoculation would no doubt prove
advautagerms. He noticed a case where the smallmex
had been in the flock for two months before the nature
of the disease was ascertained, when it was determined
to inoculate the whole of the remainder, and tire con-
sequence was, of those which hod the disease by
contagion, 65 per cent died of those which were inocu-
lated, under 10:per cent, died, and in case with tho
ewes in latnb, the inoculated ewes mat but very few.
VaccinatiAn, therefore, had its merits and demerite, and
lie thougkit it should rest upon the circumstances of in.
dividuarflocks whether inoculation should be resorted
to or not. One of the rules of the Mutual Assurance
Society against losses from small- ;
"I -11 sheep, estab.
lished in Wilts, was to the effect that inoculation
should not be resorted to till 4 per cent, of deaths had
occurred to the whole flock ; but before such were the
case there would have been something like 40 or Bo per
cent, of cases (coin centagion. The great object of
inoculation was to preserve the largest percentage of
sheep. It wits to be regretted that hitherto no system
of vaccination, similar to that practiced on bunion
beings, lied yet been discovered. In 1848 he was
anxious, with others, to try the effects of vaccination.
He accordingly procured a number sf points charged
with good lymph taken from the cow, and vaccinated
5 sheep with the greatest possible care, but the matter
produced effects in only one sheep, and that in a very
mild form. The whole of these sheep were subsequently
inoculated, and the whole of them took the inoculation.
He was told of one cue where it was supposed the
vaccination hal taken the best possible effect, a
was turned out among some affected sheep,
teok the contagion, and died in 25 days. He had there-
fore no reason to believe in any efficiency in this mode
of treatment. A French writer had given a number of
cases, in which he alleged that vaccination had beeia
practised with success; 'but professor Sitnonds made
some experiments, which in every instance failed. Mr.
Jonas Virebb had his rams vaccinated as a precaution, as
they were tent out among other flocks, and Mr. Over-
man also spoke strongly in favour of vaccination, Mr.
Allan Bateau also said he had practiced vaocinstion
po withxi
ns chceecup w
g, Hebohttl
contagiousbe r ianndde di
infectious.
tab:. 134134.1 .
were well authenticated instances where sheep had been
turned into a field a day or two after an infected Hoek
had been turned out of it, and had taken the dieter%
Therefore, that it was contagious as well as Infections,
there was every reason to believe. In conclusion the
lecturer said that he had no doubt made many omissions
in reference to this subject, and he therefore tended that
any gentleman deairing information upon what be had
not touched, he would be happy to reply to him Is Mee
beat manner he was able.

Mr. FOOKEB said for his own part he was very much
obliged to Mr. Spooner for the very handsome manner
in which he had come forward to give them information
on this very important subject. They knew very little
about thie disease; and Mr. Spooner,it appeared to him,
had given them every information. It remained for
them to watch with care their flocks, to separate the,
affected from the unaffected, in the event of the diaease
making its Cappearance in this county. His own
opinion was that the small-pox in sheep was brought
from abroad, and that it was not infectious. This
lecture was looked forward to with great interest by all
those who attended the fair, and he had no doubt it
would be reed with great interest in all parts of ths
country. He sincerely trusted the disease would, with
the precaution that were now being taken against its
spreading, die out; for if it did no:, it would be of
serious consequence, should they have to turn over their
ewes every day or two He felt very thankful to Mr.
Spooner, and he knew his kindness was appreciated by
all present, that he should have come to his native
town first of all to give them the benefit of his expe-
rience. He therefore begged to propose a vote of
thanks to Mr. Spooner for his excellent lecture.
Mr. John ....mlrcinct, had very great pleasure in
seoonding thelproposition moved by:Mr. Fookes. They
were all there as listeners and hearers, and he would
very much like to know from Mr. Spooner, and also
from his brother who was present, and who, as a
medical man, knew how the disease acted on the human
frame, whether, in their opinion' cleanliness and judi-
cious management bad any effect in reference to the
spread or cause of the disease. They knew that in
families there were complaints, such as itch and hoe,
engendered by dirtiness ; the question was, whether
small-pox might not result from some such cause in the
human being, and if so, whether it might not be so in
the case with sheep?

Mr. E. 0. SPOONER said that filth never originated
disease. If a person once had the small-pox, imecala-
ton would not produce it again. Itch and lice were
not produced by dirty shirts, Itch was an insect which
punctured the skin. By cleanliness they might wash
and rub it out, and destroyed if taken in time. They
also knew that a person ever so cleanly might take lee
by contact from any one who had them. tin prestionably
filth gave great facilities for encouraging disease, but it
did not produce it. The small-pox in the human
family had been known ever since the 10th centary.
It was said that,the Mahoinedans, when they journeyed
in large masses on • pilgrimage to Me wa, caught it of
Arabs. who themselves caught it of their camels..
Whether such was the correct origin or not he toed
not tell, but it was quite evident the disease was net
known to the ancient Hebrew, Greek, or Latin writer!.
These Mahornedans, on their return home from their
pilgramages, carried the disease with them, and time
it spread throughout Europe, and was thus conveyed
by them to America and communicated to the
American Indians. This proved that the disease was
produced by contagion and not by filth. Cleanliness,
good drainage, and oper ventilation was, however, at
all times most desirible ; but to look upon these as so
entire prevention to disease was • fallacy. With re-
gard to the small-pox in sheep, it was a wonder it had
not been communicated to our flocks long before,
especially when it was recollected how prevalent it was
on the continent. This showed, he thought, that it was
rather difficult to communicate except under favour-
able circumstances. He urged upon them, should the
disease unfortunately spread to this county, to make it
known. Depend upon it nothing was got by conceal-
ment. By making it known, they would be
able to procure the best of advice; they might
thus be the means of preventing its spreading,
and they would prevent many false reports. There had
been false reports with respect to its having spread into
Dorsetshire. He had only that day beard that Mr. W.
Fooke't sheep were affected, and when he spoke to Mr.
Fookes, thatientleman knew nothing about it. It was
therefore most desirable that they should act openly
and candidly in the matter, seeing that

'On eagles' wings immortal scandals fiy."
The speaker then enterei upon a history of the disease
in the human race, and urged that the question of vacci-
nation was one which ought to be taken up.
Mr. ATKINSON, the seeretary, said the lecturer re-
commended isolation, and asked whether he would not
go farther and say that destruction in some cases was
necessary.
Mr. ROBRRT FOWLER thOIIRIA it was most desirable
that in consequence of the false reports that had been
spread, it should go forth to the world that the
disease had not, up to the present period,visited Dorset-
shire.

Mr-. HOMER asked whether they might not anticipate
that in • short time, when the cold weather net in, the
disease would be stayed?
Mr. E. 0. SP•ONER replied in the negative. Est
weather would be far more likely to stop its progress
than cold. It had been extended among the human
race to the ipountries lying in the extreme north sad
south, but never into the tropical climates.
Mr. C. 11. FLOWSR asked whether sheep in high or
low condition were the most susceptible of th•
disease ?

The LBOTUREE replied at rome length. He regretted
that more questions had not been asked, as no one
could be better convinced than himself of numerous
omissions in his lecture. The subject was exceedingly
copious, but he had selected those portions more directly
of a practical nature. Mr. Mitchell had referred to the
rival opinions that existed on the subject—one party
advocating separation, and the other inoculation. There
seemed to be, however, some erroneous impressions on
this point. Those who advocated inoculation,also advo-
cated separation, and the only question on which they
differed wee whether separation alone should be relied
on, or whether, if that did not answer, inoculation
should be resorted to. Professor Simonds recommended
inoculation. Mr. Ganges did not say inoculation was
wrong, but he had sanguine hopes that the disease
could be trodden out by separation. He was also in
favour of vaccination. He (Mr. Spooner) thought the
Royal Agricultural Society had been exceedingly remiss
in not calling a special council of its members for the
discussion of this important question, as then we should
be in possession of the opinions [of the most eminent
men of the day, together with their experience on
vaccination. They had it on the authority of Mr. Jonas
Webb that the aisles's° had not made its appearance
north of London, and he knew there had not been a
single case either in Dorsetsbire or Hampshire. It had
only made its appearance on the borders of Wiltshire
and Berkshire. Their Secretary had asked if the de-
struction of the sheep might not be recommended ; but
he would not destroy the sheep unless in very bad
cases, or they might destroy many that would. otlinfe
wise have survived. In reply to Mr. Hooter:ls el'
pressed his opinion that the cold weather would not
cause the disease to die out. Mr. Flower had asked
if high or low conditioned animals were most suscep-
tible. He thought those in low condition likely to
take the disease most readily ,• if even that were not
, the case those in high condition were best able to
, bear up under it, and therefore he recommended the
' sheep be kept up in good condition. He was not a
partisan, he was an inquirer after truth as they were,
and he confessed be would like to be better informed
than he at present was on the subject of vaccination.
If the disease should extend, which was contrary to
his present opinion, he strongly advocated the forma-
tion of a county association for mutual insurance. ill
the Wiltshire society the insurance was for £1 per
head for sheep dying with the small-pox all round,
no that if much mortality existed in a flock worth 50s.
per head, there would still be a very great loss. lie
thought that where persons had valuable Books they
should be allowed to claim £2 per head for all losses,
by subscribing pro rato to the fuads. He hoped that
by stringent measures imposed by the order in council
the disease would be speedily stamped out, and that it
would not extend beyond its present limits. The order
in council might seem harsh for the district where flocks
fwoeudrentd o diseased,
unfortunate he had no right to entail misfortunes on
others. Nor did he consider that in the end it would
justice
uij i
and was
equity. absolutelyf. necessary,an
baadn d
been e
be found to operate prejudicially upon the prohibited
districts. He thanked the gentlemen present for VI
kindness with which they had listened to him, and I'
his remarks should prove to be of any serviceht
them, he should feel himself amply repaid for t
little trouble he had taken in imparting to them the
small amount of information lie himself possessed upon
this important subject.
A desultory conversation subsequently took place,
and the company separated with expressions ofthank-
fulness to Mr. Spooner, for his kindness and the Teel
able manner he had placed the subject before tern

Printed and published for the Proprietor, by CHARLES
WHITHRZAD MILLARD, Of Prince's street, DOTCI2O/ter,
Printer, at the Office of The Dorset Coignty ExP"l4
Church-street, lloroLester, Tuesday, October 7.
1862.