The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-05-07
Fatal Sheen Disease.

Samuel Park, OF Marshall, ILL.,, one
OF the most experien ced Of western
sheep growers writes the Clark County
Herald, giving description OF disease
among the sheep OF that locality that is
almost invariably fatal in its effects.
The malady usually attacks sheep
under five years old at first, and is
spread through the entire flock with
which they are allowed to miugle. The
symptoms OF the disease are described
to be paleness of the animal, with
an appearance OF emacistion; the ears
droop aud are thrown forward; the
animal has a short. quick cough, and
sometimes q cough would follow every
attempt to blea,; they eat heartily,
even rsyenously, and in the last stages
Of the disease there is q looseness OF
the bowels.
Having seen several cases OF the
kind in the neighborhood, Mr.. Park
examined sheep that died from the
disease with the following results :
1--WE took out the lungs and heart, to-
gether with the windpipe; found them
very pale, or of a light and bloodess
appearance, and OF soft or flsccid
character. We first opened the wind
pipe, tue cartilagenous rings Of which
were very white and soft. Near it's
junction with the lungs it was little
reddeued, showing some congestion.
AS we proceeded to open the bronchial
tubes we found them more or less filled
with white. frothy matter, slightly
tinged with blood, and with this, nu-
merous "fllaria" or long, tbresd-like
worms, from the size OF g
ipe hair 10 that of coarse
sewing-thread, and from two to
four inches long, varying from q clear,
semi. transparent white, to that OF a
light ash-color, and although the
sheep had been dead some sixteen or
eighteen hours, the worms were alive
and active. We found no signs OF any
dropsical affection, which is very COM
mon in diseases brought on by expos
ure to wet and cold, or BY unhealthy
food or starvation. Post mortem ex-
aminatione were held upon other vic.
Tins OF the malady, and all disclosed
substantially the same state OF lacts as
the one given, and no doubt was left in
his mind that the disease was other
than the pressure of worms in the
throat, bronchial tubes and lungs Of
the animal
The question arises ss to how the FL
!aria are introduced into the throat OF
the sheep. Upon this subject Prof. n.
S. Townsend, President OF the Agricul-
tural College OF Ohio, says they come
from pastures ION wet lands, lands SUBJ
ject TO overflow, aud sometimes on toll
erably dry land. in very raiuy seasons.
That the parasite is communicated di-
rectly. or indirectly, from one sheep to
another, is extremely probable. the
eggs, which in an advanced stage con.
tain active worms, are said to be found
abundant in the mucus thrown from
the nostrils OF affected sheep, and when
lodged upon grass will maintain their
vitality for long time"
Upon the treatment for the disease,
Professor Townsend says prevention
is better than cure, and the first thing
to be done ia the separation Of the al.
flictel sheep, so that they may not
scatter the mischief through the flock.
Remedial treatment should be directed
TO two objects Fret to secure the
destruction and expulsion OF the worms
ard their ova. Second to sustain and
invigorate the affected sheep 30 that
they may Withstand the attack. For
the destruction and expulsion Of the
worms the plan adopted on the other
side OF the Atlantic is to compel the
sheep 10 inhale the fumes of burning
tar, sulphur, or tobacco, or all Of them
together. A number OF the affected
sheep are shut in a tight room filled as
fall OF these fumes as can be
borne, for fifteen or twenty minutes
This process is repeated at intervals of
two or three days until the worms sre
ell destroyed--to enable the sheep to
Withstand the attack Of the parasitic,
good living is the thing most essential
Mr.. Park adds: Hundreds OF sheep
died in Crawford and the eouthern part
OF this (Clsrk) county, few years ago
with the same disease, under the name
OF white skin" It's real character is
but Just discovered in this country. So
far as L know, I am the fret in the
country who has made the discovery.
except Professor Townsend, who dis
covered it IN . flsck about the middle
of March