The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-04-26
CONCERNING SHEEP.
. Cheap and Efficacious Cure
for the Scab-
SUGGESTIONS FOR DTPPING.
to Detect the Disease and Pre-
pare and Apply Remedies
-Shearing NOteE

disease called "scab. Hence the fol
living and larger portion of a "prize
articIe'' on that subject, written by
Cb.rles Crane, OF Kanosh, Willard Co.,
Utah for the Sheep-Breeder, a maya
zine published in Chicago, will be OF
;rterest to all concerned.
1.-The scab of ,eheep, itch of man,
mango of the horse and dog are all
oonsed by minute insect, known as
tbe "aeari." and is seldom, if ever,
communicated frop an animal of one
snacies to those of another. The dis
case has been known from the earliest
recorded time. Virgil gives an exact
description of it in his Georges, and
Tivy. the historian, records its ravages
in his time. but until very recent date
less than fifty years. its origin was un-
Known. Science (the great iconoclast),
aided by the microscope, makes plain
Whatwas once a mystery and seourge
10 the ancient shepherds.
The female acarus, when placed on
The wooI,0f the sheep, soon bury them
selves in the pores ofGhe skin, andfrom
a bright. soft pink, the skin is changed
toa yellowish white. and of a thicker
texture than the rest. The spot is soon
covered with sore or scab, and il at
This time a lock of wool is laid on
sheet of paper, the acarus
can be detected by the eye
ash as thew move around. In from ten to
twenty days authorities differ) the
Young acarus appears, with frequently
1orti0ns of the egg from which it came,
still adhering to it. These at once
commence to burrow and propagate,
and it is claimed lone female acarus
can produce a million and a half of pro-
geny in ninety days" Tie female AGA
rus, when placed upon the wool of a
sheep, also obeys the laws OF its nature,
burrows in the skin, the postule arises,
but the insect evidently dies without
the employment of any remedy.
Of course any one acquainted with
sheep, who has ever seen the scab,
knows and can detect the symptoms at
once, the restleSsness exhibited, the nib
bling amongst the wool. scratching and
rubbing against the fences, aye sure
signs, and if the wool is carefully parted
at the spot indicated. the presence of
the acarus will be detected, when the
remedy should be promptly applied.
This leads US to the subject at hand,
the best and surest, and at the same
time, cheapest and most efficaclOuS cure
for tie Scab.
Ipresume no two shepherds have the
same remedies; one will use tobacco,
another sulphur, another both, etc.,
and it is right it should be SO. because
the disease, l am confident, needs
different treatment in different 10
ealities, as well as in the different breeds
of sheep, and, also, in the time of
year the remedy Is applied.
For small herds, such as farmers in
the Eastern and Middle States have,
the remedies are very simple, and the
seab is almost unknown. although l
have imported rams affected with it
from there.
Me-curial ointment is often used; a
small portion of the wool is clipped off,
and the ointment is well rubbed on and
around the scab indicated. Coal oil
diluted with buttermilk. one pint of oil
to one gallon of milk, and the wool
around the spot well saturated with the
liquid. One quart of coal oil, well
mixed with one gallon of any
cheap oil, such as fish oil, is an ex-
cellent remedy. Coal oil itself, is
a certain and sure cure, but if not
diluted, wherever applied the wool is
shed completely, and although it grows
again, Is ever after harsh and coarser
than before. Corrosive sublimate is
often used, but would not advise it's
use Mercurial ointment, olive Oil and
a little turpentne is also good remedy,
and is said to increase (?) the growth
OF wool. Sulphur. tar and lard, equal
parts, well rubbed down, Is very
etectual. These and many more
remedies are for small fiocks, and when
the Scab first makes its appearance in
larger herds, will be found sufficient.
and can be applied at any time, and
The ointment remedies seldom need be
used but once, if well rubbed in and
around the spot, and the hard spot
vel broke up, and even if blood appear
1t VIII do no harm.
Always use a crook to catch your
Sheep. Never grasp the wool, for by so
9olng you not only loosen the wool but
otalSe the sheep, causing it unnecessary
pam. When about to spot" drive
your sheep in an enclosure so they can
not escape, but so small that they can
noI be examined separately as they
YAK around. The experienced eye OF !
me shepherd will detect the presence of
ue insect long before the wool is broke,
VI nlbbled to any extent. The wool is
!uilled and has lost its smooth appear
sace, and is of shade whittier than else |
"nere. The crook is carefully passed
hdIoqnd the hind leg and draw to you.
oue leg graSped above the gamble. the
@ooK released, and the sheep thrown
;Sa5leiuliy down on the side opposite the
,sLLG;lcanon. the wool parted and the
I'm I'm examined. Sometimes it cannot
v %en be seen, but the sense OF touch
T rIL seldom fail to reveal the spot.
l IneSe remedies and method of handling
SilaI herds will be found exceedingly
nmpie, and 10 excuse can be offered by
boS shepherd having less than LOO
~; Sau y In his nerd for having the scab in
r aS hock. One gallon of coal oil at a
oSss Oh 40 cents, and five gallons OF fish Z
81 ~ AZ cost of IS viii make six gallons
y;,S up, which if used promptly and
Ies sruantly, will be found sufficient, I'M
WIFI the herd is thoroughly infected,
ma eI the methods hereafter recon-
hes 39ed viii be found the cheapest and
arc a. .he west and south where sheep
hsnd,kie Kept in large herds, different
and Nng is necessary; too much time
banats:1 Expense would be occupied III
aS Ltiilg each sheen separately, except