Mexico Missouri message., 1903-08-27
Missouri Doings
Nv oATrLE DIsEAsE AppEARs.
"seabIss," Unknown In This state TIN
Recently, Threatens Loaess.

/
"seabIss," Unknown In This state TIN
Recently, Threatens Losses.
Columbia, Mo: A new cattle dis
ease has appeared in Missouri, and
the danger OF its becoming prevalent
throughout the State has caused the
Missouri State Board OF Agriculture,
OF which George B. Ellis Of Columbia
Is secretary. to make an investigation,
and II is prescribing remedies to farm
ers. whose stock is Affected.
The new disease IL known scientific
ally as psoroptic scabies, although II
is known provincially by 4 number Of
different names, range itch.
mango" "scabies" and cattle itch"
The cause Of the disease 10 q very
small parasite. SO small that It can
hardly be seen by the naked ere, al
though II may be present in very large
numbers on the affected COW.
Il is estimated that under favorable
conditions, each female will, in 90
days, produce 100000 individuals.
The eggs hatch in about seven days,
aud fourteen days after Matching, the
young begin to lay eggs.
This disease was unknown in Mis-
souri, until a year ago, when a large
number Of range cattle we're brought
into the State and brought the dis
case with them.
The symptoms.
The first symptoms noticed are in
tense itching Of the gkin and shedding
Of the hair on infected areas. The
symptoms are much more manifest in
the winter and fall and increase in
proportion to the number Of parasites.
Young and debilitated cattle suffer
much more than older and fat cattle.
When the itching sets in the animal
begins by licking and biting itself, and
later will rub violently against any &C.
cessibIe object The hair is rubbed on
and the skin becomes thickened,
wrinkled, calloused and covered with
a gummy exudate. The rubbing on
rough objects, such as baFbed-wire
fences, is often so violent as to tear
the skin and cause it to bleed.
It takes so much time for the AFFECT
ed animal to scratch that 1t has little
time left in which to eat, and this,
with the constant worry and pain,
causes a rapid loss of flesh. Nearly
all of the hair may be rubbed OF the
the body, leaving the animal no pro
lection against the cold. The loss by
actual death from this disease, how
ever, does not amount to so much as
from the loss of condition.
The Cure.
The directions given by the veter-
inarians of the State Board OF Agri-
culture for the cure Of this disease is
as follows:
"The treatment of scabies consists
In the application to the skin of the
diseased animal of some preparation
that will kill the parasite. Creolin and
chloro-naphtholeum, which are coal
tar products, are both deadly to the |
parasite of scabies and are harmless |
remedies. Either of these should be
used in the strength Of one part to 20 |
or 20 of water.
Amy patent sheep dip that will !
cure scab in sheep when applied &C
cording to directions for dipping |
sheep will cure the seabies In cattle.
Probably the most economic dip, |
and the one that is uniform and relia.
Bile in its results. is what is known as
the lime-and-sulphur dip. Lime and |
sulphur are dissolved in water in diff
ferent proportions, but the following
formula Is probably the best: Flow
ers OF sulphur, Fl pounds; unslaked
lime, 1884 pounds; water. 100 gal
Ions
Carefully weigh out the lime and !
sulphur, and do not guess at the
weight of either. Use exactly q !
pounds Of sulphur and is "a OF lime
for each 100 gallons of dip needed.
Stake the lime in large kettle, and
add enough water to make a paste. |
sift the sulphur in this paste and mix
thoroughly. Add 25 to 30 gallons OF |
water and boil the mixture for two
hours Allow 1t to cool and settle
over night, and draw on the liquid, be-
ing careful not 10 stir up the settings
Add enough water to make 100 gal,
Ions"