Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1903-05-07
News Of In.
= terest. q
CATTLE scAs.
North Dakota Agricultural College
Issues a Bulletin Of Interest to Cat

North Dakota Agricultural College
Issues Bulletin Of Interest to Cat
tlemen.
North Dakota Agricultural College
Press Bulletin No. 6, by Dr. Van Els:
Scab, scabies or mango of cattle is
1 skin disease caused by minute ami
NAL parasite, the scab mite. While
those mites are often large enough to
be seen with the naked eye, it requires
a microscope to make them out clear.
".
When such mites find their way to
cattle they burrow into the skin and
by their irritation cause intense itch
ing. The first signs of the disease
which attract out attention are the
persistent attempts of the affected to
rub and scratch themselves. The parts
which seem to be affected first are
the neck, just behind the ears. shoul.
ders. and about the root of the tail.
When we examine the skin little
closer we notice that the hair is falling
out, and that the skin itself is wrin.
kled, dry and scaly. AS the disease
progresses the skin becomes thick.
ened, completely hairless and is COW
cred with hard crusts or scabs. In
addition to these manifestations, the
effects of the continued scratching,
rubbing AMI licking become recog-
nized as large and small abrasions,
often bringing the blood, which, when
dry. adds to the crust already present
AS time goes on other portions of the
body are invaded by the mites. From
neck and shoulders the disease ex
tends to the sides and withers, and
from the tail it spreads forward to
the croupe, the back and aanks, until
the larger portion or all of the body is
completely denuded.
The symptoms of scab are at their
worst during the fall and winter.
With the beginning of spring they usu.
ally subside and the hair grows out
again. However, do not be deceived
in believing that the disease has been
cured, and that the parasites have
died or gone. They are simply less
active and confine themselves more
to the surface during the milder wealth
er and with the return of fall and win.
ter they will be found again doing bus
mess at the old stand.
The damage done by this disease is
considerable, and in order to conduct
the cattle industry profitably it is nee
essary to take the proper steps toward
its cure or prevention.
Animals affected by scab are usual
iy poor doers," because instead of
keeping themselves busy feeding they
hang around fences or gate pests, rub
bling themselves, or they are for the
greater part of the day engaged in
licking one another. When the hair
has fallen out over considerable por'
ton of the body the condition becomes
still more serious, because during our
rigorous winter weather the animals
doubly need the protection of the
hairy coat, and when thus denuded
they suffer much from exposure and
frequently die from its effects. AMI
mails deprived of their natural protec-
ton and reduced in condition by not
taking sufficient food are not only not
profitable, but are predisposed to nu.
merous other diseases, by having lost
their intrinsic power of resistance.
The bad effects of the disease are
especially eelt when it attacks range
cattle, which are usually thrown on
their own resources for the greater
portion Of the year.
The disease is quite prevalent in the
western part of the state, but is also
met with in all the other parts to
greater or lesser extent. The serious.
i ~ &c M l.nc a cvctam9tir
campaign against it desirable. The
hest results in that line can be accom-
pIished by the universal application Of
the process known as dipping. In
dealing with this condition half meas.
ures are of no value. and thoroughness
is to be recommended.
The dipping of cattle requires lit.
tie outlay of money for plant. but
where a community of farmers CO.
operate the individual expense is but
slight, and nothing in comparison to
the benefits derived from it. The cost
of small dipping plant is about $3.50,
and for large swimming tank. such
as will be necessary for the dipping Of
large numbers of range cattle, $3.50
will be necessary. Those figures are
taken from Bulletin No. 40 of the Blu
reau of Animal Industry.
For dipping various fluids are rec
commended. Some are better than 9TH
ers. The one especially recommended
by the bureau of animal industry has
the following formula:
Flower of sulphur. .21 lbs
Unslacked lime. .16% lbs
Water 100 gallons
After weighing the ingredients care
fully. place the unslacked lime in
suitable vessel and add enough water
to Stake the lime and to form paste.
Sift into this paste the flour of sulphur
and mix the mixture we'll. Add to this
mixture about thirty gallons OF boil