The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-08-20

ward off this trouble. There are certain
areas along the trail where sheep are
driven that are noted spots for the con
traction of bighead. In such places the
disease has been very prevalent in the
past, and many of the sheepmen and
herders claim that by avoiding this.
trail the sheep will not contract the
trouble. An opportunity was afforded
the writer one season to travel with the
sheep over the trail where great losses
had occurred in previous years. This
was over the country from the winter
to the summer ranges from Southern
Utah and Nevada to Central Utah. On
this trail he could daily inspect about
10000 sheep by riding from one herd
to another. During two weeks the diff
ferent herds were closely observed daily,
but not single case of bighead de-
veloped, and they got entirely beyond
| what was known as the dangerous
ground where sheep had previously con-
tracted the malady. Near the shearing
corrals two sheep were attacked, but
they were mild cases and made com
plete recovery.
Tho writer is entirely convinced that
no places along the trail are more apt
to cause sheep to become affected than
others, but that the run and its heat
have more to do with it than any par
ticular locality or piece of ground.
Attacks of bighead in some herds were
very slight, the sheep often making
complete recovery before the writer
could get to the scene Of the outbreak.
Invariably such herds had not been
driven very hard when they contracted
the condition, the herder either drop
ping out the affected animals, or stop
ping with the entire herd. On the other
hand, where herders continued to drive
their sheep after they became affected,
the trouble was more severe and the
losses greater.
1t was found that where sheep were
properly handled on the trail, that is,
not driven too long nor too fast during
the hot part of the day, especially after
cold night or storm, none OF the
sheep contracted bighead. Again, If
some of the animals that contracted this
were dropped out of the herd, OF the
entire herd stopped and allowed to get
in the shade, the affection could be
overcome. If sheep are held immedi-
ately after they show symptoms OF the
malady, it is usually overcome in from
eight to twenty hours, the animals ap-
pearing as well as at any time; while,
on the other hand, if they are driven
fast during the hot part Of the day
many contract the disease and succumb
as result.
Treatment.
Different medicinal substances were
experimental with on affected sheep
with the view of finding some specific
that might partially or entirely over
come the trouble. Stimulants for pro-
ducing vascular action, as belladonna,
turpentine, iron, sulphate and strychnin
sulphate, were tried, but all to no avail.
For the swelling Of the head such agents
as sugar of lead and alum were used
with some success. Internally, Fowler's
| solution was tried, also nuclein solu-
ton and digitalis. The substances doing
the animals most good were emollients
| applied to the head, such as vaseline
| and olive oil. Whenever bighead sheep
had absolute rest and some protection
from the direct rays Of the sun and
their heads were smeared with emolli-
ents, they made complete recovery in
short time, while those that were not
treated in this manner, but were driven
indefinitely without these precautions,
became severely affected, many OF
them dying as a result
Many shepherds practiced scarifying
or cutting open the swellings, but this
had detrimental effect, as it exposed
the parts to infection, dust and dirt
getting into the wound and causing
death from wound infection rather
than from bighead.
Conclusions
| p;rhnn5 !. corditinn affecting