The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-04-02
TREATMENT OF Big
HEAD IN SHEEP

"bigheau'', which has caused losses
ia Utan, Idaho. New sda, and ayo-
ming, is caused by sun anG heat
rather than locality, according q
D.. II J Frederick, veterinarian a
the Utah Experiment Station, ~ q
has been Investigating the disease la
cooperation with the e. 5. Depart
meat OF Agriculture. Many herde S
claim that by avoiding certain spnts
noted for the contraction nf the dis.
ease, they may avoid the disease. In.
vestigstion now seems to have
proved tnal il sheep are not driven
too long nor too fast during the heat
OF the DAY nune Of them will contract
highead, nc matter what trail they
are following.
| This disease does not seem TO be
transmissible tc other sheep and otl.-
er animals DO not contract it, IL Is
seldom seen Ia young lambs, II the
affection is only slight the animal
may recover. Most sheep, however,
do not recover once they have taken
the disease.
Tae disease Is characterized by sud.
den swelling OF the head aud ears.
The sAelled portions of the head be-
come filed with straw-coored SER
ruE thai often diips from tue parts.
The sAelling is often 81 severe that
the animals vision is clouded The
affected tissues present an appear.
ance like gelatin.
The affection causes the animal 20
be extremely restless. 1t viii walk
about aimlessly until exhausted. The
skin often peels of the swelled poI-
tions. Many ani uals lose the wool
from the entire body. Many OF the
ewes that carry lambs lose them.
The lew that do recover are never so
good as formerly.
The definite cause OF oighead Is
not positively known. Ii seems,
however, that ciimaGic conditions
have mucn 20 do with IT, Sheep ar
usually Affected during the spring
and earlg summer while being driven
from the winter To the summer
ranges, more commoniy before ear
ing Blghssd seems more prevalent
after cold or stormy night, when
tile day following turns hut with sun
shine and the sheep are driveu fast
in the hot sun, and where they are
compelled 10 inhale cons iderable al
kan dust. Care 10 driving sheep dur.
Ing The hot part OF the day, particu.
larly after "a cold night or storm is
the greatest preventative for the dis
ease
Again. II some Of the animals that
contracted this condition are dropped |
OUT OF the nerd. or the entire herd Is |
stopped and allowed to get la Ghe |
shade, the affectatioD may be avoided |
or overcome. II sheep are held in.
meHiately aftsr they SHOW symptoms |
of this trouble, the affectation is
usually overcome In from eight to
twenty hours, tie animals appearing |
as we'll as at any time: while on tie |
other hand, If tDey are driven fast
during the hot part OF The day. many
contract the trouble and succumb as
a result.
For tue swelling OF the head such
agents ss sugar ~ lead and alum
have been used with some success.
The substances doing The animals
most good were emolisnts applied to
the head. AS sasoline and olive oil 4
" Whenever highead sheep not too ssri-
oulsy affected had absolute rest ana
some protection from the direc' rays
Of the sun and their hoans were
with emolllents, tbey made
a complete recovery Ia short time.
Sheep with swelied heads should have
their heads annointed with olive oil
or vasoli'e and pt quiet from Y
to "A hours
Sheep should be mnved only during
the cooler parts Of tire day Sheep
men should not become excited phen
bighead develops among their hoeks
and force their herders 90 rush their
sheep over tue ground a. they d.
"here poisonous plants exist, as there
Is no particular place for oishead 70
develop.
Keep cool and keep the animals
cool As fAr a. possible, and niany loss.
"a can be prevented.
The practice Of scarifyiug or cut.
ting 0pen the sWeilings il not sdvis-
ed, although many shepherds do THIS
when their sheep are affected Tnis
% a9tics merely exposes sbe parts t.
injection, and dust ard dirt get into
The sounds which often satise tie
animals death, irrespective of the
b.. head
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