Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-07-13

owing Area Denuded OF Wool.
guesswork. Dipping solutions that
are more than ten days old frequently
lose their effectiveness.
Time In Solution.
The time in which the sheep are
held in the bath Is another matter of
Importance. In cases in which the
scab is lot advanced, from two to
three minutes may be sufficient, but
In eradicating hard scab on fine-wool
sheep better results are obtained IL
the animals are held from three to
five minutes during the first dipping
When the disease is advanced it is
also recommended that the hard scabs
be broken and dressed by hand with a
solution of the dipping fluid before
the animal Is immersed in the bath
In this process care should be taken
not to cause the wound to bleed.
The value of proper dipping has
been abundantly demonstrated by past
experience. Nearly all of the states
which formerly suffered from the dis
ease have been released from quaran-
tine. and losses have been reduced to
minimum over the entire area af-
fected, The disease has not, however,
been entirely eradicated, and, II neg
lected, may assume much of its for
mer Importance. 1t is extremely con-
tagious and may be spread in a num-
Der of ways. A flock of scabby sheep
will infect roads, old bed grounds,
sheds, trails, pastures, ranges and the
ground around watering places. Dur
ing the dry summer months tho scab
often remains dormant, and 1t is not
uncommon at these periods for the
flock master to believe that he has
eradicated 1t. With the coming of
cold, rainy weather, however. the dis
ease reappears.
Cause of Disease.
Common sheep scab is caused by a
minute parasite, which is just large
enough to be seen under favorable
circumstances by the naked eye.
These parasites deposit their eggs in
clumps on the skin at the base Of the
wool fibers. They multiply with such
extraordinary rapidity that if a few
mites gain foothold on one or two
sheep, in a short time their descend
ants will be numerous enough to in
fest and injure seriously an entire
flock. The damage consists not only
in the death of large number Of the
infected sheep, but In decreasing the
quantity of wool produced by those
which survive and In general loss in
weight and condition. The first symp-
ON the part Of the affected animals
and tendency to bite and scratch
themselves. If the affected parts are
within reach of the mouth, the wool
is likely to be pulled out. Elsewhere
1t is scratched or rubbed SO that 1t
assumes discolored and ragged ap-
pearance. AS the disease advances,
larger and larger areas are entirely
stripped of wool. When the presence
of scab is suspected, it is sometimes
possible to discover the live mite by
suddenly parting the wool around the
affected area With the aid of a mag.
nifying glass, or even with the naked
eye, the mites can then be seen NOV
ing away from the light. Scrapings
may also be taken from the outer
edges of the affected areas with a
blunt-edged knife. In warm sunlight
the mites on these scrapings will be-
come active, and they may be seen
as minute gray bodies moving against
a dark background. Well-adyanced
cases are easy to recognize, but the
disease should never be allowed to
become far advanced. Any condition
which causes the sheep to bite and
scratch should be investigated at
once. Occasionally the trouble may
be found to be due to sheep ticks,
common ticks, and lice. Both ticks
and lice are much larger than the
scab mites and can easily be found
on examination. 1t must be remem.
bered, however, that their presence
does not mean that the sheep are not
also infested with scab mites.