South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-19
CATTLE SCAB IS
C0NTAG|0UsPES
Affects All Classes of Cattle
and Calls for Scientific
Treatment.

Small insect-like parasites, COM
monty known as mites, are respons-
ible for cattle scab. a contagious skin
/ disease affecting cattle OF all ages
and conditions. There are several
forms OF the disease known by such
names as "scab," mango" and
( itch" Though the disease itself
may not cause death directly. IL Is
responsible for serious losses bv
causing a shrinkage in the weight OF
animals, failure OF young stock to
( thrive and gain weight normally. and
( by increasing the death rate OF poor
lv nourished animals of poor vitality.
especially range cattle exposed to in
clement weather. Cattle scab can be
eradicated by dipping or spraying,
dipping being the most reliable
method. and lime-sulphur nicotin,
and crude petroleum dips can all be
used with success. Methods Of con-
troll and eradication Of cattle scab,
together with descriptions Of the va
/ rious forms of the disease. are given
5 in farmers bulletin 1917, recently
( published by the L. S. department
! Of agriculture.
In the western part Of the United
States especially where cattle Craze
on the open range, the losses caused
| by common scab have been serious
drawback to the livestock industry.
but through the cooperative work OF
! the bureau of animal industry Of the
! L. s. department of agriculture and
the officials of the states concerned,
the disease has been greatly reduced
/ and brought under control. It has
/ not. however, been entirely eradi-
Gated from the herds OF the western
states and it is important that con-
troll measures be practiced continual
" to completely eradicate the dis
ease and prevent it from again be-
coming prevalent.
The mite which causes common
cattle scab may attack any part of
the body covered thickly with hair.
| but the first LESSONS usually occur on
the withers, on top of the neck just
in front of the withers, or around the
root of the tail From these points
! it spreads over the back and sides,
and unless checked it may involve
practically the entire body. The
mites attack the skin to obtain food
and in so doing probably introduce
I poisonous secretion, says the bulle-
tin. A slight Inflammation is caused,
| followed by intense itching. In tho
advanced stages of the disease large
scabs are formed which frequently
are stained with blood. The disease
should never be allowed to reach this
| stage, however. In the early stages
it yields readily to proper treatment
and heavy losses can be avoided only
| if the disease is taken in hand early.
! While cattle scab can be cured by
| spraying if the work is done prop
erly. this method is recommended
only when the number of cattle to
be treated is not large enough to
| Justify the owner in providing a dip
ping vat Dipping, however, which
consists Of immersing animals in
medicated liquid that will kill the
parasites. is the only method recog-
nized by the bureau of animal in
dustry in the official treatment of
scabby cattle. All animals in the
herd should be treated regardless of
the number showing LESSONS Of scab
One dipping generally is sufficient
for cattle which have been exposed
TO infection but upon which the dis
ease has not yet become apparent
Infected cattle require two or more
clippings. according to the variety of
the disease present.