H.—29.

Immediate treatment of affected sheep necessitates their removal to shade —away from sunlight, the application of suitable dressings to the face, and the drenching of sheep with Epsom salts, the latter being considered an essential factor to recovery. Prevention lies in the direction of removal of sheep from long, succulent feed to barer pastures, with the provision of dry feed to the sheep. Field observations carried out by officers of the veterinary staff showed that the preventive and curative treatment advocated by the Division was effective where it could be thoroughly carried out. Information respecting the disease was largely disseminated by the Department through the medium of local papers. The disease is one of those seasonal sheep troubles which are precipitated to a great extent by climatic conditions affecting pasture growth. Much investigational work has been conducted at the Wallaceville Laboratory into the various aspects of the disease, and this inquiry is being maintained more particularly to observe the possible after-effects in sheep which have suffered from the condition. A serious outbreak of facial dermatitis occurred in the Mackenzie County during the month of January. In this instance a botanical survey of the tussock country was carried out by an officer of the Plant Research Station, Palmerston North, and although this did not lead to any definite conclusion regarding any contributory factor in the herbage it was nevertheless valuable in other respects. In outbreaks of facial dermatitis in sheep on tussock country the good effects, from a preventive point of view, of burning off the tussock in the spring have been commented upon by the District Superintendent, Dunedin. Lymphadenitis. —The economic importance of this disease in sheep, from the meat-inspection point of view, has been stressed in previous years. No carcass of mutton or lamb which on inspection at the works is found to be affected with lymphadenitis can be passed for export. The elimination of the disease from flocks is therefore of great importance, and it is highly desirable that sheep-farmers should take steps to lessen or eradicate this disease from their sheep by adopting the measures recommended by the Division. Precautionary measures at shearing-time are necessary, but, in addition to this, manual palpation of live sheep will reveal the existence of enlarged glands, and such sheep should be eliminated from the flock. This procedure has been in force on several large sheep-stations, and its value is proved by the decreasing numbers of affected sheep found each succeeding year on examination. The following figures are supplied by the District Superintendent, Dunedin, as the result of examination of sheep carried out on two properties for some years back : —

The District Superintendent, Christchurch, reports on the results obtained in palpation of sheep on a Canterbury station. The procedure was initiated last year, when the examination showed 12 per cent affected with lymphadenitis. This year's examination showed a reduction to 8 per cent. The decreasing incidence of lympahdenitis in the above figures shows the value of the annual examination of sheep for this purpose. The method will be demonstrated to any sheepowner who makes application to the Department, and its adoption cannot be too strongly recommended in the interests of our export trade in mutton and lamb. Mycotic Dermatitis. —This inflammatory condition of the sheep's skin was referred to in the last annual report. During the past year further evidence of its existence in flocks in the South Island came to light. The number affected in any particular flock is small, but, nevertheless, the condition should not be allowed to go unnoticed, as under favourable conditions spread of the infection is probable. The disease is characterized by the formation of hard scabs, which grow with the wool, forming hard masses, rendering shearing of an affected sheep almost impossible. Sheepowners are advised to report any suspicious cases to the Department for investigation. Infectious Ophthalmia of Sheep (Pink Eye).—This condition was very common in sheep, following the dry summer experienced. It is extremely contagious, and will quickly spread through a flock unless control-measures be adopted. Advice regarding treatment and control has been largely given. Pregnancy Toxcemia of Ewes (Ante-partum Paralysis). —The incidence of this disease at lambingtime was low, the greatest number of cases occurring in the Dunedin district, due, no doubt, to the check received by ewes as result of severe weather conditions which prevailed in this district during July. Infectious Entero-toxcemia of Lambs (Pulpy Kidney).—ln the South Canterbury District this condition was fairly prevalent. In the Otago District losses of lambs from this disease were reported as below the normal.

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Ewe Flock. Wether Flock. Examination Number j Number Per- Wain inn firm Number Number Perlamination. eX amined.| affected, oentage. Examination. examined . affe cted. centage. j i l_ i I Property No. 1. First, 1931 .. 111,196 1,046 9-34 ! First, 1932 .. 4,618 370 8-01 Second, 1932 .. , 10,129 377 3-72 Second, 1933 .. 4,711 149 3-16 Third, 1933 .. 11,319 209 1-85 ! Third, 1934 .. 4,714 79 1-68 Fourth, 1934 .. 11,353 223 1-96 Fourth, 1935 .. 5,025 62 1-23 Fifth, 1935 .. 10,563 182 1-72 Property No. 2. First, 1933 .. 3,709 373 10-05 First, 1933 .. 1,478 83 5-61 Second, 1934 .. 3,095 140 4-52 Second, 1934 .. 1,547 32 2-07 Third, 1935 .. 2,875 78 2-71 Third, 1935 .. 1,482 14 0-94