Infectious Keratitis of Cattle: Map showing counties from
which the disease has been reported during the past year.

During the warm season, especially in the latter part of summer, this infectious eye disease is frequently reported. It affects the eyes of cattle and usually remains strictly localized. The course of the disease is short and usually terminates in perfect recovery within a few weeks. In a small per cent. of cases there may be permanent impairment of sight, or even complete loss of one or both eyes.

On the whole the disease is not considered a dangerous one, the loss occurring from it, as a rule, being confined to slight and temporary loss of flesh by the afflicted animal.

Owners reporting the existence of the disease in their herds are advised to isolate the affected animals, and to treat their eyes with an antiseptic wash. No further regulations for the control of this discase are advised by the Board.

Map showing, by counties, the localities from which Nodular Disease in Sheep (Oesophagostoma Columbiana) has been reported during the past year.

Not many years ago nodular disease in sheep was unknown in Ohio; it is now reported more frequently from year to year and is becoming very destructive to sheep in several sections of the state. The disease is caused by an intestinal parasitic worm (Oesphagostoma Columbianua), which causes the appearance of various sized nodules (hence the name) in the walls of the large and small intestines of affected animals. Young pregnant ewes seem to suffer more than other sheep.

The disease frequently terminates in death, and in other cases it permanently affects the general health of the animal. Once introduced

on a farm, it is a difficult matter to exterminate it. Its treatment is very unsatisfactory. One reason for this is that the life history of the parasite, which is the cause of the disease, is not thoroughly understood.

The best preventive is the observation of care in the purchase of new stock. Farms free from the disease should not be stocked with sheep from infected areas.

Rabies occurs in all of our domestic animals, as well as in man. During the past few years numerous outbreaks have occurred in Ohio,

47-O. S. B. of A.

and probably no county in the state was entirely free from the disease during the past year. Although many of the reports of outbreaks that are received from the laity are based upon imaginary observations, the disease cannot be mistaken for anything else by one familiar with its symptoms.

The accompanying map shows the distribution of the disease, by counties, as investigated by the Board and as reported by reliable veterinarians, for the past year. Since the cut of the map was made the disease has also been reported from Union and Madison counties. The reports include outbreaks in horses, cattle, swine, dogs, cats, fowls and human beings.

The failure of local authorities in enforcing proper precautionary measures, and the absence of a state law authorizing the State Board of Live Stock Commissioners to take up the matter, are responsible for this condition. There is absolutely no excuse for the existence of rabies, to any extent, in a civilized country. A law requiring the muzzling of dogs in localities where the disease makes its appearance, especially in large cities, would, within one year of its enforcement, practically eradicate the disease from the state. No other sanitary measure is based on better principles or supported by higher authorities than this.

In nearly all of the cases reported to the Board, special investigations were unnecessary, the affected animals having been killed and disposed of before the reports were received. There were, however, a few exceptions to this rule. The most important of these were the outbreaks of the disease at Louisville, Stark county, in January, and at Belleville, Richland county, in October, 1904. At Louisville it became necessary to order the destruction of thirty-three hogs belonging to Wm. B. Royer, and at Belleville the destruction of seventeen hogs owned by H. C. Steel. These hogs were appraised at $347.59 and $212.80 respectively. In each of these herds the disease appeared as a result of infection from the bites of rabid dogs. An undetermined number of hogs were bitten, some developing the disease and in their turn transmitting it to others. Since it was impossible to recognize the infected animals and remove them from the healthy ones, before symptoms of the disease developed and additional animals had become infected, and a rabid hog being fully as dangerous an animal as a mad dog, the above radical measure was thought to be the only safe one.

Dogs that had been exposed to the disease were ordered destroyed in Hamilton, Richland and Sandusky counties.

A number of rabbits were inoculated in the pathological laboratory of the Board, to aid in making diagnoses of certain cases that were reported in the course of the year.