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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

SKIN DISEASE OF SHEEP

ON APPLYING ELECTRICITY OR GALVANISM TO SHEEP DISEASED WITH
SHAB -

This disease in sheep is occasioned by the presence of an acarus, an insect
named Shab, improperly named Scab in this Colony.  From the wool this insect finds its way
between the fell of the sheep and the skin, & here commences the seat of the disease.

It is fully borne out by the testimony of practical persons, that there never
came an instance of this disease which could not be traced to Contagion.

The disease has a close affinity to that which is the Cause of the psora or
itch in the human subject, and Can only be propagated by actual Contract
and not to spontaneous generation - The old adage still holds good
"that one scabby sheep will infect the whole flock"

This pernicious disease has lately attracted the attention of the Legislative
Council of New South Wales, and a Select Committee of that body was appointed
on the 1st of August 1854 "To enquire and report whether any means
can be adopted to arrest the spread of the disease in Sheep called Scab.

The report of this Committee, appeared in the Council papers which
were published in the Journals of the Colony in October -

This committee recommended the adoption of the following general principles.

FIRST      That all sheep in the Colony of  New South Wales which are, or may hereafter
be infected with the disease known as Scab, Should be destroyed as being
the only means by which it can be effectually eradicated; and that the owners of
sheep so diseased should be compelled by law to carry such destruction into effect

SECOND That the owners of scabby sheep should be compensated for the
compulsory destruction of their stocks, by receiving the sum of
four shillings for each sheep or lamb over six months of age so destroyed.

THIRD      That a fund for compensating the owners of Scabby Sheep should
be raised by an assessment for one year of £2 per thousand
upon all the Sheep and lambs within the Colony; but should such an assessment
be found insufficient it should be continued for another Year -