Transcription

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 inpet [impact? 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 
   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 of 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 -

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