Edition Bobbett2. Speeches and statements by Elizabeth F. Bobbett

1952 Wicklow, Meeting of the County Committee of Agriculture

Source: Wicklow People, 03.05.1952

Miss Elizabeth Bobbett mentioned that in the Barndarrig area a number of sheep had been lost through a disease known as “looping ill,” or locally as “die” or “stomach staggers.” It was always believed that there was no cure for this disease, but she had been told by their Veterinary Service, that there was now a vaccine which was used to inoculate sheep and prevent the disease. Local people did not know what that was. It had occurred to sheep on sound grazing lands, which, however, had been let to out-siders. The Veterinary Service stated it was caused by ticks which were brought to lands by other sheep, and that the danger of doing that could be avoided if owners would dip their sheep before moving them from one land to another. She believed that few farmers were aware of the preventive by inoculation, and she advocated that that information should be spread as widely as possible. Inoculation could be done in September and March.

Senator James McCrea suggested issuing an official advertisement in the local papers giving the symptoms and the treatment advised by their Veterinary Service. Miss Bobbett said that when the Veterinary Service were supervising the dipping of sheep they should inform the owners of the fact.