Clonmany : Folklore: A Veterinary Perspective 1999

Veterinary epidemiology involves the study of patterns of animal disease in populations over time. In this regard published folkore texts offer a fascinating insight into changing patterns of animal disease. Ó hEochaidh (1969-1970) refers to a sheep disease known as 'galar bréan'. Three pieces of information are provided about this disease. First, that affected sheep passed redwater 'uisce dearg', second that lambs were affected in the autumn and that they died quickly as a result 'gheibh na huan seo bás go h-an tobann'. This description fits perfectly for the clostridial disease known as bacillary haemoglobinuria. What is interesting, is that this disease is no longer seen in Irish sheep. The reason for this is simple; vaccines have been developed that prevent bacillary haemoglobinuria and many other clostridial diseases such a pulpy kidney. These multivalent vaccines are widely used by sheep farmers in Ireland and thus the disease has effectively disappeared.

There is much to learn from folk belief and tradition in Ireland. My interest in the subject has allowed me to introduce selected items folklore into my teaching material. Last Autumn, I met a recent graduate while he was paying a visit to the College in Ballsbridge. We exchanged the usual pleasantries and anecdotes about Large Animal Practice and as I was leaving and wishing him well he shouted "Oh by the way, thanks for the tip!" Feeling pleased that his remark was connected with some subtlety of clinical investigation, diagnosis or treatment, I asked "Oh what tip was that then?" "Loisce búaile" he replied. Somewhat bemused, I asked him to explain.

A native of county Cork, on his first day, in his first practice in county Fermanagh, he arrived at the clinic to be met by a farmer asking him 'to come and look at a cow with loisce búaile'. He wasn't going to be caught out and realising immediately the condition to which the client was referring, he took specific details of the case history before arranging to visit the cow later that morning. The Fermanagh farmer was well impressed and the young vet was off to a good start in his new job.