ON THE CHEVIOT BKEED OF SHEEP. 125 



grasses. On certain farms tliis disease appears annnally alxmt 

 the beginning of June, and, as in the case of Ijraxy, the Ijest 

 treatment that can be adopted is careful liirselhng, wliicli means 

 turning the sheep to the low grounds in the morning and back 

 to the heights in the afternoon. This precaution lessens the dis- 

 ease very nuich, and removes it almost entirely in many cases. 



Sturdy commonly attacks yomig sheep, and its symptoms are 

 fully developed when the animal is about on-e year old. It is 

 characterised by stupidity and a tendency to turn to one side, 

 hence tlie use of the term " t>urnsick " in some localities. When 

 this latter symptom is fully developed, it is found that the animal 

 is blind in one eye, and that it turns to the side at which it still 

 sees. The cause of this blindness is the existence in the head 

 of a sack or " blob " of water, which ]ircsses upon the l)rain. 

 This "blob" is a sack containing a lluid surrounding the embryo 

 of a tapeworm peculiar to the dog, and it is not always found in 

 the same position, hence a noticealjle difference in the symptoms. 

 When it is near the surface of the brain, the skull, over the spot, 

 soon begins to bulge and soften. It is essential that the animal 

 be relieved before the disease has been fully established, because 

 the brain wastes as the "blol)" grows. The l)est method of 

 removing the fluid is by boring upon the blind side, and not 

 upon the side the sheep turns to (as has been so generally 

 believed), by means of specially prepared instruments. The 

 opinion regarding the existence of the tapewonn is not accepted 

 by the majority of sheep-owners and shepherds, but where the 

 " blob " is submitted to a microscopic examination, the head and 

 booklets of the worm are easily seen, and if these Ije given to a 

 healthy dog the parasite rapidly develops itself. 



Scab is a skin disease, manifested first by a discoloration of 

 the wool on the shoulders and back, due to the sheep scratch- 

 ing itself in consequence of itch. When examined closely, certain 

 spots are seen to be covered by a yellowish powder, which, if 

 removed, discloses raw spots upon the skin, and if these are 

 gently scratched, the animal shows evident satisfaction by move- 

 ments of its mouth and feet. This is purely a contagious disease 

 due to the presence of a parasite, termed " acarus," which rambles 

 about the surface of the skin and breeds rapidly. It is capable 

 of being cured by the use of a dip consisting of spirits or oil of 

 tar, tobacco paper, soft soap, and pearl ash. To 90 gallons of 

 water, which serve for the dipping of 100 sheep, the proper 

 additions for this mixture are 2 gallons of spirits of tar and 10 

 lbs. of each of the other ingredients. 



Foot-Rot is most connnonly found upon soft grassy land, 

 particularly about the end of summer when the dews become 

 lieavy. It usually l^egins with a "scalding" between the hoofs, 

 which opens the foot at the heel and soon develops into a sore. 



