FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 153 



Another parasitic disease which is affecting the sheep of the State 

 to an ahirming extent is the one l^nown as nodular disease. This dis- 

 ease is characterized by the formation in the wall of the intestine of 

 nodules, which vary in size from a pin head to a large pea. They con- 

 tain a greenish cheesy mass. These nodules are found in small num- 

 bers in the great majority of sheep; it is only when present in sufficient 

 numbers to cause inflammation or to interfere with the function of 

 digestion that they cause trouble. The nodules are caused by the 

 larva of a small worm; the adult worm is a little white creature about 

 an inch in length, which takes up its abode in the intestines, more 

 especially the large intestine. The life history of this parasite is 

 something as follows: the sheep takes in, along with its food or drink, 

 the eggs or larva of the parasite; the larva, upon reaching the large 

 intestine, burrow into its wall and there remain for a period of their 

 existence, causing the nodules which are characteristic of the disease. 

 The larva, after remaining in the nodules for a time, return to the 

 interior of the intestine and there complete their development. In this 

 disease it is not the adult worm, but the larva, which causes the difficulty. 

 Curative treatment in this disease is of no use, inasmuch as no medicine 

 will act upon the larva in the nodule. The preventive measure is to 

 keep the flock free from the adult worms. This can be done by the same 

 measures as were recommended for the previous disease. The sug- 

 gestion with reference to the post mortems is especially applicable in 

 this disease. The symptoms of 'the disease are about the same as those 

 of the preceding disease; it needs the post mortem examination to 

 diagnose it for a certainty. This disease effects older sheep more than 

 it does lambs. 



The next and last question whi<3h I wish to discuss at this time is a 

 comparatively new treatment for milk fever, known as the Schmidt 

 treatment. My reason for discussing this at this time is, that we see 

 a good deal written about it now in our dairy papers, and there are a 

 few points in its use which should be thoroughly understood and care- 

 fully carried out. The disease itself is too familiar to all dairymen 

 to need discussion at this time, and hence I will confine my remarks 

 entirely to the treatment. 



The Schmidt treatment was first used and recommended by Dr. 

 Schmidt o:f Denmark. It is based upon the supposition that the cause 

 of the disease is the production in the udder of a poison. The treat- 

 ment is intended to neutralize the poison or to prevent its formation, 

 and consists in introducing into the udder a solution of the iodide of 

 potash. The principal point in connection with its use is to see that 

 no particles of dirt, and especially to guard against any germs, being 

 introduced along with the solution. The necessary equipment in order 

 to successfully administer the treatment is, aside from the drug, a quart 

 bottle, with cork; two feet of small rubber tubing, a small glass funnel, 

 a milking tube, a quart of a three per cent solution of carbolic acid (an 

 ounce of carbolic acid to a quart of water) and two dishes. Put one- 

 half of the carbolic acid solution into each of the dishes; put the funnel 

 into one end of the rubber tubing and attach the milking tube to the 

 other end; place these in one of the dishes containing the carbolic acid 

 solution and see that they are thoroughly wet with it. Rinse out the 

 quart bottle with a little of the carbolic acid and then put into it two 



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