lo March, iqi:? ] ]Vor///s /// SJiccp. i^- 



districts, some parts of the extensive paddocks are low-lying and wet. and 

 if sheep are grazed on these parts during the spring and earlv summer 

 there will always be more or less danger of them becoming infested with 

 Avcrms. On such runs great efforts should lie made to fence off the wet 

 parts so that they could be left bare of sheep during the months when the 

 temperature is favorable for the development of the immature stages of 

 the various parasites. September, October. November, and December are 

 the months during which parasitic developmental processes are most active. 

 Before this the eggs of the parasites have either not been passed out on 

 10 the ground, or if they have thev mav be eaten with impunitv, becau.se 

 /hey are only in a "half-hatched " condition and incapable of develop- 

 ment. Later than December the likelihood of their development is not 

 great, because as a rule the conditi(ms of the land as regards moisture are 

 not favorable. This statement does not at first sight appear to be in accord 

 with the fact that worm troubles in sheep are most markedly manifested 

 during the late summer, but it must be remembered that a considerable 

 time elapses after invasion of the system before the effects are pronounced. 

 Associated with wet land as a causative agency in the prevalence ot 

 parasitic diseases is the fact that on many extensive grazing areas the onlv 

 available supply of water for stock is that contained in natural or artificial 

 waterholes or tanks. Such stagnant water supplies frequently become foui 

 and foetid from pollution by animal discharges and surface drainage 

 from adjacent camping grounds, and they are always likely to be highlv 

 charged with the immature forms of animal parasites, for which the\ 

 constitute an ideal developing medium. Hence the extraordinarv prevalence 

 of intestinal and other parasites in Australian domestic animials ; and 

 hence also, perhaps in great measure, the fact that, excepting Iceland 

 only, hydatid disea.se in man is more prevalent in Australia than in any 

 other country in the world. The remedy, and it is one that will have to 

 l>e carried out if the prevalence of worm diseases is to be minimized, lies 

 in the fencing of all water-holes so that no stock can gain access to them, 

 and the provision of troughs for drinking purposes. The troughs to be 

 .-ituated near by the water holes and automaticallv supplied with water 

 from them by pumping with wind mill j^ower. E\en without the fencing- 

 oft' of water holes the provision of troughs would greatly lessen the trouble 

 because there is nothing in the objection sometimes raised that it is of no 

 use providing drinking troughs as stock wdll not make u.se of them. It 

 will be found on trial that stock will alwavs go naturally to clean water 

 and may be frequently observed to refuse, or drink but sparinglv of, 

 contaminated w^ater. 



Overstocking of sheep pa.'ture should be rigidly avoided, for it is the 

 opinion of those best qualified to judge that it is in great degree responsible 

 for the spread of the worm pest. In addition to the excessive fouling of 

 the land with a greater amount of parasite-impregnated droppings from, 

 infested sheep, the depletion of the land of its most nutritious grasses and 

 plants results in a lack of thriving which predispcses to worm infection. 

 One of the best means for improving fluke\- or wo-rm-infested pastures is 

 to burn them; but it is not usuallv practicable. For lambing ewes nothing 

 is better than a paddock that has been burnt in the autumn. The feed that 

 springs after the burning produces a good flow of milk and the burnt 

 ground will be comparatively free from the eggs of parasites with which 

 the young lambs are so liable to become infested. The periodical dressing 

 of lambing paddocks with freshly burnt lime is also of great advantage. 



