10 Dec, 1917.] Flule In Sheep. 709 



On account of the softness of the liver, rupture sometimes occurs, 

 es])ecially tluough violent exercise or rough treatment by flogs, &c., 

 during yarding 0])erations. 



In sucji circumstances, death d(ii> nm m-i-cs-iirily take place, the 

 animal, perhaps, recovering after showing symptoms of severe illness 

 for a few clays. 



When only portion of the liver is affected, the tendency is for the 

 disease to become chronic. In this stage portions of the liver will appear 

 tough, white, and fibrous. 



(3) SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT. 



By W. A. X. Rubei-tson, B.V.Sc, Chief Veterinary Officer. 



During the past two years fluke has been very prevalent in both cattle 

 and sheep, but more particularly in the latter, and it has been extremely 

 dithcult to find a liver at the abattoirs that was not affected. Many 

 deaths througliout the State were undmibtedly attril)iitable to fluke, some 

 of them in districts usually free from tlic disease. 



In order to put the subject before sheep-owners as completely as 

 possible. Dr. G. Sweet, of the University Biological School, was invited 

 to prepare a short article on the life history of the parasite, and Mr. 

 H. E. Seddon, B.Y.Sc, of the University Veterinary School, has written 

 on the pathological appearance of specimens that were submitted to him 

 for examination. I have to thank both these writers for the foregoing 

 portion of this article. 



A large number of lambs, in good coiinition, in which the only observ- 

 able lesion was that described by Mr. Seddon as being present in the 

 liver, were lost. Practically no synqitoms of sickness were noticed — the 

 animals being found dead in the paddocks or collapsing suddenly during 

 yarding operations. This seems to indicate that the heavy invasion of 

 fluke induces a condition of the body which cannot withstand any heavy 

 exertion without fatal results. 



In an ordinary infestation, such as is known to most stock-owners, 

 no symptoms are perceptible in the early stages. As the fluke develops, 

 however, dulness may be observed, weakness gradually becomes apparent, 

 and the animal falls away in condition. Closer examination may show 

 the white of the eye to be abnormally pale, as also the skin ; the wool is 

 brittle and easily pulled out. Soft, doughy swellings may appear under 

 the throat and brisket — a condition often known as " bottle-necked." 

 The animal becomes progressively weaker, lies about by itself, is, per- 

 haps, affected with diarrhoea, and finally dies from exhaustion. 



Treatment. 



Medicinal treatment for curative purposes has, up to the present, 

 been unsatisfactory. This is not surprising when it is realized that the 

 young flukes are imbedded in the small ducts or tubes of the liver, and a 

 drug to affect them must be absorbed into the blood stream and carried 

 to the liver, and there excreted. During the passage through these 

 channels drugs are considerably changed in their character, and the diffi- 

 culty is to find one poisonous to the fluke but not powerful cnongli to 

 destroy the tissues of the liver. 



A special etheral extract of male fern has recently been prepared by 

 a finn in France for which highly satisfactory results are claimed, but 

 «o far it has not been tried in this conntry. .\t the same time, there are 

 three factors which will operate against its use amongst other than stud 



