SHEEP. 337 



be seen how the larvae of the sheep bot can, by its traveling about and attaching itself to 

 the delicate and sensitive membrane of the sinuses, create a vast deal of irritation and 

 suffering, and not unfrequently sufficient to cause the death of the animal. 



A sheep-owner informed the writer that not long since he lost a fine-blooded ram from 

 this difficulty. A post mortem-examination resulted in finding two large grubs or worms in 

 the head of the dead animal; one somewhat larger than the other, the larger being over half 

 an inch long. They were quite tough, and when he attempted to divide them with a hard 

 piece of wood, he failed and was obliged to use a pocket-knife to accomplish it. When sheep 

 are attacked by this fly, they will crowd together, keeping their heads down near the ground, 

 or if alone will push the nose against the ground in order to prevent them from alighting 

 near it. Prevention, with this, as well as other ills, is the best course to pursue, and is 

 commonly accomplished by tarring the nose of the sheep. 



Some sheep-owners, in addition to this precaution, provide a dark house in the pasture 

 into which the sheep can run when attacked by the fly that deposits the eggs, as the fly will 

 not enter a dark place, and the sheep will instinctively seek it as a protection, and will come 

 out to graze toward evening, after the flies have disappeared. Bromo-chloralum mixed with 

 an equal quantity of water injected into the nostril is used with good effect by many sheep- 

 owners. It should be injected until it brings out the larvae. Plowing furrows in the pasture 

 where the sheep are kept occasionally in July and August, the time when the fly deposits its 

 eggs, is often practiced; this gives the sheep an opportunity to bury their noses in the mellow 

 earth whenever the fly attacks them, and thus prevent the deposit. Some say that the 

 larvae are sometimes dislodged by blowing tobacco smoke through the stem of a pipe into 

 the nostril. This can be done by covering the bowl of the pipe with a cloth, and forcing the 

 smoke through the stem. 



Hoof-Rot. This is one of the most contagious and troublesome diseases with which 

 sheep are affected, a single sheep often ruining an entire flock. It is most common with 

 sheep that are kept on wet lands. The disease attacks the foot where the hoof unites with 

 the bony structure and in the cleft between the hoofs. If not given prompt attention, it 

 suppurates, the whole hoof is at length involved, and becomes so painful that the poor 

 creatures sometimes hobble about on their knees; finally the hoof comes off, and the sheep 

 are lost. Maggots sometimes infest the hoof before this stage is reached. This disease is 

 supposed to be caused by an undue amount of moisture under the feet of the animals which 

 softens the hoof, causes* an inflammation and a consequent decay of the tissue. Dr. J. N. 

 Navin, in an address before the Indiana Wool Growers Association, gives the following 

 explanation of the cause of this disease: 



&quot; Between the hoofs of the sheep a small aperture may be seen, called the biflex canal, 

 whose office it is to secrete an oily fluid for the purpose of lubricating the hide between the 

 hoofs, it being called into action by every step the sheep takes in providing its food; 

 therefore when perpetually wet or constantly dirty the parts swell, and this secretion already 

 spoken of is stopped or retarded, therefore not only is the hide deprived of the oily secretion, 

 but the secretion itself becomes an irritant of the glands which secreted it; therefore 

 inflammation of the parts is the consequent result, hence foot rot, which, unless retarded and 

 remedied very soon, destroys not only the hoofs, but the glands, and perhaps the coronary 

 border which secretes the hoofs.&quot; 



The first symptom of this disease is a lameness in the foot, and if properly attended 

 to in the first stages can be cured. There are various remedies; but the first thing necessary 

 is to remove them to dry pastures so that the remedies may prove more effectual by adhering 

 to the feet. Before applying any wash, the dry or dead parts of the hoof should be pared 

 off. This should be done by a sharp knife carefully, and by a skillful and experienced 

 operator. No more of the hoof should be cut than absolutely necessary to remove what 



