65* 



gallons of water. The strong, coarse, " knock-me-do\vn " tobacco 

 grown formerly in Victoria and Tasmania, was a go 3d cure for scab, 

 but it has not been seen in these colonies for many years. 



HYDATIDS. 



This disease is known in almost every country where sheep are 

 raised. It is caused by the larval state of a species of tape worm 

 (Tun a ccliinococciis) infesting the dog and wolf. It is not frequently 

 met with, fortunately, as it is difficult to treat, a cure being rarely 

 effected. The mature parasite is about ^ to ^ of an inch long. It 

 reproduces itself by ova, which dogs intestecl with the tapeworm 

 are continually throwing off in the faeces. This ova will float in 

 the air, and if it settles in water may be taken up by sheep when 

 drinking. 



When an animal swallows the ova of the tapeworm the .walls 

 that enclose it are broken down and minute embryos of a spherical 

 shape are set free. These rind their way into the blood vessels and 

 are carried to various organs, principally the liver, lungs, and brain. 

 Here they become encysted that is, surrounded by a sac formed of 

 the tissues of the host. The fluid in this sac is of a milky hue, and 

 in the centre is a membrane surrounding a central granular mass. 

 This disease is communicable to human beings principally through 

 the drinking water. Well-cooked mutton is quite safe. The cure 

 for human beings affected with hydatids is to tap the sac and draw 

 off the contents, but this remedy is seldom, if ever, employed with 

 sheep. The number of sheep that die of this disease is not large, 

 but it may be said to be ever present in some part or other of the 

 country. 



TKRMS USED BY SHEEP FARMERS. 



Lamb. A sheep is called a lamb until it is weaned from 

 mother. 



\Vctincr. This term is used to describe young sheep j 

 weaned. 



nugget. The term hogget is applied to wethers and ewes till 

 they arc shorn as two- tooths, though some people apply the term 

 for a few months longer. Ewes and wether hoggets off the shears 

 are often spoken of. For the ages above this see " Dentition." 



\Vclhcr. A male sheep castrated when a lamb. 



Hnikcn mo/////. A term used to describe sheep whose 

 pennant-iit incisors have decayed. 



/'//// month. A term applied to a sheep that has its full com- 

 plement of eight permanent incisors fully developed. See 

 " Dentition." 



Stores are sheep, both male and female, in low condition, 

 generally purchased for fattening for the market. 



Cull is a sheep rejected from the breeding flock for old age, 

 or some defect of form or fleece. 



