SHEEP. 1033 



its length; then by a quick pressure let a half-teaspoonful of 

 turpentine be spurted into the nasal sinuses, and the nozzle at 

 once withdrawn. After a hot, dry season, when the fly has 

 been troublesome, it is well to treat the whole flock of lambs 

 this way in the fall, as a preventive. 



Paper-skin. Probably the most destructive pest of the 

 sheep family east of the Mississippi is the paper-skin, a popular 

 term for the anaemic condition produced by various visceral 

 parasites. It is our province to discuss here only preventives 

 and remedies. It attacks principally young sheep, generally 

 during the first year of their lives. Its indications are : a 

 waxen-white pallor of the skin, lassitude, thirst, frequently a 

 deep but noiseless cough following exertion, great loss of weight 

 not attended with a corresponding emaciation, loss of power, 

 " dumpishness." 



A wide range of experience by practical shepherds has shown 

 that the best preventive is finely powdered copperas, kept con- 

 stantly in the salt until the sheep has passed the month of May 

 or June the second time, and high feeding. Some excellent flock- 

 masters use only one-twentieth or one-twenty-fifth part in the 

 salt, but they supplement it by very generous feeding, which is 

 of the highest importance. In a very wet season, when the par- 

 asites are worst, it may with advantage be mixed in the salt at 

 the rate of one-tenth or even one-fifth. Let it be distinctly 

 understood that copperas is here recommended, not as a remedy 

 after the parasites have obtained a foothold, but as a means of 

 forestalling them ; and that, in order to secure good results from 

 it, it must be kept in the salt unremittingly for the length of 

 time above indicated. 



It is a very discouraging task to attempt to medicate a lot 

 of lambs in which the parasites have become firmly seated. 

 Probably there is nothing better than turpentine in this case, 

 though in the hands of a careless operator this is apt to work 

 fatal results. Let it be mixed, half and half, with whisky or 

 linseed-oil, and kept well shaken up while in use. Let the 

 operator put a dose generally about a tea-spoonful into a 

 small vial with a long, slender neck, stand astride the lamb 



