DISEASES OF SHEEP 579 



atone is thoroughly dissolved, add 6% imperial gallons (7 4-5 U. S. 

 gals, or 31 1-5 U. S. qts.) of cold water, making in all 7 imperial 

 gallons (8 2-5 U. S. gals.) of water. Use only blue stone of a uni- 

 formly blue color. Avoid that which is in conglomerate lumps with 

 white patches and covered with a white crust. The owner is cautioned 

 against guessing at the weights and measures, for this is sure to re- 

 sult in too strong a solution, which will kill his animal, or too weak 

 a solution, which will fail to be effective. If a smaller quantity than 

 the above is desired it can be made up on the proportion of one ounce 

 of copper sulphate to two quarts of water. 



(b) Preparation of the Animal. Fast the sheep twenty to 

 twenty-four hours before dosing. 



(c) Size of Dose 



Age of Animal Tablespoonfuls Fluid Ounces 



For a lamb 3 months old 1 2-3 



For a lamb 6 months old 2 11-3 



For a sheep 1 year old 3 2 



For a sheep 1$> years old 4 2 2-3 



For a sheep 2 years old and over 4 1 A 3 



The doses should be measured off in bottles plainly marked 

 with a file, to serve as a graduate. 



(d) Dosing. While a drenching tube is more satisfactory, 

 the popular method of drenching is with a long necked bottle. The 

 assistant places the sheep on its haunches, taking its forelegs in the 

 left hand and steadying the head with the right hand. The bottle 

 is then inserted in the sheep's mouth and the solution slowly poured 

 down to prevent choking. For the same reason do not raise the nose 

 above the height of the eyes. In this connection it is of interest to 

 note the results obtained by Stiles in drenching sheep in different po- 

 sitions. If the animal was drenched while standing, almost the en- 

 tire quantity of the dose went into the fourth or true stomach. If 

 it was placed on its haunches, the fluid passed partly into the fourth 

 stomach and partly into the first. If it was placed on its back, al- 

 most the entire dose passed into the first stomach or paunch. These 

 tapeworms being found principally in the intestines, it is quite evi- 

 dent from Stiles' experiments in drenching that the most favorable 

 results are to be expected by drenching the animal in a standing po- 

 sition, inasmuch as that portion of the dose which otherwise passes 

 into the other compartments of the stomach is largely lost. But 

 the most usual method of drenching is as already described. 



(e) Overdose. If after dosing, any of the sheep seem to be 

 suffering from an overdose, indicated by lying apart from the flock, 

 not feeding, manifesting a painful excited look and a spasmodic 

 movement in its running, walking with a stiff gait, or purging with 

 a dirty brownish discharge, take the affected animal from the flock 

 to a shady place and dose with laudanum and milk. For a lamb four 

 to^six months old give a teaspoonful of laudanum in a tumbler of 

 milk. Repeat half the dose in two or three hours if necessary. 



(f) After Treatment. The animals should not be allowed 

 water for several hours after receiving the copper sulphate. 



