330 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA 



various wild ruminants may also harbor the para- 

 site. The most serious effects of stomach-worm in- 

 fection are seen in lambs, while full-grown sheep, 

 although heavily infested, may show no apparent 

 symptoms of disease. It is from these, however, 

 through the medium of the pasture, that the lambs 

 become infected. 



SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSIS. 



Among the symptoms which have been described 

 for stomach-worm disease probably the most fre- 

 quent are anemia, loss of flesh, general weakness, 

 dullness, capricious appetite, thirst, and diarrhea. 

 The anemic condition is seen in the paleness of the 

 skin and mucous membranes of the mouth and eye, 

 and in the watery swellings which often develop 

 under the lower jaw. A more certain diagnosis 

 may be made by killing one of the flock and opening 

 the fourth stomach. The contents of the fourth 

 stomach are allowed to settle gently, and by care- 

 fully watching the liquid the parasites, if present 

 in any considerable numbers, will be seen actively 

 wriggling about like little snakes from one-half to 

 114 inches long and about as thick as an ordinary 

 pin. 



LIFE HISTOEY OF THE STOMACH WOEM. 



The worms in the stomach produce eggs of mi- 

 croscopic size, which pass out of the body in the 

 droppings and are thus scattered broadcast over 

 the pasture. If the temperature is above 40 to 50 

 F. the eggs hatch out, requiring from a few hours 



