** TREMBLING," OR LUMBAR PRURIGO, IN SHEEP. 475 



The only treatment, therefore, which would he likely to succeed is 

 difficult to carry out, and more difficult in the ox than in the sheep be- 

 cause of the great development of the frontal sinuses. 



It has been mentioned that under exceptional circumstances the 

 coenurus, if very superficially placed, may cause atrophy of the cranial 

 wall in the sheep by the outward pressure it exerts, and that the points 

 of least resistance may be detected by the touch. In such cases inter- 

 vention is necessary and is greatly facilitated ; but they must be extremely 

 rare, and Moussu declares he has never seen one. 



Hartenstein has suggested continuous cooling of the cranium by 

 irrigation or by applications of ice, the local lowering of temperature 

 serving to impede the development of the coenurus. This method 

 should be tried in animals of high value, and, if the symptoms have not 

 yet become too alarming, recovery is possible. On the other hand, when 

 the sj'mptoms indicate the presence of an old-standing cyst, there is 

 little chance of success. Moreover, the treatment could not be applied 

 where a large number of animals are affected. 



It is much better to send the animals to the butcher if they are 

 in good condition. In Scotland, however — particularly in Caithness — 

 operation is said to be frequently practised with success. 



Prophylaxis. In well-managed establishments it is easy to avoid 

 the appearance of canurosis. 



The development of this condition being due to the Tienia canuirus 

 of the dog, which passes ripe segments containing eggs with its faeces in 

 the pastures, the first indication is to prevent the development of this 

 taenia in sheep dogs, sporting dogs and house dogs, and the sole pre- 

 caution required is to avoid giving them as food sheeps' heads contain- 

 ing the bladder worms. But, as despite these precautions they maj^ 

 accidentally contract infection with T(enia caninriis by eating the ofifal of 

 slaughtered animals, it is a wise precaution to administer to all farm 

 dogs, twice a year at least, a dose of some taenicide. 



They should be starved and kept in for twenty-four hours, and should 

 then receive a full dose of some energetic vermifuge, such as areca nut, 

 kamala, kousso, powdered pomegranate root, extract of male fern, etc., 

 followed by a purgative. The material passed and the faeces should 

 be burned or mixed with quicklime. By these simple precautions the 

 losses which formerly proved so heavy may entirely be prevented. 



♦* TREMBLING,^ OR LUMBAR PRURIGO, IN SHEEP. 



The above term is applied to a disease peculiar to sheep, and 

 characterised by neuromuscular disturbance, which always ends fatally 

 after a longer or shorter period. 



