480 THE STOCK owner's ADVISEE. 



or rostrum, whicli enables it to j^iierce the skin and retain its hold 

 very firmly and almost without effort, as the barbed serrations 

 point backwards. Ticks are found on old grasses where the last, 

 or previous, year's grasses are rank, affording cover for the para- 

 sites. They attack animals by plunging their beaks deeply into 

 the skin, particularly about the face, root of the ears, lower part 

 of breast, between the thighs, or in parts of the body most ex- 

 posed. They will hang for days, sucking the blood, until their 

 bodies become distended to eight or ten times the original size. 

 They seem not to quit their hold until they die. 



Symptoms. — The animal trembles. There will be a spasmodic 

 contraction of the muscles, especially those of the upper part of 

 the neck. There will also be spasms of the muscles of the limbs, 

 causing the animal to walk stiffly and jerk the feet in peculiar 

 manner. The breathing is quick, the pulse 102 to 103, and the 

 temperature 105 to 100. The head and neck are distended as in 

 lockjaw, the animal trembles, and ultimately becomes paralyzed. 



Treatment. — ^^The ticks should be destroyed, because through 

 them the micro-organisms are communicated to the sheep. It 

 has been proven that the ticks contain the spores, and are capable 

 of infecting sheep. 



They must not be pulled oif. Their bodies should be clipped 

 in two with scissors; they will then immediately retract the suck- 

 ing organ and fall off. A strong decoction of tobacco, saturated 

 with salt, will remove them, and they are also quickly destroyed 

 by turpentine. An ounce of creosote to four of linseed oil is 

 recommended, and dipping with any of the recognized sheep dips 

 will destroy them. 



The old grasses in which they stay should be cut down or 

 ploughed under. 



