LICE, ETC. 231 



then turn round and try to bite the affected part. The tail is evidently 

 the part oftenest attacked. 



On being caught, there will probably be found little lumps or 

 bladders on various parts, but particularly about the tail ; and if these 

 are pierced, they will be found to contain numerous little maggots. 

 If there are any sores about the animal made in the shearing, they 

 will become full of maggots in different stages of maturity, and these 

 vermin will crawl through the wool, over almost every part of the body. 



In warm weather they are peculiarly annoying and destnictive. I 

 have seen them spreading from the root of the tail to the head of the 

 sheep, deepening every sore, eating even through the sound skin in 

 various places, and penetrating to the very entrails. 



A sheep struck by the lly should not be neglected a single day, for 

 the maggots will sometimes do irreparable mischief in a very short 

 space of time. The wool should be cut off round the places where 

 the maggots seem principally to prevail, and they should be carefully 

 picked out : but this will not effectually destroy them ; for many will 

 crawl far away out of the reach of the looker. Some ointment or pow- 

 der must be applied, which will at the same time heal the sores and 

 destroy the maggot. An application of this kind may be obtained 

 in some of the preparations of lead. The following will be very 

 useful : — 



RECIPE (No. 19). 



Fly Poicdcr for Sheep. — Take wliite lead, two pounds; red lead, one pound; and 

 mix tli(;iii together. 



While one man holds the sheep by the head, let another have a 

 dredger or pepper-box containing some of the powder in his right 

 hand, and a stick in his left : let him introduce the stick near the tail 

 of the animal, and draw it gently along the back as far as the head, 

 raising the wool, and scattering in the powder as he proceeds. Then 

 let him dip his hand in some of the coarsest whale oil, and smooth 

 down the wool again, smearing the whole of the fleece with the oil. 

 This will not only destroy the magsfots, but prevent the future attack 

 of the fly. There are few flies that will aj)proach anything that 

 smells strongly of this oil : it would, therefore, be a good practice to 

 smear the sheep with a little of it after shearing. No injury could 

 possibl}^ be done to the wool, but, on the contrary, its growth would 

 be promoted. 



If, however, the flies have made any deep wounds or ulcers, some 

 of the powder should be mixed up with tar, and the ointment gently 

 rubbed on the sores. 



[Judge Tosfwick.of Delaware county, N. Y., dips his lambs in a decoction of to- 

 bacco, just strong enouiih to kill the ticks in a minute or two. One man takes the 

 lamb by the forelegs and head, and dips him in the vessel so as just to leave the head 

 out. It is then raised and held over the kettle while another presses the liquor out 

 of the fleece back into the kettle. 



Maggots originating from fly-blows on wounds, may be prevented by dressing the 

 wound with tar, and may be destroyed by an application of honey, when spirits of 

 turpentine would prove ineflectual. — S. 



