MODERN SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 321 



the most deadly of internal parasites to the sheep they are by no 

 means the most difficult of eradication. A dram of oil of male 

 shield fern given in two ounces of castor oil will remove the worm, 

 provided the affected animal has been fasted for not less than 

 twelve hours twenty-four would be better. An injection of warm 

 water given a few minutes before the administration of the vermi- 

 fuge would materially help in dislodging the pest. To remove a 

 tapeworm it is necessary that the medicine be rapid in effect, 

 as only in rare cases does it do more than stupefy it, therefore the 

 reason that the bowels and stomach should be as empty as possible. 

 The most prominent symptom of tapeworm is a rapacious appetite 

 without any response by way of thrift becoming apparent, but 

 on the other hand a wasting of flesh. Sheep infested with tape- 

 worms void excrement in which segments of same may be found. 

 These segments are white, fleshy looking particles of an oblong 

 shape and about a quarter of an inch in length. It is claimed 

 by scientists that each segment if picked up by an animal will 

 germinate and mature into a perfect tapeworm. 



CONSTIPATION. 



Where the flock is not provided with succulent rations during 

 the winter season the shepherd is liable to experience considerable 

 trouble from constipation, especially among the lambs. There is 

 usually a very heavy death rate among lambs due to this derange- 

 ment of the system. The symptoms of constipation in very young 

 lambs are a dull sleepy appearance and a positive refusal to take 

 nourishment. Sometimes lambs will thrive for several days and 

 then show symptoms of constipation, and if the afflicted one is 

 not promptly treated his existence must necessarily be a short one. 

 Lambs that have been chilled at birth are very liable to this trouble. 

 As soon as a lamb is noticed to be constipated it should at once 

 receive an injection of soapy water or raw linseed oil which will 

 promptly relieve it. After this treatment the lamb should receive 

 a dose of castor oil and the ewe's rations should also receive at- 

 tention. If roots are not available a small quantity of oil-meal 

 or oil-cake daily will prove a valuable agent in warding off this 

 trouble. Constipation is often brought about by feeding the ewe 

 too much concentrated food the first few days after lambing. 



WHITE SCOURS. 







This is a disease that is quite common among lambs and 

 calves. It is rare that we find this trouble existing in the flock 

 in anything like epidemic form, excepting in instances where 

 the grossest errors in feeding have been made. The presence of 

 scour or curdled milk in the lamb's stomach is the primary cause of 



