39^ MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



ful to sheep in America as the stomach worm, especially 

 in tillable areas is frequently a source of very great loss 

 to the flockmaster. Introduced from Europe, it is now 

 virtually distributed over all parts of the United States 

 and Canada. Although found at all seasons, it is usually 

 most troublesome in the late spring, summer and autumn. 

 Some seasons it is epizootic, as it were, especially among 

 lambs, but it may also cause loss among yearlings. Damp 

 moist weather and heavy and moist soil conditions are 

 more favorable to its spread than conditions the opposite. 

 Among the symptoms of the disease are the following: 

 The lambs become emaciated, notwithstanding liberal 

 feeding. The mucous membranes become pale, which has 

 led to the designation "paper skin" sometimes applied to 

 the disease. The wool becomes dry and harsh from want 

 of the usual yolk supply. They take more and more a 

 woebegone appearance, accompanied by a moping and 

 staggering gait. The symptoms are in many respects 

 like those accompanying the invasion of stomach worms. 

 They may be distinguished from the latter after the dis- 

 ease has made some progress by the presence of the small 

 white oblong segments of the worms, which are voided 

 by the affected animals. These adhere to the pellets of 

 the droppings, also to the wool and dirt around the tail 

 head. As the trouble progresses diarrhea becomes more 

 and more pronounced, and the animals affected frequently 

 die from exhaustion. Other troubles may also attack them 

 in their weakened condition and hasten the end. The 

 desire for food and drink may increase rather than dimin- 

 ish until near the end. The life history is, in substance, 

 as follows : The embryos pass from sheep to sheep, but 

 through an intermediary, as, for instance, the dog. It is 

 believed that they are taken in the food when grazing, and 

 especially on short pastures, and also in the water when 

 they may drink from pools or ponds. They develop 

 rapidly by producing segments at the rear end which be- 

 come broader and shorter as growth progresses. The 



