THE SHEEP FLY. 55 



Where there are a large number of flies the eggs may be deposited 

 on the shoulders, loins, sides, and belly. 



An animal attacked may easily be distinguished by the matting of 

 the wool, the continual wagging of the tail, and the rubbing, scratching, 

 and biting of themselves in their endeavours to allay the irritation caused 

 by the feeding maggots. The inflammation may be considerable, and 

 the places attacked may have an evil-smelling semi-fluid discharge. In 

 bad attacks the wool becomes discoloured, falls out, and fails to grow 

 again. 



Apart from this loss the animals and especially lambs become 

 much emaciated. 



Dr. Stewart Mac Dougall, who has devoted special attention to 

 this parasite, makes the following recommendations : 



1. u During the fly season let the sheep be kept as clean as possible, 

 that they may be the less likely to attract the fly. 



2. Attack is more likely on low-lying sheltered parts of the meadows, 

 where there is moisture and rank growth, than in the open. 



3. Let the neighbourhood of any wounds be dressed with some- 

 thing that will prevent the female from egg-laying for example, paraffin. 



4. Careful and repeated inspection to ensure that the attack will 

 be dealt with as soon as possible, so that the maggots being killed, 

 succeeding generations are made impossible. It will be remembered 

 that potentially a maggot may represent four hundred succeeding flies. 



5. Isolate diseased sheep. 



6. Where the maggots have bored into the flesh, and the w r ounds 

 are deep, the sheep should be killed, or, as treatment is difficult, let 

 a veterinary surgeon be called in. 



7. The maggots are not difficult to kill. Where seen they should 

 be picked off, or where they have got to work let the wool be shorn 

 a little, and the parts dressed with turpentine and rape-oil in equal 

 parts, or benzine or carbolic acid should be sprayed over the places." 



