THE SHEEP. 77 



is sufficient for 12 sheep. If the slieep is costive give a 

 tablespoonful of castor-oil, followed by cooling drinks. 

 (See cattle, p. 2S.) 



DOCKING SHEEP AND LAMBS. 

 At 4 weeks old place the lamb on the floor, draw the 

 skin up toward the body, and cut off the member 2 

 inches from the body, between the joints, and the skin 

 will return over the wound. After the operation is per- 

 formed, apply tar and grease, which will keep off the 

 flies, and cause it to heal soon. If the operation has 

 been neglected until the animal becomes old, attend to 

 it early in the spring or in the fall. 



STRETCHES. 



This disease is the result of being kept confined du- 

 ring long winters, or extreme costiveness. 



Symptoms. — Loss of appetite, stretching on the ground, 

 dullness of the eyes, passiug the head quickly from side 

 to side, and frequent unavailing eff'orts to void dung. 



Remedy. — The only remedy is purging. Give to each 

 sheep 3 tablespoonfuls of melted lard, or 2 tabiespoon- 

 fuls of castor-oil, or 1 oz. Epsom salts. Slight attacks 

 can be cured by giving moist food for a few days. If 

 sheep have occasionally a few potatoes, turnips, &c., or 

 green boughs of hemlock or pine, they are never trou- 

 bled with this disorder. 

 GAD-FLIES, WORMS, OR MAGGOTS, IN 

 THE HEAD. 



The disorder produced by the gad-fly [Qllstr^is Ovis) is 

 very fatal among large flocks of sheep, frequently carry- 

 ing off numbers without the cause being suspected. 

 In July, August, and September, these insects deposit© 

 their eggs in the nostrils, where they remain for some 

 w&3ks, when they hatch, and, being small at first, con- 

 tinue there till the next spring or summer, when they 

 creep up into the head, producing disease and death. 



SymjJtoms. — This complaint generally appears as 

 warm weather approaches, and becomes manifest by 

 water or matter running from the nose, frequently dis- 

 colored with blood; drooping of the head, running with 

 the nose near the ground, snorting, starting suddenly, 

 7 



