60 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 356 



the maggots tunnelling under the skin, the application of chloro- 

 form to the infested parts, is recommended. Then the area should 

 be dressed with some mixture that will repel the flies. A mixture 

 consisting of crude carbolic acid, 1 part; kerosene, 3 parts; fish oil, 

 4 parts ; and oil of tar, 2 parts, was found to be effective. 



To reduce the chance of maggot-fly attacks measures designed 

 to reduce the number of flies should be adopted. These measures 

 include the destruction of all matter in which the maggots may 

 develop, such as dead carcasses, entrails, pieces of meat and in fact 

 every kind of animal offal. Build a firewood heap and then place 

 the carcass or offal on the heap and see that all the material is con- 

 sumed. Partially-burned animal flesh may harbor millions of mag- 

 gots. Another measure to be recommended when the flies are 

 abundant, consists in half skinning an animal which has recently 

 died and cutting the flesh. Then pour over this carcass a solution 

 of 1 pound of arsenic dissolved by boiling in 5 gallons of water, and 

 this carcass will attract hundreds of flies which on sucking the poi- 

 son die off in great numbers. This method of poisoning adult flies 

 has been used in Australia with the result that thousands of flies 

 die around every carcass thus treated (Farmers' Bulletin 95 by 

 W. W. Frogratt, Government Entomologist, New South Wales). 



The action of the arsenic upon the flesh, however, soon stops 

 the decomposition and hardens it, so that it loses its attractive 

 power within the second day ; but the carcass can be turned over 

 and the under surface will act as a poison bait for another day if 

 similarly treated. The carcass should then be burned or buried. 



SHEEP TICK 



Melophagus ovintts Linn. 



Injury. — This parasite lives upon the blood of sheep which it 

 obtains by sinking its sucking tube into the flesh. Although one 

 tick may not consume much blood in 24 hours, the total amount 

 taken by a large number of ticks constitutes a serious drain upon 

 the infested animal. The irritation caused by the ticks makes the 

 sheep restless. It stamps its feet, scratches the irritated spot with 

 its hind foot, bites at it or rubs against the manger, a post or any 

 other object within reach. This continual scratching and nibbing 

 brings about a ragged, taggy appearance of the coat of wool. The 

 infested sheep does not thrive well, growing or fattening slowly. 



During the winter of 1018-19 the Ohio Station conducted a 

 feeding experiment with two lots of lambs, some of which as the 

 winter progressed became heavily infested with ticks and lice. 



