912 



DISEASES OF SHEEP 



When in the open fields, they gather with their nostrils against 

 one another and near the ground, so that those on the outside are 

 alone exposed. (See Fig. 1202.) 



The best means of prevention of and relief from the gad-fly is to 

 smear tar on the nose, around the nostrils 1 , which will prove both 

 distasteful to the fly and fatal to the egg. A most excellent expe- 

 dient is to plow a strip entirely around, the field where the sheep 

 are pastured, so that they can place their nostrils in the soft earth, 

 in order to protect themselves against the insect in the way that 

 instinct suggests to them. Another method is to blow snuff or to- 

 bacco-smoke up the nostrils from the stem of a pipe, which will 

 cause the sheep to sneeze out the larvae. Still another remedy is to 

 inject tobacco-water into the nostrils with a syringe.' The greatest 

 care should be taken to keep the sheep in dry, upland pastures, and 

 preserve the ground as free as possible from offal and other para- 

 site-breeding substances. > 



Maggots.— One of the 

 most common causes of 

 trouble in sheep, and one 

 that must be most care- 

 fully guarded against, is 

 that arising from fly-blow- 

 ing of the flesh in those 

 places where it has been 

 wounded, or where dirt has accumulated around the tail and other 

 parts. This trouble comes from the common house-fly (Fig. 1203), 

 the meat-fly (Fig. 1204), and the blue-bottle fly (Fig. 1205), all of 

 which deposit their eggs or living larvae on decaying animal mat- 

 ter, or in wounds, or in foul places on the body of the sheep. 



In the treatment of maggots, the 

 sheep should be carefully looked 

 after as regards cleanliness, in order 

 to guard against fly-blowing. The 

 application of spirits of turpentine is 

 a sure remedy, as it kills the larvae 

 and maggots. Diluted carbolic acid 

 and kerosene have been used with 

 good effect. 



Law gives the following treatment 

 for maggots : Pick off the wool and 

 filth, and all the maggots, and apply- 



Fia. 1303. 

 House-fly. 



Fig. 1304.— Lancet of the 

 Meat-fly. 



Fig. 1305.— Blue-bottle Fly Magnified. 



