348 The Diseases of Animats 
placed on the rump, and held between the knees, while 
the medicine is slowly given; if it is offered while the 
animal is in a standing position, with the head raised, 
the patient is unable to swallow. When strangled or 
choked by oily medicines, animals stagger or fall, as if 
intoxicated, “gagging,” coughing, and breathing with 
great difficulty. They may die from suffocation, or 
trom pneumonia, which is liable to follow choking. 
STOMACH-WORM OF SHEEP * 
In some of the central states, serious losses among 
lambs result from the invasion of the fourth stomach, or 
abomasum, by a parasite, commonly ealled the “twisted 
strongyle” (Hemanchus contortus). It is most frequent 
in wet seasons, and on low, marshy pastures; but after 
the locality is onee well infested the disease will be 
found on high pastures, in those regions where there is 
abundant rainfall and the air is moist. 
The life-history of the parasite is not well known. 
The eggs are passed with the dung, and hatch after 
falling in moist places. In this manner, probably, they 
come to infest pastures and drinking places. It is 
rare that sheep confined in barns and similar dry 
places become infested. 
The disease usually affects young lambs, although 
adult sheep may suffer with it occasionally. Old sheep 
ure likely to resist the disease. The animal falls away 
in flesh, becomes weak and debilitated, and has a dull, 
dejected appearance. It eats but little, and shows a 
*See an excellent account in Bulletin No. 117, Ohio Expt. Station. 
