Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-05-01
6 0 III III II nj t1Ous.
For the Bradford Reporter.
Enemies of Sheep.

An English tenant of mine, came to my
study door the other day bearing several whit
sh worms 10 glass bottle, that he said he had
taken frOm the head of a ine South Down
eve. which, like three or four others, had died
yerv suddenly aud strangely. The persons in
waiting, discouraged his speaking to me on the
,pbiect advising him to 90 10 the Doctor with
his lpquirv. " Well, if Mr. W can't tell what
these vermn arg, that's killing his sheep,
don't see what's the use OF his having so many
books in his library" said the blunt Yorkshire
man, resoluleIy beut on an investigation.
could not help Oyerhearug the remark, and
feeling there was point 10 it and so called
him in with view of seeing what lacOud
make Of bis prisoners | have thought as
there has been an unusual fatality this Spring
amongst sheep, in this region Of country, the
fruits OF my examination might possibly oe IN,
tereStIuE, if not useful to your readers aItho
the subject is not new Que, and | have little
10 offer besides what iud in books, and what
is already known to intelligent sheep-growerS
The worms he produced found to be the
IrrG of the Osiris Ouis, "a dy belonging to the
numerous order Dptera the Gad-hy OF sheep
This fly makes its appearance 10 the Northern
States OF America, between May and July and
is great source of alarm and annoyance to
the flock. in the same way It's near relatives,
the CEStrlS b0u5S is to horned cattle, or the QIs-
tris eguiS to horses. But it diSpoSeS of its
eggs IN a different manner from that of the
Gad-dieS which afflict horses aud cattle-Iodg-
ny them in the flaps of the sleeps nostrils,
where they soon become vivifed by the heat
and moisture. The iqrrG, or maggots thus
hatched, next make their way into the frontal
snGSeS situate between the eyes. These LarUR
10 The course of their progress, give great pain
to TIE Misunderstanding upward by means of
TO small hooks which grow out from the
sides of their heads. By means also of these
hooks they fasten themselves when shey reach
Y their abiding place, and here for months, feed
N upon the mucus secretcd by the IiniUg MEM
oTane of the chambers they have chosen. To.
AEard Spring, they have grown to about au
bch in length, aatteaed somewhat, and pre-
lsntiug eleven rings or apparent joints, which
HE microscope shows to me edged with a few
short bristIes. When they have become mature
worm, USUALLY in March, } they begin to
ntFaCe their pathway, which again brings ag.
IN ouy on the poor animal whose brain they have
laas invaded 1t stamps its feet, toSSes its
mead about, sneezing violently, and so cOntin
Il log, uatil its enemy is expelled at the nostril
Alter expulsion, the maggOt crawls off, finally
oaTylOg llsef in the ground where it assumes
y Uepapa form, out of which new Ay is hatch
n el TO 90 the same unwelcOme round of life
Amongst writer's on the subject, various, and
some respects opposite op;uonS are express
" aS 70 the injury these worms infct on the
I"'Uai and the manner in which they produce
NI"'"' Upon the whole, it would seem that
"ueu very large number of worms are gen.
"ateu, 'uey prOduce irritation and inflammation
" Tue Nead-possibly on the brain, and thus
1.Suo! 'heIr victim. A very few might not
p0.uCe IhlS result Seg raj writer's of note
~ A'na Economy, appear to class this fly
auO'Sst the more harmless enemies of sheep
'ue ancIents deemed them bred in the brain
Ildldls csrebrl late5ris."
mere is great uncertainty in regard to the
lung cause which leads these Larue to so de.
Isaa themselves as TO cause the death of a
"eep the same as there is about that which
I'Aes their cousins, the bots fatal to horses
yy'h II woud seem. are fatal at times. or un-
vt certain clrcu Astances. That the first are
"Sqlently lodged 10 the heads of sheep, and
- 'oeIr destined round OF life, without mate
.T' 5nry, Is just as certain as that the bot of
Aindred dy is sometimes matured harmlessIy
Z" The stomach of horses
would respectfully advise our farmers to
s'l 10 their aid in investigations of this sinh.
NV s 'ne Medical profession of the county and
.,', .%oe'cr 1t can he done conveniently, have
sn soSs "9rte~ examinations made. Sheep are
IIpug lug our most valuable domestic animal land
a., ".nk - l an not mistaken in the public spirit
''f Medical and Surgical practitioners. when