Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-01-16

They appear during tho whole summer /;
their eggs are laid in the nostrils Of Sheep
from one to seven or eight in each individu-
al those eggs almost Immediately hatch,
and their Larvae enter the frontal and max.
Hilary sinuses and even the horns and brain,
feeding upon the secrstions produced by
their presence. They attach themselves
firmly by means Of their tentacua or hooks
and IL is almost impossible to dislodge them
They sometimes penetrate the brain, and pro-
duce death; and always doubtless produce
much pain and bad feeling about the head Of
the sheep. When the larv@ are young, they
are perfectly white and transparent, except
two small, black, horny plates. As they
increase in size the upper surface becomes
marked with two transverse brown lines on
each segment, the anterior being shorter and
narrower than the posterior, and some spots
are also observable on their sides The body
consists of twelve segments beside the head.
These Larvae move with considerable activity,
holding with their tentacula to a fixed point
aud drawing up their body. When full
grown they are about one inch long, and of
brownish white color. They then leave the
nostrils of the sheep and fall to the ground
where, on tho earth or adhering to the side
Of blade Of grass, they in the course Of a
couple Of days change to the pupa state in
which they remain for about two months,
when the chrysalis opens and the fly makes
its appearance. Every sheep owner knows
what commotion the appearance of these
flies causes among his flock. When fly
touches their nOstrils they shake their heads,
strike violently with their fore feet, hold
their noses closely to the ground, and otter
run back and forth over the pasture, looking
behind them now and then to see if their
tormentors are coming, thus endeayoring to
rid themselves of the fly which is trying to
deposit its eggs in their nostrils. They will
often thrust their noses into the dry dirt or
soil to prevent the insect from effecting a
Judgment 1t is from this habit, or fact, that
some sheep owners pillow a few burrows in
their sheep pastures, thus furnishing the
sheep an opportunity to protect themselves
They will sometimes assemble together, push
ing their nostrils into each others wool, or
very near the ground, and stand for a long
time, even in sultry weather. In this way
only those upon the outside are exposed.
The amount of injury caused by this parasite
is in proportion to their number. If but few
are present in each sheep their effects are
hardly apparent, but if in large numbers, as
is often the case they are very injurious,
sometimes causing the death Of great num-
bers Of sheep. The disease is frequently
called " blind staggers."
There is no remedy to my knowledge,
that is entirely effectual in stopping the raw.
ages of this parasite, but yet almost all ex-
tepsive sheep raisers have something that
they rely upon. Whatever will keep the
fly from depositing its eggs will Of course
prove effectual. That it might be possible
to dislodge them when small, by means of
lime, pepper or snuff, or any other substance
to produce sneezing is quite probable, but
after they are firmly attached l do not be-
believe they can be successfully combated.
What in some cases proves effective, in 9TH
ers will be of no use. | think the one ad-
mitted to be the best, and certainly the one
that looks TO me most reasonable is to smear
the sleeps nose with tar. IF done often l
believe this to be effectual. 1t is not disa-
greeable to the sheep, and l think many
times it seems even agreeable. Do not smear
their faces up to their eyes, as l saw flock
last summer, but in the vicinity of their
nose, as near to their nostrils as possible. l
have known some sheep raissrs to bore large
holes in log which they filled with salt,
smearing the top of the hole with tar now
and then. In this way the sheep would keep
their noses we'll covered with tar in their
endeavors to get salt. The salt is also
considered as an aid in prevention. 1t has
recently been stated that feather wet in a
solution of carbOlic acid and run up the nose
of the sheep would dislodgc the maggots, but
have never known it tried. The carbolic
acid of necessity must be very weak solu-
ton, else it would inJure the sheep, and
therefore have great doubts of its success.
Concluded ncrt WeskJ