Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-05-25
to a more wise and profitable system of
varied feeding. But do not give up
the profitable hog.
spa asites Infesting Sheep and
Lambs %

Under the above heading the Farm
ers' Review, of Chicago, has an article
of considerable interest on the above
subject.
1--WE have received several letters,
notably from Kansas, asking infOrma-
ton of a means of protection against
the unusual mortality among the
sheep and lambs Especially the latter
Various post norton examinations
have revealed the true cause of death
to be of parasitic origin, some of which
have been found in the bronchial tubes
and lungs, some in the stomach and
bowels, and some in the frontal sinuses
and nasal cavities. The long thread
worms (strong!I sES JilGTiG), found in the
bronchial tubes and lungs of sheep,
specimens of which have been received
from w. ID. T., of Ottawa, Kansas, are
propagated and developed in the fol-
lowing manner: The young are pro-
duced in two modes. /. The eggs are
Matched out in the oviduct of the
mother, and the young worm, one
fourth to one-half line in length, is
brought forth alive. 2. The mature
female worm forms little sac for her
self in the lung substance like a pins
head, or is expelled by coughing, and
in either case dies, decomposes, and the
oviduct continues to hatch out the
contained eggs by slow degrees, much
slower than if the parent worm had
lived. The young worms produced
within the lungs gradually escape into
the air tubes, and if not expelled
in coughing become mature, and re-
produce their kind as before. When
the maternal worm has been expelled
from the body the eggs may lie in
active for an indefinite period, without
losing their vitality. In water, the
Oviducts escaping from the debris of
the mother, break up in pieces and float
about, allowing the escape of myriads
of young worms which CoEgregate in
the bottom of pool or stream. No
impurity of the water seems to arrest
the progress of Matching, though it
goes on most actively in the purest,
and in that of rivers. The minute
worms will live in water on food or
litter, or in the soil, for an entire year
without further development, but
when taken into the system with drink
or ailment, they speedily make their
way to the air passages Of their victim,
invading the smaller tubes first, and
developing in the course of a month to
a length of two or even four lines.
Soon after they become mature and re-
produce their kind. The most i'm.
portant paints are that not only do
these worms live in their embryo con-
ditiOn in water, soil, vegetation and
fodder out of the body, but when once
introduced into the system they will
reproduce themselves without limit
throughout the whole life time of the
sheep without any new ingestion of
worms or eggs, and as they rarely
prove fatal to old sheep, one infested
animal will stock any number Of fields
with these destructive creatures. The
conditions favoring the propagation of
worms are: First, wet seasons and To-
calities which favor the life of the
embryo out of the body. Second,
minsling of diseased with healthy ami
mails, the expectOrated eggs and worms
being taken up with the food and wa
ter. Third, Overstocking land which.
If the disease is once introduced, fav-
ors on almost endless increase of the
parasites. Fourth, grazing infested
pastures at night and early morning
while the dew is on the grass and the
worms active. Fifth, clover pastures
which protect the worms better than
other grasses. In regard 20 teat.
mont, the fumes of burning sui
phsr is the best treatment we
know of. The affected sheep should
be put in close building and
a pinch or two of flowers of sulphur
burned on piece OF paper laid on an
iron shovel, the sulphur being added
pinch 10y pinch, until the air is satu-
rated as far as can be breathed with
out causing violent irritation and
coughing. Some person should remain
in the building with the sheep, and
thereby avoid the risk of an overdose.
This should be kept up for one hour.
and repeated once a week. In regard
to prevention, it is a well-known fact
that the parasite is not necessarily IA
tai to old sheep-they may live for
years with these parasites in their sys-
tenn, occasionally expectorating the
worms and eggs on the grasses and in
the water, which the young sheep and
lambs are liable TO eat and drink:
therefore, as rule, it is the best poll
cy to fatten and slaughter off the old
ones. The propriety of this will be
seen when we consider that the killing
out of the lung parasites in a single
animal is long and uncertain process.
That if.the sheep are kept on the old
pastures the worms are perpetually
finding their way into the system from
without, while if turned on new land
they are liable to stock that with para
sites from their own lungs. The car
cases OF those dying should be burned
or buried deep in the ground. Hay,
roots, or other aliment grown on the
infested pastures should on 10 account
be fed. Such are the main elements
IN the prevention or stamping out