The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-19
Pests Of the Lambs.

When the sheep are sheared the an.
novance which they have been suffering
for months back from ticks may be
realized. Few owners of tiOcks take
the trouble to examine their sheep to
know in what condition of misery they
NAV be, or to discover the reason why
they pine slowly away until they
perish in the fence corners where they
have secluded themselves. No other
domestic animals suffer SO much from
parasitic pests as sheep, and of these
pests ticks are the most annoying.
We have heard OF lamb which had
been sheared in the fall having more
than 5000 of these blOod-sucking pests
upon it, and it only weighed twenty
six pounds. This number is sufficient
almost to cover the whole surface OF
the wretched animal, and its suiferingS
through the winter can scarcely be
realized, thus made a prey by the
careless neglect of It's owner to these
tormentors. No wonder that sheep
should be subject to so many ailments
when this, the most conspicuous one OF
the many pests, is permitted to prey
upon it in this injurious manner.
This season is Il very tit and proper
one for considering this subject, be-
cause the young lambs are now about
to become subject TO n variety of pests,
and if they are to be save1 from them
immediate steps must be taken to this
end. As regards the ticks, remedy is
quite easy, because when the sheep are
shorn these creatures gather upon the
! lambs for their needed shelter i'll the
wool Then, if the lambs are properly
treated, the ticks may be completely
DESTROYED. This treatment consists in
dipping the lambs in a preparation OF
tobacco and sulphur made Is follows:
Four ounces of course tobacco or of the
stems are stepped in one gallon of boil
ing water; one ounce of flowers of sui
phur to this quantity of tobacco Is
added, and the liquid covered up until
the heat is reduced to 120 deg. A suf-
ficent quantity is made to dip the lamt
entirely. all but the head, and the lamt
Is kept in the liquid about ten seconds,
he wool being rubbed with the hand so
as to bring the liquid in complete con
tact with the skin. This kills the ticks
instantly, and rs the lamb is TUNED
Dose the dead insects Will be seen drop
ing from the fleece. The liquor should
kept up to the above temperature Il
maintain its efficacy. For small mum.
Der the liquor may be poured into the
wool along the back, and guided
through it on the sides and
TANKS, but dipping is the most eiiec,
tive method of applying the rem cdy-
Another destructive enemy OF young
lambs is the throat thread worm, l
| small white worm known as the thread
trongle. (StrOnguLuS flqria,) and 81
elated creature to the cape worm Of
Young chickens. This worm inhabitS
| the bronchial tubes and the air pas
sa@eS of the lungs and produces the
disease known as paper skin oil
''pining,' and professionally known As
an;emia, or bioodleSsneSs. The Animal
| becomes emaciated and its skin White
and transparent: the blood has MT its
healthful red color. being deficieat in
! the red corpuScles for want of the nee
eSsarv oxidation in the lungs, and the
lambs gradually pine away until they
are found dead. This pest inhabi;S the
older sheep, but is not so frequently
! fatal to them. although it Interfere con
siderablv with their thrift. As the
worms mature and die in the inte.s:ines
of the old sheep they, with large
number of eggs, are discharged in the
excrement. When this is dropped
upon the grass and the dung is IIoist.
ned and dissolved the eggs ave re-
leased and are Matched into minute
worms. which become attached 70 the
grass and are thus taken into the >,om-
chs of the sheep and lambs that are
pastured on fields where sheep have
run the year before, or which have been
top dressed with manure from the
sheep-pens To avoid the trouble it is
only necessary that the lambs should be
kept from such fields and provided with
clean pasture. As a relief from the
disease when it has invaded the flock.
small doses of turpentfne are given
daily for several DAYS in succession.
and at least one hour before the lambs
are fed. The dose for 4 three or four
months old lamb is one teaspoonful.
given in as much mOlasses TO soften its
.rritative effect But, as with all other
disorders of sheep and lambs, proven
ion is the most effective cure--M y.
! Tines.