The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-19
Parasites on sheep.

0f parasites. and 1t appears to make
very little difference whether the sheep
are reared in hot or cold climates, as
some one or more species of these pests
are certain TO annoy Hooks unless meas
ureS are adopted to prevent their in
crease and development. In warm
climates there are usually far larger
number of species OF insect pests than
n cold ones, but there IS no place IN
which sheep can live where their enc
mics cannot also live; cOnSe IuentIy 1t Is
FOLLY to talk of any locality or country !
being entirely exempt from such pests. |
1t IS true that in new countries the IN |
sect enemies of sheep are usually less |
numerous than in old ones, but they |
soon follow the tiocks. If they are not |
Indigenous: their increase in numbers |
is entirely dependent upon the oppor-
tunitieS offered them, and they are
usually few or many. according to the
care bestowed upon the sheep.
One of the greatest pests, and one
found in all parts of the world, is the
minute parasite which causes the
disease of sheep known by the common
name of '.scab." This parasite bur
rows in the skin. making sores, loosen
ing the wool. and causing it to drop
OFF in large patches: in fact. if 1t IS not
checked, the wool will all drop oil. and
the animal die. These parasites spread
from one animal to another, until an
entire tiock-no matter how large-wlll
all suffer from their depredationS. Scab
in sheep has been known as long As
sheen have been known TO man. and IN
L, l. - hvT-h ha mi
disease is described and remedies are
given; it has also been described and
referred to thousands of times III agrl-
cultural and otherp periodicals ever since
printed books and newspapers have
been known. Every year the agricul-
tural press of the country, with scarcely
an exception, tell their readers how TO
cure scab in sheep, and describe the
first indications of its presence in
| flock.
With this constant repetition of
symptoms. and methods of curing this
disease. one might suppose that every
! farmer and flock owner IN America
would know when scab appeared
among his sheep, as well as how to cure
| it. But we are bound to say that such
| is not the fact, for there is scarcely a
week in which we do not receive letters
from the owners of sheep, describing
| this very common disease, and asking
for information in regard TO its origin
and the method of curing it. One OF
our correspondents admitted that he
had lost 200 head OF sheep from scab in
one season, and even then had no idea
what it was or how to cure it. Wepre-
sumo if any neighbor had asked him to
purchase a book on sheep husbandry
| for dollar or two, he would have re-
fused, probably on the ground that he
had no faith in .'bOOk farming" or
those who wrote books on such sub
iects. Another correspondent, whose
! letter has Just come to hand, says that
his sheep are losing their wool, and the
noses of the sucking lambs are sore,
and their faces covered with ScabS and
raw spots. all of which is probably due
to this old and common disease among
sheep. or some kindred one that could
be checked if not cured by the Use of a
! little mercurial ointment, or common
lard and sulphur mixed. If one of the
members of a farmer family is taken
sick a doctor is sent for Immediately y
there is no delayOr thought about the
expense; but if it happens to be one of
his animals that is ailing or gets in
iured. he is inclined to think that it will
get well without the doctors aid: and
if it suffers pain, and is tortured for
months by parasites, his only concern
is lest it may die. in which event he will
lose the amount it might have been sold
for when in health. OF course, there
are many honorable exceptions to this
| rule. and we know that there are
farmers who are as much concerned for
the comfort of their stock as for that of
their families, but we can not say that
they are in the majority. or we should
hear less of the loss of domestic ami
mails by neglect and diseases.
If one animal in the flock has scab.
or is infested with sheep ticks. then the
ONLY safe way is to treat all alike; that
is, dip them in some kind of solution
that will destroy these parasites. Some
fockmasters make apractice of dipping
their sheep annually soon after shear
ing, whether parasites are found on
them or not, for the expense of tine
operation is so trifiing that the owners
OF sheep can well afford an outlay that
Will insure their flOcks against parasitic
enemies.
Various solutions are used for this
purpose, some of which contain highly
poisonous substances. which are entirely
unnecessary, for both the scab mite and
the different species OF ticks that lntest
animals can be readily killed by simple
and harmless remedies. The America
remedy. and the one long used in this
country with the best of results, Is
tobacco, and while this may be a poison
if taken inwardly in large doses, it Is
harmless as an outward application &c
the skin of sheep, while at the same
, time it is death to most kinds of insects.
The necessary apparatus for dipping
sheep is vat four feet long, three feet
deep, and about two feet wide, inside
measurement. 1t should be made o.
well-seasoned plank. and so strong anC
substantial that it will last for num-
Der of wears. At one side or end of the
tank fix platform ten or twelve fee
long, made of matched boards Ol
plank-as it should be water tight
for on this the sheep are to stand for ;
few minutes after being dipped, anC
the liquor as it drips from them flow:
back into the tank and is not wasted
I The longer the platform the more
animals it will hold, and the Longer
they can remain on it before being
passed off at the upperend. In addition
to the tank and platform, large kettle
E should be provided to heat the liIuol
used, and a barrel or two for holding
water or for soaking the tobacco. FouI
, men will be required for the operation
: one to catch the sheep, two to dip, ant
one to manage them on the draining