The St. Johns Herald

KILL GRUBS IN HEAD OF SHEEP

There are subjects even to this day that none of us can fully agree upon. That this is a fact one need only look about, nevertheless I want to bring up an important question that affects at least one portion of our agricultural industry, and that is, grubs in sheep, writes H. W. Swope of Pennsylvania, in the Farmer's Guide. Ever since I was a boy, and that has been some years ago, I have been told that grubs in the heads of sheep can be successfully removed by cutting a disc of the bone over the nose or nasal cavities of the sheep so treated. Then the grubs are taken out or they are driven out, as the case may be with the squirting in of some kind of liquid suitable or calculated to get rid of the grubs. Some say that the method is a good one, others say not. I have experimented upon sheep myself for the purpose of finding out if there is anything in this sort of treatment for grubs. In one case, I lost two sheep, then in another, I believe, this method did remove the trouble. However, I am inclined to believe that such a method is at best inefficient.

I know several men who have practiced this thing for years, and then I know a young veterinarian who has successfully operated in the same manner upon more than one flock of sheep, for this annoying trouble is to be found in the best of flocks. Yet, it does seem to me that such an operation is more of a harm than the relief usually obtained.

The question is, whether it really does the work on a percentage basis high enough to warrant its continued use and practice, or is there a better way of removing grubs. Here is a chance for some young intelligent fellow to get busy and put his improved methods into use, preferably some one who is genuinely interested in sheep and their future possibilities, for at present the outlook for sheep raising is considered very good by most observers.