CARE IN DRENCHING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23156, 30 September 1938, Page 19

CARE IN DRENCHING

USE OF NICOTINE MIXTURE NEED FOR GENTLE TREATMENT The extent to which drenches aro resorted to cure worm infection in lambs, hoggets and calves, indicates that the average farmer's management of these young stock is far from perfect. Even with only moderately good management there should be no necessity to drench young stock more than once, whereas many farmers have recourse to thin treatment five or sixtimes during the first year of the animal's life. When drenching with nicotine-sul-pliate-bluestone, which is recommended for removal of the small intestinal or "black scour" worms, it is important to have the mixture absolutely correct. To make a 2 per cent solution, the usual strength, dissolve lib. of copper sulphate in five gallons of water. Into this mix thoroughly 10 fluid ounces oi 40 per cent commercial nicotine sulphate. Drench in the following proportions:—Adult sheep. 2 fluid oz.; twotooths (12-18 months), 1J0y..; lambs (8-12 months), lo lambs (4-8 months), 3°z.; lambs under 4 months. Aoz. The drench should be mixed and held in a wooden or porcelain vessel, and it is well to remember that except in the case of bluestone, all measurements are in fluid ounces. Points to remember are that drenching should never lie hurried. Ibo smallest amount of this nicotine entering the lungs will cause pneumonia and death. The drenching gun or funnel should not bo .roughly forced into the sheep's mouth. Nicotine enters the system through these abrasions and frequently kills the sheep Sheep heavily infested with worms, and weak, should not bo drenched with a nicotine mixture. Hie poison enter* the system through the inflamed and perforated digestive membranes and is deadly when once in the blood stream. Pose such sheep first with bluestone only; feed them well, and then give the nicotine-bluestonc drench.